hey guys. wondering if anyone knows how much my headgasket is supposed to compress? if any at all? i'm using the fel pro #1074 headgasket and i just put the first one on last night. i used a feeler gauge and i still measured .039 between the block and the head. the gasket itself is advertised at .039 thickness. i cleaned the threads out with a wire brush and break cleaner, used permatex #2 on the threads and 10wt oil under the headbolt and washer. i torqued them down to 70 ft lbs. i know recommended is 65 ft lbs, i just want to make sure she's tight enough on there. i used a mr gasket #5716 last year and that bast*rd didn't seal between the head and the gasket.
any help would be appreciated,
thanks...

 

.039 should be the advertised compressed thickness.