Copper Head gaskets??

[IanMack]

If you were or have rebuilt your AJP V8 would you use copper headgaskets??? I know sealing them can be a real pain so just wondered if the standard gaskets are really that bad??

[JonnyW]

Normal gaskets are fine, copper ones are if you are continually removing the head as you can reuse them. Normally used on racing engines for obvious reasons.

[TT Tim]

Copper also useful for changing the CR if necessary.

Tim

[IanMack]

Thanks for your replies, my main concern was rellability. I ve spoken to a couple of AJP engine builders and there seems no deffinative answer. The copper gaskets can be a nightmare to work with and the originals will eventually 'blow' due to the fact they sit in a bath of water. I ve attached a couple of photos of the gaskets I removed from my engine. The engine had covered 30,000miles (came out of accident damaged car so don t know its history) I plan to keep my car when it is eventually finished, and really don t fancy taking the heads off every few years or risk damaging them due to failure. Is it worth investing in getting a better composite gasket made?? Would anyone else be interested?? Or should i just get the copper gaskets???

[JonnyW]

That looks like a standard gasket. The issue is that people don't use the right antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor and they frankly rot in a bath of water. I've seen heads removed and the only thing left were the steel rings over the cylinders.

[IanMack]

Cheers Jonny thats what i thought, i would have thought there would still be a market for a better quality composite gasket