Technical Soaking old gaskets

I bought some NOS gaskets and in there were some early cork-only gaskets for sideplates, valve covers, etc. They are very brittle , but I remember something about soaking these old ones in water, letting them expand, and then installing them while expanded. Anyone done this with success?

 

you can but only for a few hours and put on while expanded

 

^^^^^
Years ago I threw a 30 yr old GMC valve cover gasket in the hot tank & went to lunch.
When I got back, I could have used it on a 320'' Buick !

 

Hi
We got some gaskets from England still in package but not airtight and this worked . Soaked for about 2 in plain warm water . Warm water seemed to be the trick and only leaving in long enough to be firm and flexible . Then we put them in rags to soak up excess moisture and installed them damp . Only took them to about 2/3 recommended torque , let them dry overnite , removed them and dressed them in sealant for final assembly then of course torqued to recommended rating . These gaskets were for an old Rolls Royce notorious for leaking oil and not a leak and next 5 years I know of kept sealed like a charm

 

That's 2 hours for soaking