It seems that head gaskets were pretty simple jobs, and now have turned to complete engine out jobs. How have head gaskets and/or engines changed over the decades? Is it true, that head gaskets were easier to change 20-40 years ago? Did they need to be changed often?
Probably the easiest for head gasket changes were the old flathead engines, followed by OHV engines with pushrods in the era before complex emission controls. In the past there have been cars that didn't even have head gaskets, like the Crosley.
@chucktobias Whoa. That's pretty wild to think about... no head gaskets?!
@kaizen Block and cylinder head cast as as single unit, with the engine assembled from the bottom.
@chucktobias fascinating.
Well theoretically they never need to be changed at all if they're made correctly. And yeah engines used to be super simple now they're extremely complex that gasket still do the same exact job but now they've got four cams multiple valves fancier cooling systems and a lot more aluminum parts in the engine that can warp at a lower temperature than the old cast iron ones then
