Head Gasket Preferences?

[Brain]

I just bought a '91 XLT (in addition to my '92 EB) yesterday at a police auction, and it said it had a bad radiator. Well, they weren't lying about the radiator - it is toast. It's crimp/seal on the passenger's side blew out. Now I know they usually don't die without a reason, such as over-pressurization, and in this case, I think it's a bad head gasket. It has 150K miles with an A4LD tranny (shifts well but needs a fluid change).

I'm such a cheap (frugal) SOB that I didn't want to pay the $100 for a tow, so I limped the 18 miles having to stop eight times to refill the water and let the engine cool (lots of fun on a Friday afternoon with the tons of weekend traffic on the Denver highways). Before I even started the trip, I knew I had a problem because although some water dripping out of the tailpipe is common on startup (water is a product of combustion after all), green fluid (coolant) coming out of the tailpipe is not.

I know the '91s had a problem with a weak head gasket, and another problem with a weak spot in the head, but I'm hoping it is the former (eternally optimistic). I'll find out when I do the teardown.

My question to the board is if there is any preferred head gasket brand so that I can have the parts on hand before the teardown. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Brain]

Well, it wasn't just the gasket. Driver's side head had TWO cracks in it ...one in the front cylinder and one in the rear, both between the valves. :fire:

I was wrong about the radiator having a seal/crimp blow out...when I pulled it out, there was a six inch rip in the plastic at the front passenger's side (right where steam would blow coming in from the top).

I guess my optimism wasn't right in this case. SOOO....radiator, head gasket set, TTY head bolt set, cylinder head. Not quite the deal that I thought it was. Oh well, it will be a good runner again.

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

The radiator probubly failed first, caused the truck to overheat, and that cracked the head.

Get a head from a junkyard, and I just put Fel-Pro gaskets on my 5.0

 

[Brain]

The Fel-Pro costs about $130 locally, but on eBay they have a Victor-Reinz for less than half that. I'm going junkyarding tomorrow...I called and they said they want $25 for one if I pull it myself. How did you like the Fel-Pro gaskets?

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

$125? Holy cow - I could have bough a gazillion head gaskets for that price. I ended up using the Fel Pro 8458-PT2 gaskets that I used I bought at Autozone for $13.99 each (regularly stocked). The dealer's don't stock gaskets, but wanted $40/each for them, just for reference. The gasket I used is 1 of 2 gaskets of choice that 5.0 builders have been using for years, on both NA and boosted applications. I was originally going to use a set of Graphite FMS gaskets (mail order, $15/ea), but crunked one getting the head back into place and wanted to keep both sides the same. It's been over 2,500 miles so far, and the truck runs like a dream.

As for V6 gaskets, try FPN. Napa has Victor gaskets, I'm sure they work fine but every engine rebuilder I talked to recommended these gaskets to me.

 

[Brain]

You are right...the Checker and Advance Auto have those listed as in stock for about $18 a piece, but the set that includes the intake gasket, both head gaskets, the exhaust gaskets, etc. (the head set) is listed as the HS8458PT14 and they want ~$90 for it, so just to make an apples to apples comparison I wanted to let you know I was asking your impressions about the head gaskets (the most important IMO) but was giving the price of the whole gasket set....It is cheaper for the V-8 though....interesting.

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

It's cheaper and easier to find for the V8 because the 289, 302, and 351w all share the same head gaskets since the 1960s!!

It's hard to compare these gaskets to others, as I have not handled any, but I'm happy so far with the ones I bought.

 

[cgmiller83]

I would use the Fel-Pro Gaskets. The gasket head set you are talking about. I don't think it includes the upper intake gaskets. The one that goes between the the lower intake and fuel rail. Also the one between the fuel rail and unpper intake. Now Ford for the most part didn't put gasket between the fuel rail and the upper but Fel-Pro includes them in the upper intake set. That set is like $11 at Advance Auto Parts. Since you have to take both upper and lower intakes off to get to the bad head. You need the kit just to replace those gaskets. Right now on Ebay 2 people are selling heads. The first link is for one side and its a reman. head. The second link is for both sides. Its new aftermarket head, the walls are thinker in critical areas. I would say go with this one if you can spend the money. That is since one side crack the other side may be ready to crack.

Ebay Reman. Head

Ebay New Aftermarket Heads

I'm working at rebuilding a 95 ohv for my 96 Explorer. Complete disassembly and reassemlbly. The 91 ohv and the 95 ohv are not that different from each other.