Head Gasket

Getting ready to do a head gasket on a 57 F-head. Is there anything that will throw me for a loop on these engines??? I know about the head bolt under the carb, just wondering if there was anything else I should know. Any input would be appreciated.

 

The mistake I made was ordering a gasket kit for a Willys jeep that turned out to be a kit for the L Head, which everything matched, including the head gasket, or so I thought, until I started the engine and the engine ran fine until it warmed up and the readiator came up to pressure, and # 3 cylinder filled with water. Upon closer inspection, after I pulled the head and found my mistake, there is enough difference in the gasket to cause this problem Got the correct gasket, confirmed by digging through the trash and placing the new (and proper gasket for the F-head) on top of the original gasket, and perfect match. You can laugh and call me a fool for not checking, but I'll never do that again, and I'm hoping you will take my advice and carefully inspect the new gasket and make sure it matches so as not to repeat my mistake.

At the end of my story, after I got the correct head gasket, the cooling system would finally build pressure and caused my old radiator to spring a severe leak.

Ended up having my original radiator re-corred at a price equal to a new radiator, but the radiator shop convinced me that the old vintage tanks are thicker than the cheap new ones, and I'm one to support the "remade" in America whenever I can...

Good luck. Let us know how you make out.

Chuck

 

The L head gasket Has square hole between the # 2 and #3 cylinder the F head does not. ease to spot if you know to look. Made the same mistake as Chuck

 

you want one like this
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/pa...CJ5/_/N-izg8uZ8znn3?itemIdentifier=75542_0_0_