Metal plate gasket

A method of manufacturing a metal gasket assembly, comprising:

• providing a plate having opposite sides with an opening therethrough, said sides defining a thickness corresponding to a compressed thickness of said gasket assembly;
• forming an annular grommet having a generally U-shaped cross-section defining a pair of axially spaced legs having outer axially opposite sealing surfaces spaced a predetermined distance apart when in an undeformed state corresponding to an initial thickness of the grommet which is greater than said thickness of the plate;
• installing the grommet in the opening of the plate;
• and
• wherein the grommet is fabricated of a heat-treatable ferrous-based metal material and is formed to the annular, U-shaped cross-sectional configuration when the grommet material is in a relatively soft, plastically deformable pre-heated condition, and where after forming, the grommet is subjected to a heat treatment to impart elasticity and strength properties to the grommet enabling the legs of the grommet to be compressed elastically under an axial compression load to a reduced thickness corresponding substantially to the thickness of the plate and to return to the initial thickness upon removal of the compressive load.