Copper Head Gaskets
 

Hello..
I have a new to me 582 bbc it was in the dragster when i bought it..i decided to have my motor guy take it apart,,being when i went to put lifters in, the cam had a chunk missing from a cam lobe.. :x .
H e mensioned to me the motor is useing copper head gaskets and the block is o-ring'd.
Im not an engine builder he didnt say if this is good or bad.. so is this a bad thing?

Thanks In Advance
Keith

Copper head gaskets are typically used on an engine with extreme cylinder pressure...ie a blower motor or a nitrous motor. Good thing about them, they can be used over several times.

TS1955

Keith,
I use the good cometic gaskets on mine, just because I can reuse them. The extra price is well worth it IMO. most likely you can reuse your gaskets, some use a coat of copper sealer :)

I smear rtv all over the copper gasket and put it back on. Never had a problem reusing copper gaskets.

He'll probably have to stay with the copper gaskets sinced the block has been O-ringed. Correct?

TS1955

Yep, cometic gaskets won't work with o'rings if the wire is still in them. It's possible to pull the wire out and use cosmetics but you lose sealing surfaces. I started useing SCE copper gaskets with the wire built in them so i wouldn't have to o'ring the block on anything over 13 to 1 and or nitrous, but they cost about the same as cosmetics and i use spray on coppercoat sealer. Anything less than 13 to 1 i just use the good Felpros.

JMO

Zip.

Copper head gasket
 

Not sure why the previous owner did the o-ring and copper gasket thing ... this is a mild 582... 13.5-1. nothing crazy. I dont want it going faster then 7.50.
Guess i wont worry about it .. im waiting for my engine guy to give me the evaluation on the entire motor. - hopefully its not a pc of crap.
I only have licence passes on it( it had 50 passes on it before that)...i was hopeing to get this season out of it... but here i am ..good thing the weather has been bad ..im not missing points yet.
Thats what i get for trying to install new lifters!!.. lol..but couldnt see risking wiping out the whole motor and new 1000 dollar lifters with the chunk missing from the cam lobe.

It depends where the o ring placement is and or the gasket sealing surface, i run several o ringed blocks with fel pro head gaskets with no issues. They were ex blower motors, that served there life at the track and now running around town in lower hp application.