Head Gaskets

[orgnl70]

I am installing FEL-PRO head gaskets on '67 GT heads. I noticed that the front water jacket passage is blocked (no cut out in the gasket) on both sides. Is this correct?
The gaskets that were removed had the cut outs on front and rear on both sides. I am using new FEL-PRO'S #1020.

[blykins]

Hole should be in the rear of the gasket.  FRONT should obviously go to the front of the block and you have to flip one gasket over to achieve that.

[My427stang]

Just to add, the front HAS to be blocked.

Water travels out of the water pump backwards, then it goes up into each head and forward again through the head.  It exits the head and goes to the thermostat and bypass and back to the radiator

If the front is open, water would bypass the very parts it's trying to cool.

So as Brent said, front to the front, even if upside down, and front is always blocked

I have never seen a gasket open on both sides on an FE, but if it was, it likely didn't run as cool as it will

[gt350hr]

     orgnl70,
        The idea is to block the water transfer at the front of the block so the "cooler" water will flow to the back of the block first , then up into the heads and go forward to the manifold and on into the radiator. If the passage wasn't blocked , the water would go up into the head immediately and the water in the back of the block wouldn't move. This would cause over heating and why when a persons says his motor over heats , one of the first questions asked is "do you have a head gasket on backwards?"
    Same as My427stang posted , he was faster at responding than I was.

[orgnl70]

Thanks for the great help.