327 MLS Head Gasket - Reuseable?

Lew Silverman · 03-21-2012, 02:49 AM

Getting ready to put the 275HP/327 back together. Can I reuse the FelPro MLS #1143 head gaskets? The engine only had 8 runs on it before I disassembled it, and the gaskets still look good (no tears in the coating). Any special prep when I reassemble?

Thanks for any and all suggestions!

Lew

art leong · 03-21-2012, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lew Silverman

Getting ready to put the 275HP/327 back together. Can I reuse the FelPro MLS #1143 head gaskets? The engine only had 8 runs on it before I disassembled it, and the gaskets still look good (no tears in the coating). Any special prep when I reassemble?

Thanks for any and all suggestions!

Lew

Hi Lew. I reuse MLS head gaskets at least 2 times. First time I just put them on as is second time I use copper spray. I have even disassembled them and mixed and matched the inner shims. to adjust compression ratio

Alan Roehrich · 03-21-2012, 10:42 AM

I reuse my Cometic gaskets 2-3 times. Not sure how the Fel Pro holds up doing that.

Lew Silverman · 03-21-2012, 10:57 AM

Thanks so much!

I guess I'll be OK with at least one re-use. The Cometic's are on my "wish list" for the next rebuild! I've got a can of the old K-W Copper Coat for a little bit of insurance.

Lew

Marine One · 03-21-2012, 08:59 PM

The beauty behind MLS is their ability to compress and seal. They are not intended for multiple reuses on standard production vehicles. With that said, we are not standard production / daily drivers running glycol / antifreeze.

If you plan to pull heads quite a bit, it makes sense to do what you can to salvage and reuse these as many times as you can. Since the problem would be head to block sealing, I would probably consider doing something to help identify potential H2O leaks entering the combustion chamber...maybe as simple as removing pressure from the coolant system before loading up and heading home, or take a baseline compression check with new MLS gaskets and use that as your benchmark to compare it to samples taken later in the season.

In addition, the smoother the surface finishes of the block / heads, the better MLS gaskets seal. Hope this helps.

Mark Yacavone · 03-22-2012, 12:11 AM

That's a .040 gasket. How far are the pistons above?

03-21-2012, 10:42 AM	#3
Alan Roehrich VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 4,911 Likes: 994 Liked 1,035 Times in 271 Posts	Re: 327 MLS Head Gasket - Reuseable? I reuse my Cometic gaskets 2-3 times. Not sure how the Fel Pro holds up doing that. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

03-21-2012, 10:57 AM	#4
Lew Silverman VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 1,438 Likes: 372 Liked 129 Times in 59 Posts	Re: 327 MLS Head Gasket - Reuseable? Thanks so much! I guess I'll be OK with at least one re-use. The Cometic's are on my "wish list" for the next rebuild! I've got a can of the old K-W Copper Coat for a little bit of insurance. Lew __________________ Lew Silverman #2070 "The Wagon Master" N/SA

03-21-2012, 08:59 PM	#5
Marine One Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 69 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 327 MLS Head Gasket - Reuseable? The beauty behind MLS is their ability to compress and seal. They are not intended for multiple reuses on standard production vehicles. With that said, we are not standard production / daily drivers running glycol / antifreeze. If you plan to pull heads quite a bit, it makes sense to do what you can to salvage and reuse these as many times as you can. Since the problem would be head to block sealing, I would probably consider doing something to help identify potential H2O leaks entering the combustion chamber...maybe as simple as removing pressure from the coolant system before loading up and heading home, or take a baseline compression check with new MLS gaskets and use that as your benchmark to compare it to samples taken later in the season. In addition, the smoother the surface finishes of the block / heads, the better MLS gaskets seal. Hope this helps.

03-22-2012, 12:11 AM	#6
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,414 Likes: 2,581 Liked 4,447 Times in 1,693 Posts	Re: 327 MLS Head Gasket - Reuseable? That's a .040 gasket. How far are the pistons above? __________________ We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for..... Will Rogers

03-21-2012, 02:49 AM	#1
Lew Silverman VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 1,438 Likes: 372 Liked 129 Times in 59 Posts	327 MLS Head Gasket - Reuseable? Getting ready to put the 275HP/327 back together. Can I reuse the FelPro MLS #1143 head gaskets? The engine only had 8 runs on it before I disassembled it, and the gaskets still look good (no tears in the coating). Any special prep when I reassemble? Thanks for any and all suggestions! Lew __________________ Lew Silverman #2070 "The Wagon Master" N/SA