Looking at gasket sets for my 1.6 cvh (early xr2 or xr3) hemi head and ive noticed something I cant get my head around. all the gaskets I look at seem the same but the have tiny holes punched in them that seem to be right over water channels between the block and head, some of the water ways seem to have gasket cut out and some just have tiny holes not shaped to the water way, is this right of im I being thick

the gasket may be upside down but these tiny holes still seem to sit over some of the water channels? pics are just off the net btw








are the head gaskets the same and its just the other bits in the kits that vary for inj/carb/turbo?

 

well I rang ford and the parts man asked the mechanic who was stood next to him and he said it was to restrict water flow on certain parts of the head that don't get as hot, well if that's true and seems logical, you learn something every day.

Can anyone confirm true and ive not been told a load of crap lol

 

Same on my zetec multilayer gasket. It's right mate they are supposed to be like that.

 

Cheers pal, they also said the genuine gasket I have is listed for 1.6 turbo & 1.6, does that sound right? cant see any difference looking at pictures between those advertised as turbo ones or carb ones, some people list them as for turbo only which goes against what ford told me, any thickness differences? ,

 

No differences I know of. Maybe there are some differences in thickness with different manufacturers, but it sounds right to me mate. If the turbo gasket was any different it would only be to make them stronger, and to say it's the same block and head you could still use that for the na block.

 

Many thanks, appreciated.

 

if it helps ive always used a turbo gasket on a cvh regardless of it being n/a or a turbo

 

Yes, those small holes are correct. I questioned it on mine too when I did a top end rebuilt a while back.