Copper head gasket sealers

[Tom Goldman]

Since my favorite silicone sealer [ red differential ] is no longer available from Mopar, and It was the best of any sealers I tried over the years, What have you found to work for you ?..........I've used Hylomar , Permatex Super 300, spray on sealers, all of which worked to varying degrees, but none performed as well as the Mopar sealer. .........I have not found it's equal in the aftermarket. .......Open to suggestions, BTW the gaskets I'm sealing are .080" thick,so strength at higher mill thickness is important ,since the gasket has a harder time conforming to the surface. .....Thanks , Tom

[SSDiv6]

Tom, I know that you have been in the business for some time, however, have you checked the deck surface? Copper gaskets required a different finish than the one used for conventional head gaskets. I have used brush-on Hylomar ins lieu of the spray-on. In addition to the gasket, I also apply it to the deck and head surfaces and let it skin.

there is a product from gasket Works that also works great; it is P/N P/5

Other products I have used is Mopar P/N 04318035 Spray Gasket Sealant, Yamaha Bond #4, or Pliobond or 3-Bond #1194. The last three adhesives are used to seal the cases of motorcycle and Porsche engines.

One consideration also is the cooling system. When you use copper gaskets, you have to change the radiator cap rating.

Gasket Works has a great section about installing Copper gaskets at the following link:

http://www.headgasket.com/preinstall.html

[Tom Goldman]

The surfaces are good, the issue is that this is an old Bowtie block that had been decked to remove the eyebrows when it was an SS engine. .......I 'm using it for my SG car now and rather than use custom compression height pistons and deal with the manifold, I use the .080" gaskets and shelf pistons............It's not a big deal, except the block and heads are "o" ringed and receiver grooved, and the compression is 15.6 to 1 ,which makes sealing the water passages just a little more tricky.............I actually run a low pressure system [4#] ,using Evans NPG coolant ,Which is why sealing is more important. ....the NPG coolant has a lower surface tension which helps with cooling , but also makes it easier to find a leak...................I'll probably go back to Hylomar which was ok, I just wanted to see if anyone had any newer alternatives. .........Tom