Thread: Head gaskets...can you reuse if they have less than 200 miles?

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Hey fellas, just would like an opinion on reusing my Fel pro #1044 head gaskets. They have less than 200 miles on them and they run 50.00 apiece. They are in great shape. I pulled my engine and took the heads off to find a suspicious lack of oil to the rockers which I finally found. Can I reuse these????? These are fairly new.

I would...

I would also coat them with either Hi-tack or Ultra-copper from the spray can....just don't get carried away with the spray...

Once they're crushed, how can you uncrush them so you can recrush them? If you use them you are flirting with a water leak, you might be very lucky maybe if you torque them an additional 5 lb. past what you torqued them the last time but then maybe you wil break a head bolt and maybe it will leak anyway. Better safe than sorry, get a new set of gaskets, just my humble opinion.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Is 100 bucks worth the price of a new motor?

I wouldn't do it myself. Like Don said they are crushed as soon as you torque the head bolts. (BTW: Technically the head bolts stretch once you torque them too). You may get by .......... you may not.

Hypothetical situation:
You re torque the heads. You have a small water leak into the oil. Before you notice the leak, you wipe out a rod or main bearing because of the antifreeze in the oil.

I'd sleep better knowing I did it right.

I have done it.....

You have to remember even with the heads torqued to the block when the engine is cold and you fire it up the to surfaces move and sometimes and different rates....

Ad rpm to the mix and things move even more....

I would say only do it if you did not bend or nick the gasket...If you do...absolutly replace them....if you kink or nic even a new one won't seal....

I probably will get new ones considering what I have been through w/ this engine. But I would think you would be able to use them w/ the same aluminum heads that they came with. I would also use them on the same side that I took them off of. What do you think?

dont use any sealant on head gaskets! are you insane? they crush thats how they seal especially if they are the copper kind, which those are reusable........scooter

I don't put a head gasket on without putting on ultra copper, especially a copper head gasket. On the copper head gaskets I have the instructions state to use a sealant.

I'd go back with new Fel-Pro 1014's. They're the same bore diameter and have steam holes, but they're 0.039" instead of 0.051" and so will tighten up the squish in the motor. They're cheaper too, $31.88 each at summit.

Originally posted by 73RS
I don't put a head gasket on without putting on ultra copper, especially a copper head gasket. On the copper head gaskets I have the instructions state to use a sealant.

no no no the instructions are upside down! just givin ya crap no offense intended here jsut good fun

Go to your room, Scooter

Ya mean I can't reuse these cardboard gaskets I have on my 327???...and I just got a new Chiquita box from Safeway store ...........dang

I have always bought new gaskets, I have seen too many warped heads and spun bearings not to. Like Dr. Bowtie said, even a kink or nick in a NEW gasket will sometimes keep it from sealing correctly. I would err on the side of caution, replace the gaskets as Tech said, Summit has a great deal on a better gasket. Just my 2 cents...