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FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: MExpress on November 14, 2018, 04:07:21 PM

Title: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: MExpress on November 14, 2018, 04:07:21 PM
Hello all,
First time posting on the forum but I've been gleening a lot of useful information for awhile now.
I've recently purchased an old drag/street racer from the 70's complete with 427 side-oiler and tunnel port heads.
The heads have the original sodium filled valves, so I decided to remove the engine and pull the heads. I need to change those valves and have the heads R&R'd.
My question is what other intake gaskets are available for the tunnel port heads?
The only ones I see are the Mr. Gasket205G's.
Also I'm leaning toward the Fel pro 1020's for head gaskets. The one's I removed are metal not copper.
This engine also has 14:1 compression with double domed pistons.
What would you guys recommend?
Thanks!!
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: blykins on November 14, 2018, 04:12:06 PM
I love the Mr. Gasket gaskets for the TP's. 

Are the deck surfaces smooth enough for Cometics?  I'd rather see those for high compression engines.
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: MExpress on November 14, 2018, 04:23:54 PM
Thank you for the reply.
O.k will go with the MG 205's for the intake.
Not sure about deck surface. It appears very clean and the gaskets I removed looked good with no leaking.
Should I measure the thickness of the existing head gasket and then possibly look at the Cometic's to see what will work?
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: mike7570 on November 14, 2018, 04:26:34 PM
I might have a set of new intakes left over from when I had my tunnel port.  (I'll check)
you can have them for postage.
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: MExpress on November 14, 2018, 04:44:05 PM
Wow! You guys are awesome.
Thank you Mike
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: mike7570 on November 15, 2018, 12:17:05 PM
MExpress, I looked around my garage where I thought I had the intake gaskets and I could only find one gasket. Now I'm perplexed, why would I have only one?
I could understand one head or exhaust gasket but what good is one intake!
I was planning on doing some work in the garage next week and will keep looking.
I think this one came from the old Ford Power Parts in the late 80's or early 90's. I may have it to use as a template to cut my own from gasket material. (It's .125 thick) 

Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: MExpress on November 15, 2018, 12:43:44 PM
Thanks for checking Mike.
No worries. If you come across the other one let me know.
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: MExpress on November 15, 2018, 12:49:04 PM
Question for Brent. I was looking at the Cometic MLS Head Gaskets C5840-027. This has a compressed thickness .027 which is very close to the steel shim gasket(.020) that was installed.
Since I'm not sending the block out, what deck prep could I do to use the Cometics?
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: mbrunson427 on November 15, 2018, 01:06:33 PM
https://www.cometic.com/i-24769473-ford-fe-big-block-352-428ci-v8-027-mls-cylinder-head-gasket-4-250-gasket-bore-each.html

These would help you maintain more of your compression. Still be down about .2 over what it is now, probably not an issue at all. I assumed what are installed are Mr. Gasket .020" thick by 4.42" bore diameter gaskets.

For those MLS gaskets, cometic asks for a surface finish of 50RA or finer. I just made sure that the local machine shop knew this constraint when machining my 390 block. Will be interesting to see a suggested solution to this without machining/decking.
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: MExpress on November 15, 2018, 01:21:49 PM
Not sure on the make of the steel shim head gasket. Maybe a ford high perf. gasket from back in the day because the engine was built in the mid-late 70's.
Might just reassemble with steel shim gaskets.
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: Barry_R on November 15, 2018, 02:42:11 PM
Just finished up a tooling project to make intake gaskets for my heads - now in stock.

Is there any interest in doing a tunnel port or high riser part out of a more modern material?
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: blykins on November 15, 2018, 02:46:49 PM
Question for Brent. I was looking at the Cometic MLS Head Gaskets C5840-027. This has a compressed thickness .027 which is very close to the steel shim gasket(.020) that was installed.
Since I'm not sending the block out, what deck prep could I do to use the Cometics?

I doubt that there's anything you can do by yourself.  It's generally a machining process and even some of the older broach mill surfacers struggle with making the finish correct. 
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: thatdarncat on November 15, 2018, 03:27:15 PM
Just finished up a tooling project to make intake gaskets for my heads - now in stock.

Is there any interest in doing a tunnel port or high riser part out of a more modern material?

I have a tunnel port 427 slowly going together, I was just going to use the Mr. Gasket part, but I'd be interested in a set if you have them made. No idea yet though what kind of thickness will work best.
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: TomP on November 15, 2018, 04:07:23 PM
Barry, Hi Riser intake gaskets would be useful. Perhaps a filled floor version with a serrated edge knockout piece to use for original height ports?
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: GJCAT427 on November 15, 2018, 08:02:51 PM
Barry, I would be interested in a set of Tunnel port intake gaskets. Prepping a new TP for the 63 Hope to have it ready for Beaver Springs.
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: Leny Mason on November 16, 2018, 08:12:56 AM
Question for Brent. I was looking at the Cometic MLS Head Gaskets C5840-027. This has a compressed thickness .027 which is very close to the steel shim gasket(.020) that was installed.
Since I'm not sending the block out, what deck prep could I do to use the Cometics?

I doubt that there's anything you can do by yourself.  It's generally a machining process and even some of the older broach mill surfacers struggle with making the finish correct.
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: Leny Mason on November 16, 2018, 08:23:04 AM
Just finished up a tooling project to make intake gaskets for my heads - now in stock.

Is there any interest in doing a tunnel port or high riser part out of a more modern material?
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Barry what head gasket did you use on the blown Cammer you did, I bought copper gaskets with a thin seal around the water passages, they look kinda funky but maybe it will work. Thanks Leny Mason
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: MExpress on November 16, 2018, 12:09:27 PM
Barry, I would be interested in the tunnel port gaskets if you decide to make them.
I will be visiting you soon with those tunnel port heads. I'm a friend of Nick Zuk and I purchased the Midnight Express from him.
Trying to resurrect it after all these years :)
Dave
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: TomP on November 19, 2018, 07:54:59 PM
Ahh so you are the guy. I love that car. Was hoping it went to a good home and we will see it again before another 35 year hibernation!
Congrats on the cool purchase.
Title: Re: Tunnel Port Intake Gasket/Head Gasket
Post by: MExpress on November 20, 2018, 09:43:35 AM
Yes , Nick is a good friend and I plan to keep it as original as possible.
With luck I'll have it ready for next summer.
Thanks