head gaskets

[Don Y.]

Is there any consideration given to the type of gasket used to mount the cylinder heads? The original gaskets were steel shim type gaskets and most of the service gaskets are composite type sandwich gaskets. Would this make a difference in the judging of the vehicle?

[Joe L.]

Re: head gaskets

Don-----

Yes, it does make a difference in judging inasmuch as a small portion of the gasket is exposed and can be discerned by judges.

Notwithstanding the above, unless you're absolutely positive about the flatness of the block and cylinder head surfaces (who wants to surface an original block to ensure deck flatness?), your best bet is to use the composition type gaskets. For most applications, I recommend the Fel-Pro Permatorque Blue. These are expensive---about 50 bucks each. But, they're a "tried-and-true" bulletproof.

[Don Y.]

Re: head gaskets

Joe,
Would there typically be any point deductions for the different gasket?

[Joe L.]

Re: head gaskets

Don----

Yes, I believe there is a modest deduction, but I don't know what it is.

[Dave Sly]

Re: head gaskets

Does anyone know where to get a steel shim gasket anymore? I've tried some of the part numbers posted in the archives, and the part stores are telling me that the parts (and some of their companies) are discontinued.

Dave

[Eugene B.]

Re: head gaskets

Dave,
I had my engine builder use steel-shim head gaskets when he rebuilt my engine last year. He had no trouble obtaining them. If you have no luck, I can ask him where they came from.

Regards,
Gene

[Greg G.]

[Joe L.]

Re: head gaskets

Greg and Dave-----

The 307 gasket is GM #3995633. It should have the correct bore size. However, GM never specified this gasket as a SERVICE gasket for 283's, so I'm not 100% sure that there might not be some other incompatibility. I feel pretty sure that it should work fine, though.

Part, or all, of the reason that GM might not have cataloged this gasket for the 283 application is that many years ago, GM superceded the 283 gasket with the 327 gasket, GM #3830711. Awhile back, that gasket was discontinued. Of course, the 327 gasket could not be replaced by the 3995633 because the bore size is too small for 327 applications. Since there was no way to "separate" the the applications, they couldn't specify the use of the 3995633 as a replacement for the 3830711.

By the way, the Victor-Reinz gasket #1178-BS is the equivalent of the GM #3830711. This gasket will work just fine for your 283 application, even though the bore size is larger than the original 283 gasket.