Best Gasket overhaul gasket set

[MarkH]

A heads up on Best Gaskets if anyone is using them. I used the full overhaul set supplied by Egge Machine Co. along with my rebuild parts.
 
I had my engine set up to run it's break-in hours on a stand, ran it week end before last. It went well except the carbs were badly out of tune and a couple gasket leaks.
Something at the back of the engine, I suspect the rear main rope seal since the drip appeared to have graphite in it. Also, a small amount of amber colored oil started to weep from almost the entire perimeter of the head gasket when the engine came up to temp, 160. My break-in oil is dark purple, antifreeze brilliant orange. The only amber oil in the engine was cylinder wall lube at assembly. The engine was flipped at one point after the head went on but everyone's scratching their heads on how the gasket could absorb any of that. Calls to Best and their calls to their "go to" engine builder haven't gone anywhere so far.

However, I did learn that they have specific instruction on sealing their head gasket NOT included with the gaskets but stated somewhere on their website. Coppercoat sealer MUST be used, and their re-torque requirements differ from the factory manual. I don't remember exact specifics now but you might want to check on that.

Also, from what I've read online, some rope seal manufacturers have some sort of compound in their rope material that swells when exposed to engine oil. When I asked Best about this, they said they do not.

[joefrazer]

I know it's a pain, especially if you have the 161 f-head engine, but you might want to pull the head and see what's going on. I've heard that Best Gaskets require a different sealing and torquing process but I did not have a problem with the one I used on my f-head Jeepster engine. I didn't use sealer and torqued it to the shop manual spec.

My Darrin engine is currently with a rebuilder who's experienced with the f-head. When I speak with him next I will mention your problem.

[MarkH]

It's a pain but I need to know I've got a good gasket there, as well as resolve the engine oil leak at the rear. I didn't go this far to guess how long it will take for this gasket to dry out, or paint the underside of my car with oil everytme it gets driven. The engine is almost stripped to go back to the shop but I'm looking at gasket options before hauling it back. One item of interest is a split synthetic seal in Brazil to use in place of the rope.
My machinist used to do the machine work for the last remaining Willys dealer in this region, still open in the early 70's, but not common work for him anymore. I think he did a pretty good job on the internals since it carries really good oil pressure.