DrkPhx

iTrader: (15)

The copper spray gives an added measure of reliable sealing and is more common with other brand engine builds when using a MLS gasket. I even use it on the exhaust gaskets. First, I did torque them to spec installed (bare, no spray), remove them, clean all surfaces including the gaskets. Then I sprayed both sides of the gaskets and let them dry a little longer than the recommended "tackiness". Then installed them to spec. Pretty simple.

P Mack

iTrader: (6)

.045 dry, arp studs, no leaks

Cliff

iTrader: (19)

I have had 3 sets. Used copper spray on the 396 motors, no problem with leaking. No spray on the 427 and no problems.

cyphur

iTrader: (10)

.045, arp head bolts, no leaks.

wallstAL

Andy Green of A&A Corvettes installed the .045 Cometics over a year ago, engine is fine!!

Mr. Luos

iTrader: (9)

.045" new GM bolts, no leaks yet.

HavATampa

iTrader: (49)

Anybody else have anything else to add to this thread? I'm pulling the heads this weekend and want to re-use the Cometics I've had on the engine for the last 6 months. I have a weird feeling re-using head gaskets. It was always taboo in the past to do that.

SideStep

I just re-used my .045 Cometics, no problems at all... I did use copper spray sealant....

ArKay99

iTrader: (1)

I had AFR 205's milled .010 mounted on .040" Cometics dry with stock bolts. Ran it for about 6 mos. and 1500 miles. Then removed the heads, had them milled another .020", used the Cometics torqued just slightly to notch the pistons, then re-used them dry with stock head bolts again. No leaks for the last 6 mos. and ~1000 miles.
One other thing I should say. When GM put my engine together, they dropped the driver's side head on the driver's side deck at the front. I matched the bottom front corner of the head to the gouges in the deck, about 6 of them. The first was deep, about .060" and about 1" long. It was outside of the coolant holes and went just about to the edge of the deck. Then the other ones that went towards the exhaust were successively smaller. They used the stock .052" graphite gaskets and there was coolant in the gouges out towards the edge of the block until the channels got too small and I guess the graphite gasket filled.
When I took my heads off the first time and saw this I was like . I got some FastSteel and mixed it and applied it to the grooves and got it as smooth and level with the surrounding area as I could. It worked out because even with the Cometics, I didn't have any leaks and there were no signs of coolant traveling where I put the FastSteel.

Suprfun

iTrader: (2)

.045 Cometics, ARP studs, dry, heat cycled 3 times. No leaks.

Suprfun
97 C5