Flame rings ?

I noticed in one of Jim Comstock's photos he is using thin copper rings to seal the head to the barrel instead of a head gasket. Is there a groove machined into the barrels to accommodate the rings ? How are the rings made - copper wire ?

They would also need to be around the pushrod tunnels,
and around the oil return tunnel at the back of the cylinder...

Seems quite complicated, unless its bullerproof ?

acotrel said:

I noticed in one of Jim Comstock's photos he is using thin copper rings to seal the head to the barrel instead of a head gasket. Is there a groove machined into the barrels to accommodate the rings ? How are the rings made - copper wire ?

Click to expand...

I machine a groove .017 wide and .009 deep around the cylinder bores and lay copper wire in the groove. I use that along with a head gasket, copper or flame ring. It locks the head gasket solidly in place and makes them much more forgiving to loose head bolts. Jim

Thanks for that much appreciated.