Hogshead felt seal

[Flyingpiper59]

Boy, I took one look at that felt seal that came with my gasket set for the Hogshead and I am completely not impressed….. can anyone give me any guidance if there’s a better choice to use than the felt?….. has any buddy fabricated a gasket made of cork?….or a good technique for using the felt…
As always many thanks in advance!

Cheers and Happy Fathers Day

[RajoRacer]

I put on disposable gloves and rub black RTV all through the felt & let it set up for an hour prior to installation.

[TrentB]

Check the compressed thickness of the felt with micrometers. Most transmission cover felts are twice the thickness they should be. I usually split the felt in half by pulling it apart starting at one end. Then I coat both sides of the felt with RTV.

I also trim the length of the felt so it just comes down to the joint between the block, the cover and the pan. Too much felt in this area tends to bend your carefully straightened pan.

Respectfully Submitted,

Trent Boggess

[speedytinc]

I cut a strip of rubber impregnated cork 1/2" wide 1/16" thick. glue down with hi-tak. RTV a bead on top & on HH.
Been very effective. No chance of over stressing ears & breaking.

[Craig Leach]

I do pretty much the same as described I just don't use the felt or any gasket material. I run a generous bead of RTV on the block, smear some
grease on the HH & install. The RTV squeezes out on both sides of the HH forming a H seal. I would not suggest using GreatStuff, I thought it
would be better because it's stiffer. If you do you may not get the HH off in the car. I had to pick the engine a 1/4" with the hoist hook in the
HH & go to bed, came out the next morning it had sepparated but could not get it off the normal way.
Craig.

[TRDxB2]

FROM By Mike Seager on Saturday, January 16, 2010 - 09:19 pm:

I just use the permatex ultra black and the standard felt out of the gasket sets and it works fine. I glue the gaskets on the night before so they cant slide around when i am putting the hogs head on. Then a nice coat of sealant before putting the HH on. It is leak proof never had a drop come by the hogs head. --- Note the arrow is a must place for permatex

[jsaylor]

We didn't have good RTV sealers back in the day. I use the felt seal by cutting to length then dipping it into a can of spar varnish for a few minutes. Then remove and hang it up by a clip from one end and let it dry to a hard shell over night. Some will drip off so place something under to catch the drips. The varnish will still be pliable inside the harden shell. place over the back of the block and install the hogshead. The liquid varnish will be squished out and dry making a good seal.

[JohnH]

Never had any trouble with the felt seal over the past 20 years. I must be on my third (or could it be fourth? - I think I may have reused one once). I just apply silicone sealant to the felt to secure it to the arch at the back of the block, and then on the other side to seal it against the hogshead. A bit extra in the corners stops leaks there.

[Allan]

i have always used the felts supplied in the kits. I have never trimmed the length. I lay it on the plastic wrap it comes in and work a heavy coat of black silicone into each side, ending up with felt reinforced RTV silicone gasket. i fit the two ends at the pan rail with 1/4" or so bent out onto the rail. Then the full length of the felt is worked down onto the land at the back of the block.This is just like fitting band linings. Fix the ends first, and work the rest into place. This worked just as well on the alloy covers on my three early cars.

It helps to hold the pan gaskets in place when fitting the cover. One of Ted Aschman's tinkerin tips was to cover the gaskets with RYV and fit them down on the rail. Put a couple of pan bolts through from underneath, and hold them there with cotter pins. These can then be withdrawn as you work the cover down into place.

Hope this helps,
Allan from down under.

[Flyingpiper59]

Thanks all….. i’m feeling better about the process!

[SurfCityGene]

I just used a single bead of Ultra Black on my early alum HH and have not had any leaks. Many of the ears on the alum HH's are found broken so I was concerned about the thickness of any felts. Of course a felt is designed like a wick unless it is somehow sealed.

[Flyingpiper59]

Are the broken ears common on the Iron ears….I can see the aluminum

[Mark Chaffin]

Soak in shellac and put it in place. Let cure for 24 hours. Works great. Have never had a leak.

[DanTreace]

As Mark says, the soaked in varnish felt is an easy way. Dip the felt strip in the can, then squish with gloved fingers to remove excess which in turn thins the stiff thick dry felt gasket to its correct thickness. Let dry a while but still sticky for use.


When placed on the engine block curve, it stays put for install.

The varnish squish's out and provides a great seal after the hogshead is bolted down. Plus doesn't hold fast when removing a hogshead. Only RTV for me is that little corner on each side where Ford Service states to use a piece of candle wicking there. A gob of RTV stops those seeps in the corner. Permatex #2 everywhere on metal surface and paper gasket surfaces.

[DHort]

What brand of varnish?

[DanTreace]

Well, since you asked. This works ok.

[speedytinc]

Good thing you recommended satin & not hi gloss varnish.
That would start something.

[Erik Johnson]

Chris Elliot did a comparison test of satin vs gloss polyurethane varnish years ago:

https://youtu.be/YOrv57oIjOI?t=487

[Erik Johnson]

I read this in a period publication - I can't remember if it was the Ford Service Manual, Dyke's, Ford Owner or an old Western Auto catalog, etc. -that some gasket sets included two short lengths of cord - such as cotton or asbestos - that were installed at the corners where the front of the hogshead meets the pan in order to eliminate leaks. This would serve the same purpose of putting bead of Permatex in those two spots.

[Rich P. Bingham]

Just a thought, in the “old days” when even modern daily drivers leaked a little oil, RTV was unheard of, and non-hardening #2 Permatex was the go-to gasket seal, I had good results using the felt seals that were often long enough to give a little tuck under in those corners where some like to use cord, candle-wicking or a bead of RTV. In the prevalent climate wherein we’re striving to make our flivvers as leak-proof as a new Tesla It would be well to avoid gluing the hogshead down too tight. It will have to come off again someday. I still use #2 Permatex. Something works for me, I stick with it !!