Cometic head gaskets

[PeterK]

Cometic has a TR4 CFM-20 - Perforated steel core head gasket w/elastomer coating .043" 88mm.

Is anyone using these on a street TR4?
I am looking for options for slightly modified cumbustion chambers with better sealing potential than solid copper.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

Is this one of their MLS type head gasket meaning three piece metal with external grommets to hold them together, if so, yes on high compression MG race engines and they did nicely on 15.0 to 1 race engines. OH and those gaskets, like copper gasket have to be coated, I use Permatex Hitack for that.

 

[PeterK]

No not a MLS, it's a CFM but coated. The only one they list for the TR4 btw. I don't know if they install dry like a MLS yet either.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

Well if it's of any great interest to you, if they make your application in their copper version, which is also the only way they offer it for the BMC 948 engine as well, then you can special order the MLS gasket in that application, we did that very thing with the 948, If I rember correctly my buddy had to get three gasket to getthem to do it. The MLS are neat gaskets, they have three separate sheet of steel, the top and bottom are of what they call memory steel, everywhere you would have steel insert in a fiber, or copper gasker (cylinder, water jackets, oil passage, etc.) on the MLS is press to have a ridge that does the same thing as the steel inserts in the other gaskets, the bottom is the same construction, the center is a stainless steel shim, if you will, you have a choice of about 5-6 compressed thickenesses if needed. The the whole thing is held to together by 4 tabs, to on each side in all of the three sheet with a brass grommet to hold them together, you alway know a engine has a Cometic gasket if you see those 4 gormmeted tabs hand out of the block/head joint on the engine. Since they are nothing but bare steel, they definately have to be coated for assembly.

 

[PeterK]

Thanks Hap.