The head gasket problem

[Scotty_S-15]

This is just a re-hash of a head gasket problem I encountered 2 years ago.

In a recent thread, (Need Carb advice) LittleWickedS10 mentioned using AFR Street Eliminator heads and the Fel-Pro 1094 steel shim .015 gasket.

I mentioned to LittleWickedS10 that there was a potential problem there, that I had the same components and had a problem, had to switch to a different gasket, as the shim gasket was exposed at the bottom corner of the head, and could / would leak coolant.

Since then LittleWickedS10 said he hasn't assembled his engine yet, so something to check out and be aware of.

I have since noticed that most gaskets follow the contour of the AFR head, and that most other heads would work with that gasket. Just that the AFRs and the 1094 gasket are a bad combination. Who knows, maybe AFR added a little more meat in that area since mine were made 2 years ago, and all would be OK.

Is it possible that many newer (aluminum) heads have that corner shaved..... and that the steel shim 1094 gasket is a design dating back to the '60s....?

[Bakas]

scotty ive never seen that before, never been a big fan of afr stuff either. But i can tell you ive had trickflow, brodix, and now edelbrock heads on my street car, and never seen the corner cut off like that. I use the 1004 fel pro head gaskets. Is that the head gasket afr told you to use?

[Scotty_S-15]

No, I think AFR recommeded a .038 Fel-Pro gasket. But in the head swap, I was looking at losing a 1/2 point in CR, so I was hoping to make most of that up with a .015 gasket.

And yeah, I wasn't too wild about some other details with the AFR head either. But then again, I AM a really tough guy to please. In their defense though, I'm guessing that lots of other heads, (later GM heads?) have that area lopped off. Why? because many (most?) other gaskets DO fit the AFR heads. I'm guessing that the 1094 gasket is a stamping that was designed in the '60s.

And, I'm pleased with the results, in spite of losing a little compression, swapping to the new AFRs, (from 10 y.o. Edelbrock RPMs) and one step up with the cam, resulted in about a 3 tenth and 3 or so MPH. Fast enough to get me warned....... roll cage or slow down!;)
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[littlewickeds10]

boy that picture is not pretty. the only reason i planned on using a felpro 1094 was to make up a little compression as well. well aint that a slap in the face now...lol