Hey Earl? (4.1 Headgasket)

[Forzfed]

What is the best gasket to use?  Are people still sticking with the Felpro?

[gusszgs]

Hope Earl will chime in here. I've read that the original Victor Reinz gaskets are very good. Yet others had had good luck with the Felpro's. I guess it comes down to how well the job and prep is done.

[Just a Six?]

I need glasses!

[earlbrown]

It depends.   When I built my 4.1 I used Federal Mogul pistons..

I ended up having to deck .035 off the deck and have Cometic make me some very expensive .027" gaskets just to barely get 9:1.  ...along with all the hoops to make the MLS gaskets seal of course.  Then I had to shave my intake manifold..     twice (it swelled back up overnight before I installed it).


That's one of the reasons I made my pistons the way I did.   I would have just got off the shelf FelPro 1000s, left the .035" of meat on my deck and had a gasket that's easy to seal (and buy).

The bad part is when I tossed the FM hypers and put my slugs in, I was committed to the Cometics since I shaved the intake.



I don't think I answered your question though. 

[Forzfed]

Should I stick with the Felpro 1000 or go with the Felpro 1026?

[Scoobum]

Felpros here cuz I can get 'em overnite. Never had an issue with them. I think a lot has to do with prep work and torquing...and I'm beyond anal installing a set. My engines don't see any KR either.

[Forzfed]

Your kind of limited with the 4.1.  I did loose my vac and my boost spiked to 30psi if not more.  When the motor was ripped apart the one head gasket showed a little bit of it being blown but yet my vac was still decent.  Maybe down 2 " that's it.

[earlbrown]

http://www.felpro-only.com/break_room_forum/showthread.php?tid=487

[Forzfed]

Excellent link, Earl.