The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Copper or Fiber, a matter of choice, or what?

Got me a couple of engine gasket sets here for the 216, one is a Best Gasket set and the other is Fel-Pro. One has a fiber head gasket with steel rings around the combustion chambers and the other is copper all round a fiber center. So are these just a difference in belief as to which one is the best choice or is one indeed better than the other???? And if you have a preference, I’d like to hear the reasoning behind it.

I’ve also run into a debate on the oil pan drain plug gasket or washer if you prefer. Here we have a choice of Copper w/asbestos center, Solid copper washer, Solid Plastic washer, and if you can find them, steel with an O’ ring insert in the face. Same question, do you have a preference and why?

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

The oil pan drain on my 216 was a little on the rough side, so the drain plug with copper washer dripped a little. I replaced it with a new plug and nylon washer, and even after several oil changes, no drips. I think the nylon washer compresses into small imperfections on the oil pan better than copper. I would think the face seal o-ring would be good also.
Always had good luck with Felpro gaskets - but, I have never used other brands. I am curious to see replies on the head gaskets also.

As for head gaskets Denny I've not had a bad issue with any so I'm not picky. As for the oil plug, if one's having dripping issues put some plain old pipe dope on the threads. No leak, doesn't "glue" the plug in and you don't have to buy a new plug.

Everyone I know who has used Best Gaskets swears by them. I used the Best rear main seal on my 248 and it is much more pliable than the old rope gaskets. It's also slick as snot on a doorknob. I also heard that the Best cork gaskets are thicker than Fel-pro. I'd use the Best.

I don't use the old copper head haskets. I think the composite ones with the steel rings represent progress.

Did you have a look at the Best rear main seal? It looks like it is made out of a pretty good material.

Oil plugs....if the threads are good in the oil pan I like the one with the built in rubber O ring. Over the years I have slipped a rubber O ring over the plug and never had any problems. I guess, like tcox said, that the rubber as well as the plastic conform to the surfaces better?.

How's the rebuild going Denny? Any problems, headaches?

i used the blue felpro in my 235 it works
and no problems. philip

The modern drain plugs that are metal with the oring type material in the center really work well, but they are only good for so many times on and off. Back when I was in the repair business I would usually replace them every 3 or 4 oil changes and would never have a problem with a leaking drain plug.
As far as the gaskets go Fel Pro has been a staple for years and they have a top notch product. I have used BEST a few times recently and like the product also. So, horse a piece on the gaskets for me.
Don

I don’t use the old ones either Fred, I always use a new one, tisk, tisk.

Got every thing for the ‘50 sitting in the nice warm kitchen Big. No headaches unless you count the one my “big old wife‘s” got. She’s not to nuts about having a 216 and associated parts stored with her pots and pans, but so far she’s tolerating it. Been concentrating on getting the ‘54 road worthy for spring in between a couple dozen other projects that can’t wait. Me buddy Pete says the reason I can’t see any progress is because I’ve got to many irons in the fire and I think he might be right.

On yeah Don, I was using Fel-Pro way back in the 50’s when I first started twisting wrenches and pop was an old mechanic from the 20’s thru the 50’s and was using their stuff way before I was even born. They’ve always set the benchmark. Federal-Mogul (another good old name) bought them a while back so I hope they keep up the same quality that they’ve always been known for. I don’t know who makes Best Gasket, the first time I ran into them was when I got back into the old trucks a few years ago and started buying from the vintage parts vendors. That makes me think that they may be comming across the pond from you know where.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Finding info on Best is as easy as using google.

Best Gaskets

Never made it that far down the “things to do” list on Friday Cletis, I just ran out of hours this week. I spent all day yesterday and most of the evening composing short stories for the Bolt and VCCA chat then trying to find a retail outlet for phosphoric acid at a reasonable price then chasing down parts and tools.

Best Gasket! Thanks, great write up on the history, in fact the whole site is full of tips and pointers. I see now that they were mainly on the left coast years ago. That’s probably why back here we never heard of them. So like Fel-Pro they’re a good old US company also, I like that. If the guys out on the coast grew up using locals like Jack Best Gaskets back in the day, then I can’t help but wonder if our local Chicago Fel-Pro brand was as unknown to them as their Best was to us in the Midwest?

I’ve got a couple of Best engine sets here, one I got from a resto-vendor pn RS502G and the other that the machine shop needed for the front plate gasket when they rebuilt the short block pn RS502C. I didn’t notice before that the part number suffix was different but now I see what the ’G’ & ’C’ (Graf-Tite” and Copper) stand for.

Their web page sure clears up in my mind the Copper or Fiber question that initiated this thread. Also I’ve often sat in on discussions over two things, one is the use of a gasket sealer on a head gasket and the second is whether to re-torque. I’ve always walked away shaking my head because like politics 49% think right, 49% think left and the rest of us just don’t know for sure.
Best makes it very clear with this statement: “Install using a spray-on sealant like K & W Copper Coat or Permatex Copper Spray-A-Gasket. Always re-torque, no short-cuts.”

Ya wrapped this one up like a Christmas present Charlie, that’s why you the man.
Thanks,
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL