There is a company willing to make new head gaskets for the 3.8/4.2 V6 engines, the interested has been started by the Supercoupe guys over on www.sccoa.com here is the link to that thread.

http://www.sccoa.com/forums/showthre...d=1#post376763

this link is a post over on www.sccoa.com (Superocupe site). They have been in contact with a company called Cometic who is willing to make a new head gasket for the 3.8. Its a MLS style gasket just like the factory FORD MLS gaskets only the outer layers are coated with a rubber compound called Viton which helps seal the gasket better thus preventing coolant seepage. The benefit over the FORD MLS gaskets is these gaskets do not require such a fine finish on the blocks and heads in order for them to work properly, as some has seen even the FORD MLS gaskets can blow, part of this problem is due tot he finish ont he block and heads, on factory finished blocks this is not a problem but on rebuilt motors or pre-99 mustang motors this could be an issue. (Not sure what year the F150 started using the MLS gaskets)

A company has already stepeed up and is willing to make an inital purchase of 100 gakets to get the ball rolling, there is even a member of Cometic posting on this thread on SCCOA, explaining some details and helpful info on the products they carry.

Here is a link to the Cometic website and you can find out more info about thier gaskets.

http://www.cometic.com/catalogs/AutoCat04.pdf

gaskets shoudl be available in 8 different thicknesses to make up for milled heads and such so that your lower intake will still line up properly if you heads have been milled or you want ot raise compression slightly, or whatever.

If anyone is interested in these gaskets please post your interest, no commitment is needed, this is purely for gaugeing interest, thats all, no set number of orders is needed to make these, rather Cometic just wants to gauge interest for their own sake.

Pricing woudl be roughly $80US per gasket ($160US a pair), which although slightly higher then FORD MLS gaskets the reliability and fact that extra machining of the block surface is not needed is well worth it.

I will try and post further info on these gaskets when I hear more, or follow the SCOA.com link to follow the thread over there.

 

Sweet, so I can lower my comp ration by stuffing in some thick gaskets?

 

although that is not the BEST way of doing it YES you can, I don't think it would lower it all that much to be significant.

 

Are these gaskets for performance use only or are they to replace the faulty gaskets on the 3.8? As you know,the 4.2 has no head gasket issues; just lower intake and timing cover.

 

I have heard of stock F150 gaskets going as well, but its not a common problem. They are mainly for those who whish to put boost tot he motor and want a gasket that is sure to seal and stay sealed. Cometic has a proven track record for thier gaskets. I am not affiliated with this production, I am just merely passing on info from the site where the idea has started from.

 

The only time ive ever seen a 4.2 with head gasket failure was from overheating the engine.

Now,if the head gasket you are talking about is applied to the 4.2 for those who supercharge or raise the compression ratio,and is made to withhold these hp gains,then i'm sure this company will have a huge clientel! I myself like my 4.2 like it is,stock,but there are those out there that are showing the world how bad these 4.2s can be! I would never give up my 4.2 for either of the V8s Ford offers......well,maybe the Lightning....but the 4.2 is an engine to be reckoned with!

 

the 4.2's are truely a great motor, a new V6 record was set last week running 10.85 on a 4.3 motor with nitrous, which had the 4.2 crank in it with cusotm pistons and rods of course. Ran 12.08 ALL MOTOR, although it was in a 2600lb 88 mustang, but still impressive is the fact it made 280ish RWHP NA and 380ish RWHP on the nitrous.

These gaskets are mainly intended for performacne applications, stock gaskets are fine for stock motors for sure, these can be used on stock motors as well. I have not heard mouch more about the progress of these gakets lately but hopefully they are still working on them.