[92Deville]

I know the general consensus on here is to use Fel-Pro head gaskets instead of OEM and I am just curious why. Is it a quality or cost issue or both?

 

[00 Deville]

I know the general consensus on here is to use Fel-Pro head gaskets instead of OEM and I am just curious why. Is it a quality or cost issue or both?

I would be comfortable with either OEM or Fel-Pro. It's my understanding that the OEM N* headgaskets come with new headbolts and the Fel-pro's don't so if your also studding it it doesn't make economic sense to buy the OEM.

 

[ThumperPup]

i know that there are 2 generation Gaskets for the N atleast the 98-04 and i think someone told me felpro still uses the original Gen but maybe i miss read that

 

[00 Deville]

i know that there are 2 generation Gaskets for the N atleast the 98-04 and i think someone told me felpro still uses the original Gen but maybe i miss read that

There are several different sets... the set that I had delivered today (HS26150PT2) is used on the 2000-2001's according to the label on the box. This set is more than just the HG's though.

 

[ThumperPup]

yeah but the gasket itself is updated 2 times i think over the years maybe 3 times over the years
i think the last update was in 03 from what i read somewhere might want to check with jake on this to be sure
i know i think he had to speek with my mechanic to make sure he knew to use the OEM updated kit

 

[RippyPartsDept]

I'm pretty sure that the update in the OEM HG set (which happens mid 2004) is just the bolts that are different... gasket is the same

The updates from 2000-2005 are in the bolts (afaik)

 

[ThumperPup]

hmm ok i guess i was wrong
could have sworn there was a difrance in the gasket itself my bad

 

[RippyPartsDept]

Well... i might be wrong, but i know that the bolts changed ... tomorrow i'll ask our guy who does most of the HG jobs

 

[ThumperPup]

ill keep my eyes open and looking for your post tomorrow cause im curiouse about this myself sometime i miss understand what i read but could have sworn i read and also hear that jake told my mechanic wich gasket to use and i think he mentioned to use OEM and not the fel pro for some reason but maybe i miss read that
it was posted in here in one of the threads going to start looking back threw for December and see what was said and all

 

[92Deville]

I thought Jake preferred Fel-Pro. That is what he is selling on his website.

 

[ThumperPup]

hmm maybe i am wrong
i thought i remember him mentioning something about felpro and them not selling to him in Bolk but he could get OEM cheaper so was going that rout i thout thst what he said a few months back but guess things have changed my bad

 

[00 Deville]

I think I found the old thread you were talking about pup... I just bumped it up... maybe Jake will chime in with an update.

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/northstar-performance-technical-discussion/205454-notice-all-northstar-technicans-including-diy.html

 

[ThumperPup]

Yes i remember that one now also
but there was another thread one that i had posted in sevral month back maybe in Nov or Dec it was
but i remember that one in the summer also

when it comes to putting more into my seville i make sure i do my homework and i check everything lol
i wanted to know the brand gaskets that where used the date that the package was stamped and sealed the everything what when and where of what was going into my car lol
considering that this engine rebuild took the total repair costs to over 12k at the time for what i put into the car after the HG's earlier in the year and the mechanic pulled some flimsy thing out that looked pretty bad he said

 

[RippyPartsDept]

ok, so my guy says that he thinks that there might be some slight differences in the gaskets, but he's not sure....

if we really want to nail this down, maybe we should see what jake has to say

 

[ThumperPup]

ok, so my guy says that he thinks that there might be some slight differences in the gaskets, but he's not sure....

if we really want to nail this down, maybe we should see what jake has to say

cool cool good looking out on checking that now we just have to wait for jake to pop up on the boards and see what he has to say

 

[miwise]

After all the problems I've had. If I ever do heAd gaskets again I'll go with the cometic mls ones. Of course I'll never attempt to do the repair again myself. I'll send it to someone who knows what they're doing

 

[98eldo32v]

Just out of curosity miwise,

Why would you use the cometic mls gasket? I'm still on the fence whether or not to still go that route even though I have a fel-pro head set for my car.

 

[miwise]

Well. They are more expensive but they are much less likely to fail. Plus they have been recommended by several members on here. The expansion and contraction of the all aluminum engine is much less likely to affect an mls gasket. They are much more forgiving.

 

[98eldo32v]

I've basically known everything you've stated and appreciate the answer. It seems everyone pretty much uses the fel-pro head gasket, but after dealing with a mls gasket on a 3.5 intrepid, clean up was near zero. The gasket was like a metal shim basically sealing the head and block together. I found myself curious if anyone tried this gasket on the northstar. I still may go this route. Thanks

 

[00 Deville]

I thought Jake preferred Fel-Pro. That is what he is selling on his website.

I checked in with him to see what he is currently using... he's using Fel-Pro on everything except... he's using OEM for the rear main seal.