Changing Head Gasket

[Xgenious]

Alright so im going to be changing my head gasket over the weekend already taken off the dead one but i noticed that the coolant holes seem to be way to small to be efficient and looks to be part of the reason why it failed in the first place
got the new gasket this morning and found that it has the same small holes and what looks to be outlines for the bigger holes, im just wondering if i have to make these holes bigger i mean even just putting a larger drill bit through it, to me ,would make for better flow, im pretty novice at this so just don't want to screw it up, Any help would be gratefuller

Thanks

[m1lky]

Yes it probably would improve the flow. But I wouldn't be taking a drill anywhere near my block. Just think of the nightmare you'd have keeping swarf out of the oil and coolant galleys.

My bet would be that the other holes are for a different model. They probably use the same stamping tool and just unbolt a bit.

[waxes]

Is it a GM head gasket or aftermarket? There are some cheap and nasty gaskets and seals on the market at present.Compare yours with GM or quality ones like ACL. Might be dearer but great piece of mind.

[Hangman]

Yes it probably would improve the flow. But I wouldn't be taking a drill anywhere near my block. Just think of the nightmare you'd have keeping swarf out of the oil and coolant galleys.

My bet would be that the other holes are for a different model. They probably use the same stamping tool and just unbolt a bit.

Think he means the holes in the gasket, not the block.

[IBLOWN]

They use small holes to keep the water in the heads longer. Its like that for a reason. Dont touch em.

[Brett_jjj]

From looking at the head gaskets shown in the gregorys workshop manual,(which Im pretty sure are pics of the genuine head gaskets), they also have the same small holdes in the same places, so I wouldnt go opening them up any.

[pablo]

Going back to the old GM red motors, they also had small holes where you indicate in your gasket. I always thought that they were to bleed off any trapped air and to make sure that no air pockets develop and not so much for the circulation. The bigger holes at the back of the head (or front) are for the circulation.