Copper Head Gaskets

Has anyone had any experience with copper head gaskets.My buddy has a 429 with alum. heads.He was gonna have it freshened up so he took it to the machine shop.The guy tore it down and started checking everything and said the heads were not level.So he trued everything up and built the short block.The machine shop said to use copper head gaskets if nitrous was gonna be used.So my buddy put the brush on glue on and put on the heads on fired it up switched it off and could hear water dripping into the pan.Pulled the valve cover and had gravy.Pulled the heads ordered new gaskets just in case and repeated process using the spray adhesive this time.Put pressure on the radiator everything ok.Took it down the road and then to the track.Everything ok a couple of weeks until he started to load the car on the trailer for a second trip to the track .Went down the road car started skipping smoke pouring from under the hood.Same thing puking gravy out of the breather tubes on the valve covers.Does anyone have suggestions or heard of this happening.He is pulling his hair out.The guy at the machine shop said he was running the wrong radiator cap.He is using a 14lb the man said to use a8lb.Sorry this is so long just trying to explain it all.THANKS

Yeah, a radiator cap can do that believe it or not.

Copper head gaskets should be reusable. Look into that. The wrong rad cap can cause issues, but it isn't likely to cause flow into the engine. More often than not, that's an internal problem or a bad gasket.

Copper head gaskets should be reusable. Look into that. The wrong rad cap can cause issues, but it isn't likely to cause flow into the engine. More often than not, that's an internal problem or a bad gasket.


Depends where the leak is. We had that problem on one of the Mustangs. It was pushing coolant passed the intake gaskets because the rad cap was keeping pressure too high. We changed the cap and the problem went away. It was as bad as what he's describing though so there might be further issues.

I can't think of a reason to need an eight pound cap, but whatever.
I kinda think your friend is having an issue with his intake gaskets. I know there's no radiator cap that will hold enough pressure to force water into the cylinders at the head gasket, unless the gasket is bad (in which case, the engine could vacuum the water in). Far more often, the cylinder pressure will push air into the water jacket and cause the bubbles in the radiator, yada, yada, yada.
Copper head gaskets should be reusable. I've reused them (up to four or even five times in a pinch).
I never used any glue on copper head gaskets. I never recommend it either. Then again, I don't use glue on most gaskets.
Smoke under the hood? Is that the only place? Nothing from the tail pipes?

No water or smoke out of the headers.No sign of it being intake gaskets.Thanks for your input guys.

From the description, it would seem the engine either has a cracked head or cracked block. If the intake gaskets leak, they're bad. If the copper gaskets leak, they were likely installed incorrectly, ei., too much or not enough torque. Maybe the head milling doesn't match that of the deck. The use of adhesives is not recommended with head gaskets on most engines. Never knew anyone to do that. I prefer not using any unless it specifically is called for.

Using adhesives on head gaskets, especially with aluminum heads is a surefire way to get a bad head gasket. If the gasket is glued in place, it can't flex when the aluminum head is expanding faster than the iron block. When that happens, the gasket material will tear and even the o-rings on ringed gaskets will crack and leak. I have never used anything more than a dab of silicone in the top corners to hold the gasket in place during assembly but even that that's not always necessary because most engines have dowels or pins to aid in alignment during installation.

Also, just because you can't see the intake gasket leaking doesn't mean it isn't. Especially if the intake does not quite square up with the heads and oil galley. It can stretch and pull the intake gaskets out of alignment when the intake is torqued down and all you need in is a 32nd of an inch in alot of cases to cause a problem. I'd pull that intake and get a good look at what's going on underneath.

I know that the SCS Titan copper head gaskets REQUIRE adhesive to keep them from seeping water. Copper head gaskets are notorious for leaking water....

Just use the Felpro MLS (multi layered steel) gaskets, and they won't leak water, and they won't blow. I'm runnin 25psi, and making 1284 at the rear wheels with these gaskets, and I have never hurt one. They are the new "holy grail" of head gaskets... :D

I had a problem like that once after an intake change.
Turned out the idiot that built the engine didn't put the dowls in the block so the heads moved when I did the intake.