copper spray head gaskets

[penguin]

HELLO, I have a 1973 glastron with a 455 olds, jet drive. just had the heads redone and was told by a marine mechanic that if i use "fell pro" head gaskets and put 3 light coats of copper spray on each side of them, that they would hold-up in salt water. Does anyone know anything about this? thanks, dave

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: copper spray head gaskets

Have used Fel Pro head gaskets in boat motors for years. Never had a problem with them. Even took a motor apart after a couple years (for other reasons) and the head gaskets were fine. I checked because of the discussion on this board. Never herd of people using copper spray on head gaskets. Have herd people with big blocks using copper exhaust manifold gaskets (like the drag racers use) though.

 

[penguin]

Re: copper spray head gaskets

yea, the marine mechanic that i know said that he has been doing this for about 3 years now, and that it fills any imperfections in the block or heads. Also he says the copper coating helps to seal and protect the gaskets against salt and corrosion. He uses this stuff on everything and has never had a problem. The combination of using the fell-pro gaskets and the copper spray sounded like a good idea to me.

 

[Don S]

Re: copper spray head gaskets

I'm not sure I would trust my engine to a few light coats of paint, which is basically what the copper spray is. If you have raw water cooling, and boat in salt water, use a marine head gasket. We all know paint doesn't last real good in water and if salt water gets through the paint and on to the bare steel, it will leak water into the oil or cylinders and you loose an engine.<br />Do you feel lucky??????

 

[penguin]

Re: copper spray head gaskets

sorry Don, I thought the same thing too at first, but copper spray is not just paint, It is copper, read the can, and you will see the difference, i do not know how they do it with a spray, but it works.

 

[penguin]

Re: copper spray head gaskets

I will check into it thanks

 

[Buttanic]

Re: copper spray head gaskets

I may be wrong but the Fel Pro blue composition head gasket should be fine without sealent but if you use a metal shim type gasket it has to be stainless steel with either the copper or aluminum spray as a sealer if the engine is raw water cooled

 

[jimmythekid]

Re: copper spray head gaskets

the spray is used when you need to place a copper shim between the block and gasket. Alot of older toyota 4 cylinders will have them to restore combustion chamber volume to specs when the head is milled. (aluminum head) On the 455 if the heads are milled to far I would find another set. If not just use the gaskets without sealant. At least thats what I would do.

 

[penguin]

Re: copper spray head gaskets

the heads on my 455 are not milled down, they are in very good shape, the mechanic only said that the copper spray will aid in sealing the automotive syle fell-pro blue gaskets, and help protect against corrosion.

 

[KaGee]

Re: copper spray head gaskets

Originally posted by davette:<br /> the heads on my 455 are not milled down, they are in very good shape, the mechanic only said that the copper spray will aid in sealing the automotive syle fell-pro blue gaskets, and help protect against corrosion.

Hi Davette....<br /><br />I have an older Small Block V-6 Chevy that you can no longer find "marine" headgaskets for. I questioned the folks at Fel-Pro and they assured me the Fel Blue would be ok. I boat in fresh water though. <br /><br />I would call the Fel-Pro toll free hot line and ask them about the copper spray thing. But, I believe Don gave you the best answer.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: copper spray head gaskets

<br /><br />I have an older Small Block V-6 Chevy that you can no longer find "marine" headgaskets for. I questioned the folks at Fel-Pro and they assured me the Fel Blue would be ok. I boat in fresh water though. <br /><br /> [/QB]

FelPro makes marine gasket sets for almost all popular engines that are used in boats. In fact you can order almost any Chev, Ford, and Chrysler head gasket set thru Johnson/Evinrude outboard dealers.<br /><br />Ask to see page 170 of the J/E 2004 Parts and Accessory Book.

 

[penguin]

Re: copper spray head gaskets

ok, lets just say what if you could not get the correct marine head gasket set for the engine, what would be the next best thing to use?

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: copper spray head gaskets

I can and I still use Fel-Pro. Also I boat where you boat. I bet you live 15 miles from me.

 

[Bondo]

Re: copper spray head gaskets

I also have yet to find anything better than a Fel-Pro composite headgasket......<br />Marine or otherwise.......<br />On a Properly built motor, there's No Reason for a headgasket failure, even without a Marine Gasket..........<br /><br />The only time I've ever used a gasket dressing on a headgasket is when we were trying to get "1 more lap" out an engine with Issues......<br /><br />Will it Hurt anything ?????? I Doubt it......<br />Will it help ??? Maybe... Maybe Not.......<br />Is it Nessessary ????? Not on a Clean, Dressed block,+ head......

 

[jimmythekid]

Re: copper spray head gaskets

ditto what Bondo said

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: copper spray head gaskets

Copperkote was developed to increase heat transfer from the block to the heads, since the coolant flows from the block up thru the heads and out the manifold (or near the top of the engine). If the head gasket was acting like a heat flow blocker, then the majority of the heat produced by the cylinders had to be dissipated by coolant flow only.<br /><br />Some gaskets on large diesel engines were designed to be used with Copperkote. I'm not sure if they still are.<br /><br />If you are using Fel-Pro head gaskets, or any other good modern head gasket, heat transfer was considered in the design of the gasket. That's why virtually all head gasket manufacterers recommend dry installation.<br />mike

 

[penguin]

Re: copper spray head gaskets

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR INPUT ON MY 455 OLDS. It has been a big help to me. I have worked on many cars, and some with the 455 olds. I have outboard boats, but this my first inboard/outboard v8, so i had to ask! THANKS AGAIN, DAVE PS.. HEY F_INSCREENNAME, I boat out on the severn river, and i drop in at smiths marina, see ya out there.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: copper spray head gaskets

If you get up around Baltimore then sure. It has always amazed me that the county that hosts the Naval academy and more then 50% of it boarder is water front only has 1 maybe 2 free boat ramps. I go to Baltimore city (they have many ramps) it is closer to my house then the one that I know of in my county. So you will find me any where near the Patapsco river or its feeder rivers. Hope to see ya.