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head gasket?
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 9:55 am
by jmattox
This may sound "dumb," and I am willing to listen to the laughter, but... I don't remember removing a "head gasket" on any of the vee engines I have rebuilt (up to 4 now due to "dumb" mistakes). Do we need to actually have a "head gasket" between the jugs and heads?
John
fv42
Re: head gasket?
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 8:58 pm
by FVartist
There isn't one.
Re: head gasket?
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 10:34 pm
by 1969zeitler
Mine had a thin copper gasket (looks more like a copper 0-ring if you ask me). A set came in my 1200cc gasket kit too.
Re: head gasket?
Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 11:23 pm
by SR Racing
No. You typically do not use a head gasket (copper ring) in an FV engine. This does mean that your cylinder tops are perfectly parrallel and head surfaces are precise/flat. The deck height reuired is .039. If you use a gasket you will lose effective compression ratio. Be sure and do a leak down check after head torque to make sure you have a good seal.
Re: head gasket?
Posted: April 23rd, 2010, 1:20 pm
by brian
The original engines used the copper ring to seal out carbon monoxide from the car heater. On the street motors, the hot air escaping from the cooling process is captured and used for heating the passenger compartment. On later motors VW did away with the gaskets. If everything is set up right, the cylinders will seat with or without the gasket but as Jim mentioned you do run a risk of gaining a bit of deck height.