Reusing a cometic head gasket
 

I recently messed up a valve on my head and am having to change out the head due to damage to a valve. No damage was done to my old cometic head gasket and i was hoping to get my car back up and running this weekend. Does anyone know if the cometic head gaskets are reusable? Also i cant remember what size mine is so ordering one and keeping my same tune is kind of difficult.

Don't like them even while new, can't imagine re-using. OEM is like $36, did you order the cometic for a certain compression? New head studs as well...

id never re use a head gasket. Once the torque isput down on it it indents the gasket. Its just cheaper to get another cosmetic one if that's what you ran before. Also like vitaloasked what were your compression numbers?

I also say change it

Tom

thats usually the way i am is change it. but i cant remember the one that i got. i know there are several different thicknesses. and for the life of me i cant remember what it was. any way i can figure out which one it was? and you think stock head gasket will hold up to 25psi? and my compression is 8:1 ( i think) its been many years since ive been into this motor. my build was a great build so it lasted a while. the only reason i am having to mess with it is i sucked up some water on a really really bad storm day and i chipped an exhaust vlave.

Just have to measure yours when you get it off

Tom

My OEM gasket handles 20psi daily, 30psi occasionally (twice now) but is more torquing the head properly than the gasket, followed Tom's guide to torquing it and haven't had a problem. Measure the old one, if it's thicker use a SVT one.

Edit:Tom beat me to it.

never reuse a head gasket. they crush and will not seal again. use a oem motorcraft one. i ran 27psi for 2 years no problem with it. your compression is so low that i wouldnt worry to much about the compression difference. just watch the j&s for a couple runs

does it matter which one? I have contacted ford and they say there is 2 different ones and we cant seem to figure out the differences between the 2 of them.

Can anyone post a link to the how to from tom about the torquing of the head bolts please?