Would only make sense for TA to stock only compatible gaskets....those studs aren't used often...yours had them because it was setup for n20. You can't buy a crower crank for a 455 from crower for the same reason under contract with TA I would just drill them out if you want to use them. Clamp a piece of wood over the hole with a larger hole and that will keep from distorting the material..little clean up and done
I would also clamp a piece underneath as well. Will help with a cleaner edge when drill breaks though.
Ok . So we got one side done. Someone had said just don't use those lower 4 studs. The problem with that is that those 4 3/8" studs are drilled into water jackets. So. Here is where we are at. One side. We did each of the 5 layers one at a time. Looks okay so far.
Here's another interesting thing. The 4 corners were riveted with 1/8" brass rivets. We tried to get 1/8" brass rivets to replace. No stock in the world!!!. Not even from China. No such thing as 1/8 " brass rivets as were on the original Cometic head gaskets. So. Actually we really don't need the rivets anyhow. As long as we put the 5 layers together correctly. Which we will. Just saying.
Looking great. Drilled and punched out the missing holes. Lucky to have a friend who have experience on stuff like this.
Notice the opened up gasket matched exhaust ports. Done by my brother Al. Not sure why some people were freaked out by the fact that anyone would dare touch those great heads. But seriously. It needed to be done.
I bought cometics direct about 18 years ago ...showed up without the holes ...it's a TA spec gasket mike supplied the blueprints and effort so they aren't to sell the gasket with the extra holes unless bought through them ..I get it I had no idea either.i returned them and got the right ones from mike
It's up to you and I know they are to be mounted dry....but a I use a THIN smear of black rtv on the water ports on the cometics.....plenty have had them not leak and there's been a few that have I had a set leak on an engine I had built and obviously its a hassle to address so from then out after advice from a couple local builders I seal the ports and like any gasket retorque the next day
For the four bottom 3/8" studs. Which are only there if you have the Stage 2 SE heads and obviously if you had the block machined for it. Those 4 studs go into water jackets. And MUST BE SEALED CORRECTLY. The picture of that tube of sealant looks a little crusty on the outside lol. It's what inside that counts.
Curious to know what Hugger thinks about the permatex copper spray. People tell me to use it. Not sure.
I spray all my composition gaskets with spray paint...I don't see an issue using a mist coat on the cometics but never done it on those myself
Wound up drilling the heavier stainless gaskets and punching out the 3 others with a punch and die se t. Either saved $350 or I'm wrong. Don't believe so. Heads are torqued. Have to do it 3 more times according to the TA manual. Sprayed them with the permatex copper spray. I am very optimistic.
