Dart-recommended head gaskets

[SUX 2BU]

I was reading the spec sheet for my heads and the recommendations for everything is great, but cylinder head gaskets are missing. The heads I have are listed in my sig. Which ones should I buy?

Thanks!

[Dart Vader]

The Fel-Pro 1404 gaskets are recommended for those heads.

[SUX 2BU]

Thanks Vader, but are you sure that number is right? 1404 is correct for the intake manifold gasket, but I can't find a number that corresponds to that for cylider head gasket; at least on Jegs.com anyway. I was looking at their Fel-pro "high-performance" head gasket. $53/pr. They list a bunch of economy ones, the high-perf, and then the wire-ring in all different thicknesses and the very pricey MLS ones.

[lun40119]

If it were mine I would use Fel Pro 1003. It is just my opinion, Im just some guy tryin to do it myself. There are other options, but I think that 1003 is the best option. I think from the mail orders mags, they are like 35 bucks or so, but there are other deals out there too, if you can't find one..............let me know, I might have some layin around :D Take care

[Awesome Bill]

1003 are not right, they are used for bore sizes over 4.125" and are .041" thick with a max bore of 4.166" and kill 9.1cc's. We use them all the time for our drag engines. You can use them but don't. Being your a 4.060 bore, use the 1043 Fel pro and just make sure your water ports are open. They are only .039 and will only give up 8.2 cc's. I would suggest the 4.080 bore Cometic gasket that you can get in .027". This will only give up 6.9cc's. We use these on all stock style crate engines such as the 402 SBC Monster Mouse. It gives us the best head gasket set for NOS usage and will seal no matter what. Great gaskets. I can help with getting them to you. I think they are around $140. You can reuse them 10 times as long as copper coat or something like it is around.

[lun40119]

I think that 140 bucks for a set of head gaskets that will prolly wont be back off for 5 yrs is a little extensive. The 1003's are an inexpensive reliable head gasket. Secondly you are busting my chops over .9cc's cmon. I also think that in the sbc performance set the 1003 is supplied with it.

[Dart Vader]

For some reason I thought you said exhuast when I was replying, sorry about that! :confused:

The intake gaskets we recommend for the S/S heads are the Felpro 1204.

A lot of that information can actually be accessed through our website. If you go to a particular product page you can download spec sheets for the product there and often, installation guides as well. Those sheets have recommended parts listed on them.
It can be convenient if you need an answer quickly!

[Awesome Bill]

when your using a 72 cc head with a flat top piston and a 3.48 crank, you will see what 3-4 cc's will do between the Cometic and Fel Pro. You only going to have maybe @ best 9-1 comression. You can easisly run 9.75 to 10.25-1 on today pump gas and thats 40 morre hp. Either way, those are the gaskets available.

[SUX 2BU]

Great info guys, thanks! Since I know my motor won't be using nitrous or anything too stressful, I may go with the 1043 Fel-pro. I'll check out that 1003 though to see what it's about although Bill is right, I don't want to go too far overbore if I don't have to. I looked at the 1043 on Jeg's and they said it's not to be used with OEM-style combustion chambers? Are my S/S heads OEM-style or no?

Vader, thanks for the reply. I poked around and found the installation instructions. Dart recommends using the 1003 gasket for my heads.

Over the weekend, I was able to buy a new HEI distributor (Mallory 85 series), ARP head bolts (as recommended by Dart), CompCams push rods (stock length: 7.8"), CompCams timing chain, Comp Cams oil additive, and the Fel-pro intake/exhaust manifold gaskets. Only thing left is a water pump. I was going to order it all from Summitt but our biggest local supplier, Mopac, is the distributor for most performance brands in Canada so their prices were very close to Summitt, and I didn't have to mess with exchange rates, customs and duty and then picking it up from the US. Gettin' closer! :D

[Dart Vader]

Vader, thanks for the reply. I poked around and found the installation instructions. Dart recommends using the 1003 gasket for my heads.
:D

Lol, here I am talking about every gasket except the one you were actually asking about.
Nevermind me.... :rolleyes:

[lun40119]

At least you didn't forget to measure retainer to seal and smash them all into little bits :o

[SUX 2BU]

What do you mean? Are you agreeing or disagreeing with Bill?

Sorry for all the nit-pick questions guys, but I have neither the time nor the money nor means to get this other than totally right the first time! I have a quote from a shop to do the work that I'm happy with and I'm nervous enough about the work itself being done and done right, than to dread a phone call from the shop saying something won't work or fit. :eek:

[Dart Vader]

What do you mean? Are you agreeing or disagreeing with Bill?

Sorry for all the nit-pick questions guys, but I have neither the time nor the money nor means to get this other than totally right the first time! I have a quote from a shop to do the work that I'm happy with and I'm nervous enough about the work itself being done and done right, than to dread a phone call from the shop saying something won't work or fit. :eek:

He was just giving me a hard time for talking about intake gaskets and exhaust gaskets for the whole thread while everyone else was discussing what you actually asked about.

The 1003 will fit, we test everything we put on the spec sheets.

[want-a-be]

LOL Sux,

You ought to be closer to me. All this would be checked and you'd be getting a good deal. Ask Jake... I got him through a few of his worries. But he had a pretty good handle on his decisions.

LAter, Don :cool:

WCRE

[lun40119]

I did some reading on the 1043 Bill. It says that it will not work with conventional larger chamber heads..................does this include the SS 165 head. He does have the 72 chamber, do you know for a fact that it will work with that chamber, if you do, then that is clearly the choice for him....................however if you are a little unsure, I would use the 1003 and not look back. I do see what you are talkin about with the lack of compression and what the extra cc's will do.

[SUX 2BU]

Man, tell me about it! It's been a real struggle trying to find a shop that I can half-way trust that knows their heads from their arse and be able to afford their price too.

I was just telling my wife the other day that there are a few people in life that are good to have as friends: accountants, lawyers, and mechanics!

Lun, I saw that too on the Jegs site about not working with OEM-style chambers so that prompted me to ask. I'd rather not lose any more compression with the 1003 because of their large bore but I for sure want something that will not cause me problems. Bill also suggests the Comtec gasket but it's just too pricey for my budget :(

Vader, I was going to bust yer balls for suggesting the incorrect gasket again for what I was looking for but you also suggested looking around the Dart website so I found it and edited my post :p

[Awesome Bill]

The bore size is only 4.030, the 1043 goes to 4.080, this is the proper head gasket for your application and won't have the air gap issue beyond the combustion chamber factor like the 4.166 bore stuff. Thats all wasted power for nothing. It also cause hot spots that no one has mentioned, Air in and out of those tiny areas create heat. The bore size should never be over .100 difference between the bore of the gasket. Why do you think they make them. We use a 4.630 for a 4.6 bore. A combusiton chamber issue is not even close here. The bore is what it is so the chamber is positioned over the bore in every head made from 1955. Where do you think Dart got their base from, the little old SBC. Have fun and the 1043 we use on every 4.060 and under race and street engine.

[SUX 2BU]

Now that's why I ask these questions and do my research :) The 1003 bore size isn't listed (on the Jegs site anyway and the Fel-pro site is pretty much useless) so I wouldn't have known that had I not asked! The 1043 makes more sense now. And you are right, the holes in the head gaskets are always round; they don't match up to the shape of the combustion chamber so I'm puzzled why they would say anything about that. I'm more concerned about the bore hole in the gasket being too small for the bore on my block. Would there be any concern about water jacket holes or the like not lining up? Besides the 400 block, I'd presume all SBC blocks are the same in that respect.

[Dart Vader]

Just be sure to take the 1043 and lay it over the chamber to make sure that gasket doesn't overhang.

[Awesome Bill]

He is right, the combustion chamber may be laid back farther than the sealing ring. I don't think any head is set up for a minimum bore, it this is the case, you have now got 2 heads, 1 for small bore and 1 for larger bores over 4.100. Does not set well with manufacturing. Once size fits all in this street stuff. Race BBC heads are either 4.5 or 4.6 combustion chambers. These are the only thing from Dart that I know of that the chamber is actually a order #. If this is the case, which I can't see it, you would have to run the 4.125" gasket bore or larger to get the chamber sealed and just have all that compression air gap factor to worry about.

[lun40119]

Sounds kind of like what I was worrying about. Buy the 1043's from Bill, if they don't fit, perhaps he will send the 1003's for free, and send a call tag for the other ones. :D

[Awesome Bill]

Sure would.

[SUX 2BU]

Thanks for all the input guys. I picked up a pair of gaskets from the local supply house yesterday. Had I found that info here on the website I probably wouldn't have had to start this thread but it was some good discussion anyway!

[Dart Vader]

Glad the discussion ended up being useful, for future reference, the info is on the web site. Just go to the product page for whatever product you need info on and download the spec sheet and installation instructions, our recommendations are listed there!