Champion Head Gaskets?

[Buccaneer]

I tore into my Champion 4K 7.9 hp parts motor today
to see how bad it was stuck. I had been spraying
PB Blaster in the plug holes off and on.
After I pulled the head and gave the pistons a couple
of whacks with a maple 2 x 2, it popped loose and spun
freely and didn’t even see any rust.

I cleaned up the block and head gasket surfaces so
I could put it back together and check compression.
Spinning with a drill I got 90 & 93 psi, making
me think this motor may be fodder for a future project
or parts for the one I just got running.

The head gasket is washed out of the bottom, “water side”.
I see no NOS Champion head gaskets “out there”.
The gasket has steel compression rings imbedded in it.
The gasket would have to be at least as thick as the old one,
or the pistons are going to hit the head, and suitable head
gasket material is going to be hard to cut.
Any suggestions?

Prepare to be boarded!

• This topic was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by Buccaneer.

[Robert Wight]

I know some folks have had custom gaskets for their vintage outboards, including head gaskets,  fabricated by Cometic Gaskets.   I don’t know what they might charge but here’s a link to their custom gaskets page:

https://www.cometic.com/custom

Bob

1937 Champion D2C Deluxe Lite Twin
1954 Johnson CD-11
1955 Johnson QD-16
1957 Evinrude Fastwin 18
1958 Johnson QD-19
1958 Johnson FD-12
1959 Johnson QD-20

“Every 20 minute job is only a broken bolt away from a 3-day project.”
"Every time you remove a broken or seized bolt an angel gets his wings."

[Buccaneer]

Robert Wight wrote:

I know some folks have had custom gaskets for their vintage outboards, including head gaskets,  fabricated by Cometic Gaskets.   I don’t know what they might charge but here’s a link to their custom gaskets page:

https://www.cometic.com/custom

Bob, thanks for the input. I’m aware of that outfit.
I know Randy in Tampa has had gaskets made there
for his big Johnsons, but he always has multiple guys
“get in on it” to knock the price per gasket down.

If I had a dedicated, cherished project in mind, and knew the
power head was solid, that may be an option.
For now, I may go thru the carb and ignition and see
if I can get the powerhead to “bench run” for 30 seconds
and see if any parts are trying to escape the crankcase!

Prepare to be boarded!

[Author]

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