Topic: 69 COBRA JET HEAD GASKET

[69cobrajetrugae2]

Does anybody know what type and the compressed and uncompressed thickness of the head gaskets that Ford used when the factory assembled the 428 cobra jet engine for 1969?  The car was born early June 1969 at the San Jose plant.  Thanks.

[J_Speegle]

Heck of a question and one I don't have an answer to. Would ask on the CJ Registry site or the FE site. Sure one of the regular engine builders can answer it correctly. Might even be there already in a prior post


http://www.428cobrajet.org/forum/

http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182

[69cobrajetrugae2]

Thanks Jeff.

 It seems that I have the original head gaskets, the tab measures about 23. The right side gasket leaks compression out a pinhole. I want to replace just that gasket, not both, but it may not be that simple.

 I remote cranked it leaning over number 3 spark plug hole after I removed the plug. That's the last time I do that. It might be pushing 11.

There's a guy that might come up with a solution to my dilemma. I have found several steel shim gaskets that have different configurations and construction. Only the grizzled old master can help me now or I might be pulling the engine.

Again, thanks Jeff, you are always there when we need you.

[Bob Gaines]

Thanks Jeff.

 It seems that I have the original head gaskets, the tab measures about 23. The right side gasket leaks compression out a pinhole. I want to replace just that gasket, not both, but it may not be that simple.

 I remote cranked it leaning over number 3 spark plug hole after I removed the plug. That's the last time I do that. It might be pushing 11.

There's a guy that might come up with a solution to my dilemma. I have found several steel shim gaskets that have different configurations and construction. Only the grizzled old master can help me now or I might be pulling the engine.

Again, thanks Jeff, you are always there when we need you.

I know you don't want to hear this but by the time it is all said and done it is easier and less time to pull the engine to replace the gasket then to do it in the car IMO . The best thing is to replace both so that they are exactly the same for balance of compression, intake fit etc. cheap insurance also . Murphy's law and what not. Just my thoughts on how i would do it. Best of luck on whatever you decide.

[67gtasanjose]

I know you don't want to hear this but by the time it is all said and done it is easier and less time to pull the engine to replace the gasket then to do it in the car IMO . The best thing is to replace both so that they are exactly the same for balance of compression, intake fit etc. cheap insurance also . Murphy's law and what not. Just my thoughts on how i would do it. Best of luck on whatever you decide.

+1 ...and nobody likes that particular guy named Murphy, no, NOT John Murphy, the OTHER guy named Murphy!

[GT500KR]

The best thing is to replace both so that they are exactly the same for balance of compression, intake fit etc. cheap insurance also . Murphy's law and what not. Just my thoughts on how i would do it. Best of luck on whatever you decide.

+1
When I was a kid, I changed the left side head gasket on my '65 289. It ran great... for 3 months. Then. you guessed it, the other side went out. Last time I ever did that!!

[69cobrajetrugae2]

Thanks for your help guys!

Doing the other side is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. Besides that, the booster obstacle makes pulling the engine much more attractive.

Very esteemed Mustang experts that have been kind enough to help me have differences of opinions. It's possible that Ford did use different gaskets on the 428 Cobra Jet or the dealer installed thin ones for the guy in Denver. Whatever the case, here is a picture of the passenger side front head with a 24 as a reference. The tab is metal and looks like 15 to me, what do you guys think? 

[Vcode]

Is that a Cometic gasket?

[69cobrajetrugae2]

I don't know what the gasket is made of. I have history of the car back to 1997, before that I don't know what was done.