A guy at the machine shop recommended that I use some Permatex spray-on (purple) gasket sealer on the heads when I assemble my new engine? What do you engine-building veterans think about this advice? What is your personal preference? My gaskets are FelPro...
When I re did my heads I used the copper on the gaskets, both sides. That was years ago and i'm sure there might be something better, maybe the purple stuff your talking about. I used Felpro also.
I used dry gaskets with my 302, but for customers, I use all different kinds of sealers. I just hate comebacks but LOVE to work on my Comet. I never used the purple stuff.
If you are using the 1011-1 or 2, don't need to use anything on them. some of the cheaper fibre type gaskets may need sealer but not the one's I have mentioned.
I never heard of using a sealer on head gasket. I use FelPro and it says on the gasket do not use sealer. I have done 250 and 302 engines without sealer.
I would not recomend it. good surfaces with good gaskets shouldn`t need it. But thats how I do it. others may do it different
If you are useing Fel-pro or other High Quality gaskets. Don`t put anything at all on them. I never have and so far no problems.
Sounds like your good to go T.L. Although I said I used the copper spray, I have also done it with out with no probs.
Here is a good one from the "old days" - how many of you remember using aluminum paint on your head gaskets for a sealer? For years I used the Fel-Pro with the printed seals and never had a leak come back to haunt me. The engine I'm doing now will have very high grade copper gaskets that are also rubber coated. These need no sealer, but you can use a silicone based sealer spray if desired. They do require retorqing. I also think that getting a seal right has most to do with machining the deck and heads to insure a flat surface.
Some manufactures such as chrysler recommend a spray on sealer for the multi layer shim head gaskets. Past that not a big deal IMO
I still use the silver paint trick on sbc with the steel shim headgaskets but thats not a regular composite gasket. And I agree with mavowar on the dodge stuff with the multi layer(they even have there own spray stuff). I`ve been using the MR gasket ultra seal head gaskets on the last few sbf`s there a little bit thinner for more comp. MY 351 in my mustang is 12.5 cmp with a two stage nos and no probs so far on them. At least till now, that I said somthing about them. Good luck with your stuff keep us posted
I have MLS (multi layer steel) gaskets that are .650 thick, go get my .450 piston to head clearance. We did not use any sealer on these.
