Head gasket questions...

Throws

Throws

Active member
As I'm getting ready to put my newly redone L35 heads on, I'm curious as to the multitude of headgasket options. It seems like everyone agrees that the Victor Reinz 5855 gasket is OEM (or stupidly close to it), but at $40-50 each, it's an expensive proposition for "stock".

Fel-Pro offers the 510SD, gasket at $15-20ea, and the 522SD MLS version for $30ea. I know there was a kefuffle with people using the non-HD/SD version in the past, but I'm not sure if it's been cleared up or not. Additionally, the MLS version doesn't really mention surface prep on the block or heads being a factor (Cometic makes this clear with theirs). I'm not pulling my block out to have the deck machine to make it "Cometic worthy", so my question is if the standard block surface is good enough.

So.... Is the Felpro SD version a good replacement for the stock gasket? How about the MLS on a less than perfect surface (No nicks except for the ones GM put there).

-P
 
dgoodhue

dgoodhue

BuSTeD 4.3
Re: Head gasket questions...

I used mls cosmetic on my Vortec build. I had the heads machined to the require ra # (don't remember off the top of my head). I cleaned the block with a pneumatic gasket remover.

e-rue or Turbotime had done the same and made that recommendation to me.
 
D

Damian

Member
Re: Head gasket questions...

I'm using the Felpro ones that AutoZone carries and they worked fine for the little 1k miles I put on it. Not changing them out either.
 
DaveP

DaveP

Active member
Re: Head gasket questions...

The VR 5855 gasket seems to work very well in both stock, never-touched original engines with well over 100K miles (like mine) and in rebuilds over the years. I can't recall seeing a single failure on here that was blamed on the VR gaskets.

So even at $50.00 each, why would you want to "experiment" with $30.00 gaskets with unknown reliability? Is it really worth risking $40.00 of savings on an experiment? If they fail, and you have to do it over, you'll be spending a helluva lot more than $40.00.

BTW, I used to pay $75.00 each from GM about 10 years ago before I knew how to obtain the exact same gasket in the aftermarket. It was worth it to me then, and still worth it now for the peace of mind that they will "work" hassle-free..
 
bezerk

bezerk

New member
Re: Head gasket questions...

just use the victorreinz or use the cometics. the couple bucks using felpro's is not worth it
 
Don W.

Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: Head gasket questions...

Running the Cometic right now, Fel-Pro the past. With all the damage I've done in the past, which was on Fel-Pros' BTW, I've never had a head gasket issue. I've always felt that a properly prepared surface coupled with proper torque (I fudge a couple # on the high side) and done in the factory sequence is the best insurance. (Remember, the factory does all the bolts at once.)

In case yur wondering, red RTV on the bolts. Never a leak there either.

And same as above on the lower intake. Followed the manual and -never- had a leaker.

HTH
 
ItsMyTy

ItsMyTy

Life is beter at 25 PSI
Re: Head gasket questions...

felpros are junk for our application. stay with the stock gaskets if you dont want to machine for cometics.
 
Don W.

Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: Head gasket questions...

ItsMyTy said:
felpros are junk for our application. stay with the stock gaskets if you dont want to machine for cometics.
Click to expand...

Got me wondering. Went back and checked. Yup Fel-Pros # hs9354pt-1

But to each his own. No worries. Just my experience and :2cents:
 
DaveP

DaveP

Active member
Re: Head gasket questions...

Don W. said:
....with proper torque (I fudge a couple # on the high side) and done in the factory sequence is the best insurance.
Click to expand...

I've used 60 lbs for the short bolts and 70lbs for the long bolts on my SBC and 4.3 builds since I began building engines 40 years ago. I figure the short bolts don't stretch as much under torque, so the clamping effect across the critical center of the bores (where the gasket is thinnest) is more uniform using two different values.

My only head gasket failures over the decades (2 or 3 at most) were all associated with the use of FelPro "PermaTorqueBlue" gaskets that were not re-torqued after a few warm-up cycles. I used the PTBlues in my boat engine (327 SBC, 11.5:1 CR) many moons ago when repairing a problem while on a week-long vacation. It popped one of the new FP gaskets two days later. We removed the head, and all the bolts were notably looser than they had been two days earlier. It had been run about 5-6 hours. We changed the gasket again, and went skiing. The next day, I removed the exhaust manifolds and covers (easy 3-beer task in the ski-boat), and re-torqued both heads. They were again "loose". Those PTBlues then lasted another 6-7 years when the engine broke a connecting rod. Upon tear-down, the head bolts were still tight. But the take-away is that "PermaTorques" are anything BUT. They MUST be re-torqued. I won't use FelPro Blues in anything, unless it's all I can obtain in a pinch.

:2cents: Your results may vary.
 
cloneman315

cloneman315

Active member
Re: Head gasket questions...

I have run the stockers at 30 psi a few Times and 25psi many times, BUT I run race gas and watch all my settings very close
 
Quickstop [UK]

Quickstop [UK]

Combating adversyty.
Re: Head gasket questions...

Cometic require a 50# RA finish... :2cents:

If you pop a gasket, maybe that's the worst that happens. Pop a rod or piston and it seems a whole lot more expensive. Maybe a cheap gasket isn't the end of the world?
 
D

Damian

Member
Re: Head gasket questions...

I'll pull my valve covers off now and retorque them then since I'm using the PermaTorque ones. I've used them on a couple other motors and never had a problem.
 
wildphil

wildphil

I Love My Ty's
Re: Head gasket questions...

I'm gonna keep using the Victor gaskets as long as they are available. They have been proven to work well. And for a few dollars more than the lower priced one. They are well worth it for piece of mind.
 
Throws

Throws

Active member
Re: Head gasket questions...

Keep in mind, the Felpros I'm interested in are the 510SD, and the 522SD MLS version... not the stock, unboosted Felpro 9354PT1 gaskets.

-P
 
wildphil

wildphil

I Love My Ty's
Re: Head gasket questions...

They may work great. I am afraid to try new products on my engine. At least until it is proven to work on our trucks.
 
DaveP

DaveP

Active member
Re: Head gasket questions...

Throws said:
DaveP said:
The VR 5855 gasket seems to work very well .......
So even at $50.00 each, why would you want to "experiment" with $30.00 gaskets with unknown reliability? Is it really worth risking $40.00 of savings on an experiment?
Click to expand...

Keep in mind, the Felpros I'm interested in are the 510SD, and the 522SD MLS version...
Click to expand...



And my question remains unanswered: WHY?
 
sytyguy

sytyguy

Moderated User
Re: Head gasket questions...

FelPro 1032s were the ones that many of the high boost guys were killing back in the early 2000's. Many will remember Waller changing his head gasket in the parking lot of Nats 2001 (Great Bend). These were 1032s. John contacted FelPro after Nats and they confessed that the gasket was not for use over 10psi, despite advertising literature at the time that claimed otherwise (the jobber catalog reflected this 10psi limit after 2003).

We will continue to stock Victor 5855s as long as they are available (my VR rep tells me these are not in the same immediate danger as the MS16154 was).

http://www.hoodtuned.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=20_40&product_id=112
 
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