Gasket with dynamic joint motion control

A gasket is provided for use between an engine block and a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. The engine block has a combustion chamber fitted with a liner. A liner seal is compressed between an end of the liner and the cylinder head. The pressure of combustion tends to flex the cylinder head away from the engine block at a location away from the bolts which secure the head to the block, forming a gap. The gasket has an opening adapted to register with the combustion chamber. A thickened ring portion on the gasket surrounds the opening and serves as a load limiter for the seal, takes up the gap between the head and block caused by flexing, and provides a path for unloading combustion forces to limit movement of the liner.