Victor Reinz or Cometic head gasket?

daver · Post by **daver** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 5:30 pm

Good or bad? Looking for something I'm never going to have to touch again. Was thinking either the VR gasket, or Cometic as they don't specify a particular surface finish. Not sure where to find the VR gasket though as Napa no longer carries them.

Doing a headgasket on parents car. Assuming I don't find the head or block surface horribly warped planning to just clean up with fine grit paper and re-assemble.

Also bolts or studs?

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:10 pm

You will want to replace the head bolts, as they are torque to yield. (If that's what you were asking)

Studs would be overkill for just a gasket change, not to mention you could buy a lot of head bolts for the price.

The MLS factory gasket is pretty good, you just need the Mopar sealant that it specifies in the package.

I used a razor blade and some solvent to clean the bulk of the block surface, and had the head surfaced because I needed valve guides on the exhaust side. Most shops will charge about $20 to do a cleanup pass. Well worth it, IMO. For the hassle of cleaning the aluminum, without messing it up, $20 is well worth it.

03blackrt · Post by **03blackrt** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:07 am

The Mopar MLS head gasket is very capable of lasting the life of the engine. I don’t even use the supplementary Mopar spray sealant when putting one on.

I use some 200 (or even 100) grit sandpaper on a sanding block to clean the mating surfaces.

The stock head bolts are also plenty good for a stock motor and are reusable (thought you do need to inspect the threads for deformation).

neonslg09 · Post by **neonslg09** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:44 pm

I'll need one before carlisle. Everyone prefer the Mopar one? And for a NOT stock motor, like everyboly on, mani,cam, possibly high comp. pistons, people would suggest ARP studs correct?

03blackrt · Post by **03blackrt** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:58 am

IMO, a stock head gasket is good enough for most modified motors. Unless you're looking for a custom thickness, then the Cometic is the way to go.

dtjackten · Post by **dtjackten** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 11:09 am

i have ran felpro head gasket in my car and have had no problems with it, and i am boosted... just an fyi

JeffB#2 · Post by **JeffB#2** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:14 pm

The Mopar gasket is a very good piece. I like the Victor gaskets too, they used to be cheaper. Just because a gasket is aftermarket absolutely does not make it "better". Even with every bolt on known for any 2.0 or 2.4 you don't need a gasket other than a stock gasket. I use stock gaskets with my 230+WHP 2.4 and I reuse head bolts after making sure they're not stretched. You can err on the conservative side and replace the bolts if you want, that's just fine. 90% of the people that buy head studs have absolutely no use for them. You often hear someone say they lifted the head with stock bolts and x amount of boost. It's more likely that they did a poor job of prepping the block and head and then that's what caused the gasket to leak.

04R/T · Post by **04R/T** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:47 am

I used a Victor Reinz on a 2.0 head gasket job I did years ago, no problems. If I remember right it was an MLS gasket but it had a better coating on it than the OEM MLS gasket. You don't need any of that spray sealer that the OEM recommends. Also I think the coating allowed you to use it with out having to put the very smooth finish on the head surface that a MLS gasket usually requires.

daver · Post by **daver** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 5:24 pm

Has anybody used a Victor Reinz gasket lately?

I just purchased one and was kinda suprised when it showed up. It's basically just has a very thin coating of blue sealant only on the raised areas of the top and bottom layers. Basically just looks like mostly bare stainless with a blue outline.

It doesn't have a full rubberized coating as many other MLS gaskets do. Wondering if this is the same VR as others have used successfully in the past or has it been redesigned?

JeffB#2 · Post by **JeffB#2** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 5:42 pm

That's what they look like, yes.

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:31 pm

I just used a felpro on my 98. It worked just fine.

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:15 pm

daver wrote: It's basically just has a very thin coating of blue sealant only on the raised areas of the top and bottom layers. Basically just looks like mostly bare stainless with a blue outline.

"Print-O-Seal" is Fel-Pro's name for it. Been around for quite some time now

2GN.ORG

Victor Reinz or Cometic head gasket?

Victor Reinz or Cometic head gasket?

anybody used a VR recently?

Re: anybody used a VR recently?