coolant flow restriction with Fel Pro 1094 head gaskets?

[Jim85IROC]

I was going to mount my vortec heads on my 350 tonight, but wanted to check the gaskets first because of some rumblings on thirdgen.org about them restricting coolant flow. Sure enough, the 3 large (1" or so) coolant openings in the block between the upper bore areas only have tiny 1/4" openings in the head gaskets. This will significantly reduce coolant flow. I haven't heard of anybody complaining about problems with these gaskets though. Can anybody enlighten me why Fel Pro restricts these passages and why it apparently isn't a problem?

 

[rustbucket79]

Those restrictors are there to force the bulk of the coolant to the back cylinders so the engine evenly cools. If all the "core" holes were left unrestricted, the coolant would take the path of least resistance, and little would make it to the back of the block.

 

[Todd80Z28]

Aren't most head gaskets like that, or are these special?

 

[Jim85IROC]

You know, since you mentioned that, I did a google search and it would seem that you're right. Here's a pic of the standard composite Fel Pro gasket, which is what I think I used last time: