I spent some time working on the head today and I think I'm nearly ready to sent it to the machine shop. One thing puzzles me however. When I drop the head gasket over the head and line it up I don't see a lot of room to unshroud the valves. I'm putting in the 1.7 / 1.44 valves. The ring of the gasket appears to lay right on the edge of the chamber. When i position the gasket on the block there is a very small portion of the block surface showing. The block is bored .060 over. I've heard of a larger bore gasket available I think from Australia; do I need to spring for one of these?

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

I was just looking at my old head gasket yesterday. Victor

The reliefs around the valves just catch the outside of the steel sealing ring.....and show no signs of failure.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Yes, the US made gaskets do not give you much room to unshroud the O/S valves.
The best you can do is go in there with a small grinding tool and work the side of the chamber, up close to the valve seat, and not remove material where the gasket surface is. Said another way, you "undercut" the side of the chamber. Use the head gasket as your guide.

The head gasket from Oz gives you more room to grind before hitting the "fire ring's" sealing surface.
DD

Is this the one I need?

http://tinyurl.com/29etvz

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

That may be OK. Best to call/email them and ask for fire ring ID.

I have two types of Aussie gaskets - Permaseal, which has a huge 3.66" bore, and another (ACL?) that has 3.56-3.58" bore.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

The onw pictured is listed as an "ACL" gasket. I'll email them just to be sure. I think 3.66 is probably way more than needed but 3.56 might be just about right. Thanks for the info.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

OK, my "smaller" Aussie gaskets are 3.540-3.545" diam. Sorry to overstate earlier. They are indeed ACL gaskets.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

I just measured my Victor gasket and it looks like it's 3.52. I also laid it on the head again, with better light and it isn't as tight a fit as I first thought but still I'd like to have a little more space to work with. I'm going to email a couple of places in Oz to see what they've got.

A couple of folks have expressed interest so I'll post my results when I get some answers.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

The ones to get direct from Oz are the Permaseal - 3.660" bore and excellent sealing properties.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Favorite or suggested vendor?

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

Sorry, no idea on a specific vendor. I got mine through Cameron Tilley. He may send you some if you get a group buy together, or ask nicely. May not be worth shipping one, but if you get some people together, it's not too bad.

http://tilleyracing.com.au/

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Thanks Lou, I just sent Cameron an email.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

A picture may help...
I was doing a lot of head to block matching this weekend so I snapped some pics of the big bore gasket compaired to the US made gasket. (the red colored one)

As you can see, the big bore gasket is way big for my .060 o/s bore, even with the wide side cuts I have for the o/s valve -head combustion chambers.
DD

Wow, those bores are enormous; would give me plenty of room. I haven't heard back yet from Cameron.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.