I will try to post a pic but I have the used set of felpro gaskets that came off my 302. After quick inspection they are clearly labeled 'front'. On the front side the two water passages that run in front of the most forward cylinder are open on the block and open on the cyl head but the gasket has one passage completed blocked off and the other has a 3/8 hole when it could be about a 1/2 inch on both. Can somebody explain to me why they would do this??? Is it to make better cooling on back cylinders?? Should I remove the area where the blockage is to provide better flow?? Did I just get lucky with a goofy set of gaskets??? Yes I'll buy new gaskets, any recommendations for gaskets as the motor will be centrifugally blown?
they block the front off so the coolant flows threw the block then up to the back of the cylinder heads then forward to the intake and to the t-stat. not shure about that 3/8s whole.
It supports cooling while eliminating any air lock that might occur. Don't try to improve them by making them larger or you will overheat toward the rear cylinders. They are engineered to provide coolant from the front of the block to its rear, up through the rear of the heads and then forward to the intake and out the thermostat housing and to the top of the radiator. As the coolant loses heat it drops through the radiator and then is drawn back into the pump and pushed back into the front of the engine block. That's it for cooling 101... Sorry.
