W2 head gaskets

[stretch]

A buddy of mine recently passed away. I have his car and it has a w2 340 in it. He was in the processes of replacing those heads with a different set of W2s when he passed. I am finishing the heads but need head gaskets. I remember him having head gaskets made but do not know who made them. He said he had talked to a young lady on the phone who was super knowledgeable and got him exactly what he needed it short order. If I remember correctly he had the gaskets within 5 days of ordering them. My hope is to find that company and they might just have a record of what he ordered so I can order a couple of sets. Do any of you have any idea what company that might have been?

I realize the that description of the gasket maker is vague. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you
Jason

 

[gzig5]

Cometic?

 

[rumblefish360]

Cometic?

Those guys above, will make head gaskets according to what you need and spec. So if you have a 4.00 bore or a 4.20 bore size or need the head gasket .028 or .100 thick, they can make it for you. They are pricey but very good gaskets made to your specs.

 

[Belvedere2]

Same valvetrain for both sets? Figure out if they oil though heads or pushrods. Gasket will have hole in it to oil though heads. Also possible to block passage in engine block. Make sure it’s oiling correctly.

 

[stretch]

Same valvetrain for both sets? Figure out if they oil though heads or pushrods. Gasket will have hole in it to oil though heads. Also possible to block passage in engine block. Make sure it’s oiling correctly.

Yes. Same valve train. It is a solid lift cam with the oil passage in the block blocked off. It was a few years ago when we assembled this engine. I do not remember the specific details. I'm sure I will figure it out when I get it apart. Thanks for the help.

 

[stretch]

I think I remember the name of the head gasket company. I believe it is called "Flatout Products" and the young ladies name is Candi. Have any of you dealt with them?

 

[kubass]

A buddy of mine recently passed away. I have his car and it has a w2 340 in it. He was in the processes of replacing those heads with a different set of W2s when he passed. I am finishing the heads but need head gaskets. I remember him having head gaskets made but do not know who made them. He said he had talked to a young lady on the phone who was super knowledgeable and got him exactly what he needed it short order. If I remember correctly he had the gaskets within 5 days of ordering them. My hope is to find that company and they might just have a record of what he ordered so I can order a couple of sets. Do any of you have any idea what company that might have been?

I realize the that description of the gasket maker is vague. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you
Jason

Cometic Gasket, Fel-Pro, or MLS Gaskets are a few places that might’ve helped out with a quick turnaround. It’s worth reaching out to them to see if they have a record of the order or can point you in the right direction.

 

[Newbomb Turk]

Are you using O rings?

If so you use dead soft copper gaskets. I know Hussey made some, I think Flat Out makes or made them and one or two other companies back at the turn of the century.

If you aren’t using O rings then W2 heads take the same gaskets as any other head.

 

[fishmens67]

W2 heads take the same gaskets as any other head.

I was waiting for that

 

[stretch]

W2 heads take the same gaskets as any other head.

I don't know the exact specs but I know he had the gaskets made do to the compression and valve clearance concerns.

 

[Newbomb Turk]

I don't know the exact specs but I know he had the gaskets made do to the compression and valve clearance concerns.

That has to do with the thickness of the gaskets.

You can get them (IIRC) from as thin as .028-.180 or something like that.

You can’t just guess and hope what thickness you need.

You have to mock the engine up and check and verify everything.

 

[stretch]

That has to do with the thickness of the gaskets.

You can get them (IIRC) from as thin as .028-.180 or something like that.

You can’t just guess and hope what thickness you need.

You have to mock the engine up and check and verify everything.

Yes. I understand all of that. That is why I was hoping to find who made the gaskets and if they had records of what they sent. My plan was to order two sets and do exactly that. I plan to cc the new heads and the old head and check valve clearance with clay. The reason for the head change was the first set of heads was some sort of early head (W1 perhaps). He had mentened that he thought they may have been a old NHRA design. I really don't know the specifics. They required offset rocker stands that he had to have custom made and put an extreme angle on the push rods. The valve cover gasket area had to be clearanced for the push rods because of the angle. I probably have pictures that I can post

I don't know the exact details. Just what I remember talking about with him when we were assembling the car and what we found once the engine was assembled (He did all of the assembly). I do plan on checking and double checking everything.

I can post pictures of the heads and get casting numbers if anyone is curious.

 

[Newbomb Turk]

Yes. I understand all of that. That is why I was hoping to find who made the gaskets and if they had records of what they sent. My plan was to order two sets and do exactly that. I plan to cc the new heads and the old head and check valve clearance with clay. The reason for the head change was the first set of heads was some sort of early head (W1 perhaps). He had mentened that he thought they may have been a old NHRA design. I really don't know the specifics. They required offset rocker stands that he had to have custom made and put an extreme angle on the push rods. The valve cover gasket area had to be clearanced for the push rods because of the angle. I probably have pictures that I can post

I don't know the exact details. Just what I remember talking about with him when we were assembling the car and what we found once the engine was assembled (He did all of the assembly). I do plan on checking and double checking everything.

I can post pictures of the heads and get casting numbers if anyone is curious.

Please do post some pictures. If the heads have O ring grooves you need to run copper gaskets. They are a pain in the *** on the street but you can use them.

Do not let anyone convince you to to run copper O ring wire (it needs to be stainless steel) and use a FelPro gasket. That’s not the correct way to use O rings.

If you have O rings there are some options.

Option 1 is to use them with copper gaskets. That means the O ring wire goes into the head and a receiver groove needs to be cut into the block.

Not using a receiver groove makes it damn hard to seal up the oil and water passages.

Option 2 is machine the grooves out of the heads and block. Then you can use any gasket except copper. Machining the grooves out adds cost and maybe then you’d need other machining to make everything fit after getting rid of the grooves.

Option 3 is fill the grooves with an epoxy like JB Weld or similar and file it flat and send it. You can use any gasket with that fix.

Pictures will help

 

[stretch]

They have no O-rings.

 

[stretch]

I stumbled across the head gasket info today. Flatout products made the gaskets. W2 340 with a 4.07 bore .046 RCC gaskets with coolant passages with a 4.090 gasket bore. (RCC- Rubber-coated copper). Pierre had posted it in a build thread over on moparnuts. With this info in hand I can proceed with this project.

Thank you to each and every one of you who took the time to read this and help with suggestions.

I have been a member here for a long time. I seldom post much. I read and shop more than anything. The group of people who make up the membership here are all very helpful and easy to deal with. Every one of you that I have had any dealings with, be it info or buying something have been like talking with friends. I greatly appreciate it.

Jason