Old engine gaskets

[twospeed]

Hello every one, I bought some old stock gaskets for my motor. They have shunk alittle.
Any tricks to get them back to size?? Or are they just old and useless?
Thank you

 

[Series3Scott]

I have a bunch of NOS Rootes gaskets too, and I suspect many of us do, but when they shrink they're really no good, except to use them as templates when cutting out new ones. Obviously draw that line a bit more outside the line of the shrunken gasket.

 

[Jim E]

Even some of the paper gaskets I just got from SS are shrunk, oil pan gasket is too small and usually the tappet gaskets do not fit.

 

[dannym]

Try soaking paper and cork gaskets in water or oil for 24-36 hrs. If gasket appears to already have some sort of oil treatment, use oil as water will not be taken up.
Danny

 

[jumpinjan]

Guys,
They used a cheap gasket material, that's why they shrunk. You would be many hours ahead if you make new gaskets with a quality material.