James Copper Gaskets

[JSB55]

Finally got my 1954 45" back from a total rebuild of the bottom end and cylinders. I have iron heads, and have a set of the James copper gaskets with the embossed bead (raised on one side all around, plus encircling the bolt holes). I know to aneal them and use Copper Spray-A-Gasket. What I don't know is which side faces up towards the head, and they aren't marked. Google is no help, but you guys always are.

[T. Cotten]

I understand why you would want to anneal a used copper gasket, John..

Apparently, duty work-hardens them. But shouldn't a brand new one be soft?

And its been decades, but I thought the OEM gaskets were all the same, so you just flipped one for the other head. Did JAMES make two different head gaskets?

....Cotten
PS: Please inspect your cylinder decks and heads for "flat" before assembly.

[JSB55]

Never used them before, and I hadn't broken the seal on the package. They have a little flex to them, but not having used them before, I don't know if that's "soft". From what I'd read, I thought it was standard practice to aneal them all.

[Rubone]

It makes no difference which side is up. And you will find that they are opposite each other since they are the same stamping. OEM are just one stamping.

[JSB55]

Yup, Robbie, now that I opened the package I see one goes on embossed ridge up, the other down.

And yes, Cotten, all 4 surfaces checked with a straight edge and a light behind in a darkened room, plus a few swipes with a whetstone reveals no high spots.

[T. Cotten]

Were OEM copper gaskets "embossed", or "corregated", etc., Folks?

Does anybody have examples?

Thicknesses would be great, too, Thanks in advance!

...Cotten