Very Best Head Gasket for 91 TDC engine? Any $$?

[85-308]

hi; I have done a search but don't really see any kind of consensus on this issue; I want to install the very best head gasket commercially available (then forget it).

Who has had good or bad experiences and can you include some context with your experience? Ie did or did not resurface the block; replaced an already-blown gasket and the replacement popped too....

etc etc. Trying to determine what works best when given a fair chance.
Building two of these things and want to use the best.

Thanks in advance!

[Schurkey]

Purchased a Fel-Pro head gasket set to replace a blown OEM gasket.

http://www.amazon.com/Fel-Pro-HS9113PT1-Head-Set/dp/B000C2CGI0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2VLYZKC3HBBDO&coliid=I383XAS7QM0UIG

The Fel-Pro head gaskets looked identical to the OEM gaskets other than the expected wear/age of the original gaskets. Could have come from the same factory; and in fact I suspect (but cannot prove) that they did. Fel-Pro may have been the original supplier to GM; or Fel-Pro is buying them from the original supplier so they don't have to make them in-house. The valve cover and cam carrier-to-head gaskets were not identical to OEM. Just the head gaskets.

Heads were shaved to eliminate a low spot.

Upon disassembly, the head gasket on the other bank--which had no sign of coolant entry to the cylinder--was also defective and would have popped in just a short time. The defects on both these gaskets was in EXACTLY the same place. Makes me wonder if most head gasket failures on this engine are in this same place.





The block decks were lightly scored by the failed gaskets; this was NOT corrected--I dropped the new gaskets onto the slightly-damaged deck surface because fixing the decks would mean disassembly of the short-block. That was not going to happen.


Engine runs great--but the trans popped (apparently wasn't happy about being flat-towed 80 miles home) so overall the engine has less than 50 miles on it since head gasket service, and now sits parked behind the garage.

Complete details and links to other, related repairs done at the same time (block heater, valve job, cam carrier service bulletin, lifter cleaning):

http://60degreev6.com/forum/showthread.php/49657-Losing-coolant-into-2

There is a Victor-Reinz head gasket set, I've lost the part number. Maybe that set has different head gaskets.

Want to trade a set of freshly-rebuilt heads for your old heads and some cash?

[ForcedFirebird]

I have not had luck with the VR head gaskets.

[85-308]

thanks guys;
I have contacted Cometic to see if they have a listing for this engine (the 91 tdc in particular) and they say they don't and they don't know what other will fit. Do you know if our head gasket is the same for other years/models? I can pass that along to them.
Otherwise they said to ship them a sample and they would compare "to their tooling" to see how much to produce custom ones (initial estimate about $100 each!) but I suppose you have to consider the time to replace.....

Or see how many they would need to produce to be economical or at least less expensive. Group buy interest maybe; might get 10 guys who are interested; I want 4 myself.

[pocket-rocket]

I run Felpro myself. Have yet to have a problem, but then again it isn't a highly modded engine thanks to the DOHC aftermarket. Seeing how I plan to go with boost come spring I wonder how they will hold up. Your timing is a bit early for me. If it were the spring, I would gladly sign my name for 2, but with a week off last month, a week this month, and 3/5 weeks off next month, I'm kinda in a pinch. That and my wife's brother died Monday and with her family being broke it looks like she's going to have to pay a majority of the funeral bill. She's an RN at a hospital, but only working 2 days a week... :/ This winter is looking to be rough. If you still haven't gotten your 10 guys by spring, hit me up, I would be glad to buy a set.

[85-308]

I'm not in a hurry; it even occurred to me that there is a head gasket (ie a good one) that just needs a few more water and/or oil holes punched in it? sort of....
I'll likely take one of these engines apart farther than i originally planned and send a used head gasket to Cometic so they can see what it is like. I have less and less faith in the decks and head staying square and flat!

So I am talking myself into a fairly major rebuild just as this thread goes on... But I hate the idea of always wondering when the white smoke will start billowing out!!

If Cometic comes back - in a couple of months - with something interesting I'll be sure to post it and see what the interest is. A good decking and resurface and ARP studs might be just fine, too.

Nice to have vs Have to have. Always the argument!
GP

[85-308]

Update; got the rest of the cam carriers and heads off. This was a pretty good running engine when I listened to it prior to buying; ie no blatant evidence of any problems. When we pulled the head gaskets; all cylinders showed a 'clean' or 'shiny' area at the top of the block surface on the intake manifold edge; ie as if it didn't have a gasket pressed to it there. The entire rest of the surface had the usual markings from gasket bonding all over but not these spots; I'll try to get a pic.
Will send a used gasket to Cometic just to see what they say. I have no idea if they can modify an existing or if they have to make all new.
Had a bit of a challenge getting the intermediate shaft pulley off but will put that in another thread.
Also curiously, the cylinder bores REALLY clearly showed the cross hatching from the last honing! And the rear main bearing was almost like new; however the rod bearings were almost shot; flaking and starting to go to pieces. What a mix of signals.
More to follow on the head gasket if/when I get something from Cometic.