Metal Head Gasket question Options

[Davesceli]

I'm rebuilding my 5s and want to use the metal headgasket instead of the crap one in my gasket set, does anyone have the part number? While i'm here, there won't be any issues using it on an older 5s, right? Mine is a 95.

Thanks

[nics]

If you're ordering online, just pick the 98+. AFAIK they only have MLS gasket. No more composite.

[Davesceli]

There are no issues with using it with an older motor?

[Special_Edy]

The Fel-Pro head gasket for the 5sfe is metal. Supposedly all the 5sfe head gasket replacements were updated once toyota realized their mistake. I put the felpro gasket set on my 94 GT no problem and I've got 15k miles on them.

[Smaay]

I ordered one for a 98 camry but i do believe that the metal one supersedes all the old ones

[k-weaver]

Make sure you have a good gasket scraper, those old ones are a PITA to get off.

[Special_Edy]

Actually you need to take the cylinder head to a machine shop and have them check it. Most likely they will need to resurface it, it set me back $35 but they even dipped it for that price. Not a speck of dirt on it when I got it back.

The block is iron and much less likely to need resurfacing.

And make sure to check your valve shim clearances before and after starting the motor for the first time after the rebuild. Some kids mixed up all my lifter buckets/shims, it cost me a burnt valve because I didn't double check.

[Smaay]

Actually you need to take the cylinder head to a machine shop and have them check it. Most likely they will need to resurface it, it set me back $35 but they even dipped it for that price. Not a speck of dirt on it when I got it back.

you dont have to do this. as long as you havent overheated the engine it will be fine. i have a good straight edge and every head i check is within .001 if that. i have a good scraper to get the old gasket residue off and then i hit it with a scotch brite pad

[czwalga]

Actually you need to take the cylinder head to a machine shop and have them check it. Most likely they will need to resurface it, it set me back $35 but they even dipped it for that price. Not a speck of dirt on it when I got it back.

you dont have to do this. as long as you havent overheated the engine it will be fine. i have a good straight edge and every head i check is within .001 if that. i have a good scraper to get the old gasket residue off and then i hit it with a scotch brite pad

That's what I thought until I put the head back on my 5sfe. Definitely had coolant getting into the cylinders. Mine was .0006 above the given tolerance. Once it was resurfaced I had no issues.


But you're right if you check it and its within tolerance, no reason to have it resurfaced.

[Special_Edy]

The oem composite gasket left indentations on my 94 5SFE head. Like pockmarks everywhere.

Also if you think about it a motor with a blown head gasket is much more likely to have overheated and warped, not to mention nearly 20 years of heat cycles.