Question - Compressed head gasket thickness

[Jentwistle3]

Does anyone know the thickness of a compressed (used) headgasket? I'm measuring valve to piston clearance and my old headgasket didn't survive teardown. I don't want to compress the new gasket until I assemble the engine for real. Or am I simply being cheap and should I use a gasket for this measure, then another for assembly?
Thanks in advance
John

[englishmaninwales]

John
I've just measured the head gasket that came out of my engine recently. Firering, average of 16 measurements, 4 per combustion chamber, is 0.73mm, range 0.71 to 0.75mm

Hope that helps
Malcolm

[el-saturn]

john - if you're considering cometic gaskets, they come in 1/10th steps starting at 0,3 --- go to the burton site, they show the various sizes. good luck sandy

[Jentwistle3]

Thanks Gents!

[dougal9887]

I used .60 mm to allow for the fact that the gasket will have sprung back slightly.
Dougal.