Cometec gaskets, any special install tricks?

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airwoofer

airwoofer

Drivetrain limit explorer
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Is spraying the gaskets with something a way to have a better chance of making a good seal on a block that is not freshly decked? My deck was minimally machined and not all of the surface was touched, by the previous owner and his builder. I am only replacing the heads / cam and am not tearing down the short block at this time.

Saw this in a tech article once...

Hafliger chose Cometic MLS cylinder head gaskets that offer a 0.040-inch compressed thickness. He sprayed them lightly with a coat of VersaChem Copper Spray gasket sealant before installation. He also milled the deck and cylinder heads to a 10 to 15 RA surface. MLS gaskets need an almost perfectly smooth surface to seal properly.


Read more: http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/ccrp_1110_pump_gas_small_block_mopar/viewall.html#ixzz2GMawLj6A​
 
X2, always use an aerosol copper spray on any head gaskets, it's cheap insurance against coolant leaks.
 
I spray every head gasket with permatex copper.

My wife had an old 2.2 K-car before we were married.
Blew a head gasket between 2 & 3 cylinder, no fluid loss.

Tore it apart the head was warped, .030. in the center
Me and her were just divorced, broke as church mice.
I borrowed 20 bucks off my dad threw it back together.
Gave the car to a relative a year later and he drove it for a couple of years, and then gave it to another relative.

$20 head gasket $5 copper spray kept an old much needed car at the time on the road.
 
Yes, spray them. But - if the block and heads were not surfaced originally for use with the MLS type gaskets - they may leak anyway. They NEED a very smooth surface.
 
My friend owns a machine shop,he always sprays the cometics with copper. Helps prevent coolant seepage on alum heads.
 
You could be install a set of felpro 1008's. I think that is the correct number. They are 0.039" thick. I also use copper coat on my cometics.
 
Why even bother with the Cometics anyway. Those things are the biggest bunch of hype to come along in years. Personally I wouldn't run them unless the comp. is going over 12.5:1. The only time it seems that anyone can make them work (seal) is in the magazines and the internet. The one guy I've talked to that has good luck with them installs them like so. All surfaces machined smooth, head studs, counter sink the head bolt holes in block, with clean hands open the gasket pkg, clip or drill out the rivets, separate the layers, coat both sides of each layer with Hylomar spray (not copper spray), install each layer on to block, step torque to 90 ft# with oiled threads / washers. This guy runs 14:1-15:1 comp methanol circle track motors in the 8000 rpm range.
 
Ever read Cometic literature?
They're not supposed to be "treated" with anything, you put them on as you take them out of the package.
Don't use them if you don't have a good enough surface.
I use them on motorcycles regularly with zero issues (though I don't think I'd try them on my 40 year old smallblock without some great machine work done first).
 
71beater said:
Ever read Cometic literature?
They're not supposed to be "treated" with anything, you put them on as you take them out of the package.
Don't use them if you don't have a good enough surface.
I use them on motorcycles regularly with zero issues (though I don't think I'd try them on my 40 year old smallblock without some great machine work done first).
Click to expand...

I have heard of spraying them before re-using.
I am putting mine on dry. Surface finish is critical though.......I'd look at Fel Pro's if I were you.
 
I need to add..........Goober , then Ernest T ?
There were no liars in Mayberry. :D
 
I know these are cuss words, but a buddy of mind in Tulsa runs Humble Performance specializing in Hondas. He has the second fastest all motor civic in the US and uses nothing BUT cometec gaskets with no issues
 
I wouldn't run Cometics without a decked block.

Why do you want to run a Cometic gasket?
 
Not getting on anybodies case, but as usual, there are a lot of conflicting opinions. My best guess is to go with what the manufacturer recommends.

Jack
 
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