What kind of head gaskets do you like?, I already know you're gonna say Yota Options

[VavAlephVav]

Once upon a time I had a 1st gen dodge neon, and it had some sort of flaw in the factory design of the head gasket and I had it replaced twice while still under the extended warranty I paid however many thousand dollars for when I bought it.
of course that Dodge dealership more than likely didn't bother to properly go through the entire head on a car with only 60k miles and after all it's warranty work so wtf do they care...
But it broke several times and either way lets just say I am not always blindly faithful to the manufacturer or the dealership, just because that name is on it does not always mean that it's the best out there.

Either way it looks like I'm taking my 5sfe for a head gasket job. I've got a shop I trust and he's sending it to the machine shop for resurface, valve grind, seals ect.
I told him I'd bring him a full Head Kit and a set of new bolts so I've been researching what's available. I look past the way too cheap knockoffs and try to find OE quality stuff.

and I'm quite impressed with this Victor Reinz product
online catalog here
http://www.victorreinz.com/EN/Service-Downloads/Catalog.aspx

they have the full head kit for $90 on rockauto
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.p...&cc=1274307

which is like half of what you'd pay for the same kit at NAPA, and about 1/4 what Toyota will want for the same kit I'm sure.

I've seen a couple more companies that look good but they aren't available on rockauto
but they aren't too much more, maybe $120

as long as I get something that can take at least a little abuse and hold up i'll be happy.
my car is stock and I don't go around pushin it that hard, just enough to get around all the Rtards on the highway ya know.

but also, I have a 94 st204 with a 5sfe, the motor is most likely out of a Camry of a later ODBII model. I know they had to shave a couple inches off the bell housing to make the oil pan fit right.
Is there a chance that the head would be different enough that the same kit wont work for it? Should I check the numbers on the motor and make certain which one it is?

[VavAlephVav]

it seems there are two Victor Reinz kits listed for the 93-96 model, it says GT kit in the note and is $120 compared to $90 for the other one which is the same part number listed for all the camry/celicas for 93-99

it seems like there's some difference between the two, and I'm thinking now that I must have the later model one but I'm not certain.
Do you think maybe there is a difference with one being the California emissions set up? I'm sure I have the Federal cap/coil setup.


or I may have to break down and try this for $100,
https://www.steelseal.com/

This post has been edited by VavAlephVav: Jan 25, 2014 - 5:00 PM

[garin]

oem toyota is a good gasket. cosmetic is another good brand.

[Smaay]

this isnt a neon. OEM head gaskets are the best

[playr158]

what makes you say OEM is the best?!

Cometic makes fantastic gaskets.

[VavAlephVav]

I did see the cometic streetPro head kit
http://www.shopengineparts.com/productdeta...amp;type=engine

looks nice and they imply that it's much stronger, no doubt good if you're the type to go around spinning it all the way up all the time.
but I wonder if I really need it, it's about $100 more than the Victor Reinz - which I've found is still completely made in Indiana



/sigh it's just that I don't think I can spend $800 right now, I need struts and tires too

This post has been edited by VavAlephVav: Jan 25, 2014 - 10:13 PM

[Smaay]

what makes you say OEM is the best?!

Cometic makes fantastic gaskets.

yes they are fine, I just prefer OEM.