I have been using the Cometics but in my size and thickness I haven't found stock anywhere. I haven't tried other brands but maybe there are others that are stocked? Looking for gen 1 SBC 4.155", .066". So yes they are a little special. I have a little flexibility but need to be ballpark with them.

Who do you guys use and where do you get them? This is a boost application.

The cometics i wanted i was told 8-10 weeks, that was in march. Ended up going with a different thickness, but checked recently and was told again 8-10 weeks.

Mahle, felpro, maybe sce might be options.

We bought a set of mahle a few years ago, same reliability as cometic.

Worth a call to Flatout Gaskets in Mundelein IL.

https://www.flatoutgroup.com/contactus.aspx

quote:

Originally posted by TD3550:
Worth a call to Flatout Gaskets in Mundelein IL.

https://www.flatoutgroup.com/contactus.aspx

I got intake gaskets from them last time and was really happy with them. I will call them.

Bucky, same boat waiting however... I went on Amazon and found sets of Cometics for the DRCE 2 motors. Had them in three days!

quote:

Originally posted by stk 758 BP!:
Bucky, same boat waiting however... I went on Amazon and found sets of Cometics for the DRCE 2 motors. Had them in three days!

Sometimes I get lucky and either amazon or ebay will have someone with stock. I'd probably be better off opening the chambers on these heads a little or getting different pistons so I could use a thinner gasket which may be more available. I even thought about combining a couple thinner gaskets.....taking layers out of a sacrificial one. I should have stocked up on some but I keep considering changing the combo.

Shifter didn't shift and it was on the rev limiter before I knew it. Who knew rev limiters and boost were unfriendly to engines?

Did you manage to get it out recently? Wasn't sure.

quote:

Originally posted by TD3550:
Did you manage to get it out recently? Wasn't sure.

Yes last weekend. I have had a continuing issue with the hall effect crank sensor and some random misfires. Trying a different wheel which cleaned up the way it ran, but confused the hell out of the computer, thus the no shift issue. I don't know if it was the changes I made to the car or the track surface, but the car left as good as it ever has. Progress in some areas and problems in others. Hopefully it's only the gasket seal and no block or head damage.

quote:

Originally posted by TD3550:
Worth a call to Flatout Gaskets in Mundelein IL.

https://www.flatoutgroup.com/contactus.aspx

They get MLS head gaskets from Cometic. 8 week lead time.

We are getting our taste of socialism a little at a time. Bring it on slowly, and no one will notice. That is, until it's too late. Just like a frog in a pot slowly bringing it up to a boil.

I had a hard time getting a head gasket for a 5.9 Cummins in January. Cometic was out 8 to ten weeks. They referred me to another source.

Seems like everything is 6-10 weeks right now. Powerglide parts are really hard to come by, most everything from Sonnax is on backorder. Hell I can even get a B&M trans cooler right now, everyone is saying July for the one I need

quote:

Originally posted by Bucky:
Progress in some areas and problems in others. Hopefully it's only the gasket seal and no block or head damage.

I guess from the sound of it you lost a head gasket?

From my experience it is well worth while to re torque the heads after a few heat cycles. I know some say it is not needed but I am quite sure it helps. It is a pain in the tail but worth while for sure.

quote:

Originally posted by Curly1:

quote:

Originally posted by Bucky:
Progress in some areas and problems in others. Hopefully it's only the gasket seal and no block or head damage.

I guess from the sound of it you lost a head gasket?

From my experience it is well worth while to re torque the heads after a few heat cycles. I know some say it is not needed but I am quite sure it helps. It is a pain in the tail but worth while for sure.

I did, and I have spent decades not retorquing. But the mls are a different animal and the more I read the more I think you are right about adding that practice with these gaskets.

I have tossed around the idea of oringing the block and grooving the heads and running copper just to avoid the availability problem and to accommodate higher boost going forward. Not the time of year I wanted to do that really. I have a used set of mls hanging up that I might consider coating and reusing too.

Good practice on the head re torque no matter who's gasket. That includes the intake also. I have even done it with Copper.

I read a write up from Fel-Pro a long time abo about re-torquing head gaskets. What it said was that you didn't have to do it after a heat cycle. Torque everything and let it sit overnight then do the re-torque. That is how we have always done it.

It would be nice to talk to one of their engineers about this.

Lots to like on this thread and thanks for the responses.
Thinking about retorquing after a heat cycle......thinking headers have to come off and shaft rockers and stands out in my case. But easier than changing the darned gasket for sure.

What Curtis said about retorque after sitting overnight. I picked that up 20+ years ago from a group of guys that ran some successful machine shop and cylinder head businesses.

I’ve reused cometic MLSs multiple times on high boost bbc deals. Some were 4.60+ bore. They don’t look great when you take them off, but after I saw them look the same after 1 run vs 50 runs I tried it. Never any problems.

You could try an sce Vulcan cut ring gasket if anybody has one. I have some for an ls, think they’re mid .050s crushed. I lifted a head 4 times in one pass and expanded a couple rings and it just kept right on going with no problem. They actually work better if you don’t even use the gasket but that would be a challenge on a water block.

When i had my bbc apart earlier this year my machine shop got me felpro mls head gaskets. Don't know if they have or make what you need for your application but its worth a look.

Ya'll may not want to hear this.. But try Ebay.

I waited over a month for my last set and was checking everyplace I could think of every day. Checked ebay and a guy (business) put a set up for sale. Cheaper than Jegs and free shipping. I canceled the order from Jegs.

So, I will suggest to check it out. I just did a quick look and there is a pair of 4.165 x .051 for 148.00.
Just a thought if you can stand to lose .015 in thickness..

Dave