Can someone tell me which manifold gasket set is the best to use...the new metal reinforced gaskets or the plain old paper/fabric gaskets?

I remember a discussion back when I was going to build a drag car about how it would be good to use the newer (91+ I do believe) redesigned/reinforced gaskets on the TGP motor. Now I'm hearing that it might not be such a good idea due to uneven sealing and the possibility of cracking the manifold when torqing the bolts down. So which is the best to use?

I know I've been out of it for a while, but I'm looking forward to finally getting the motor for TGP #2 put back together.  :icon_biggrin:

I used the paper style gaskets in my TGP when I swapped in some 1.6 ratio rocker arms last year. The paper gaskets make the intake fit a little better IMO. I have the metal/rubber ones in my 1993 3.1 and the intake sits up noticeably higher, I have not had any leakage issues though. I was kinda leery of using the metal/rubber ones on my TGP because it seems like they would be easier to leak under boost since the rubber only seals right around the port area whereas the paper gives you a lot more area out past the port to seal up.

Just for reference, the intake gasket set with the paper gaskets is part # MS 96041. This is the set that includes the lower/valley pan gasket, upper gaskets, dist. drive o-ring(black rubber, I use the brown silicone ones from GM instead), and throttle body gasket. If by chance you just need the upper gasket set(includes throttle body gasket), the part for that kit is MS 93610.

FEL-Pro

go with GM AC Delco headgaskets though, everything else FEL-Pro

Quote from: Invasion1 on February 02, 2007, 04:39:40 PM
FEL-Pro

go with GM AC Delco headgaskets though, everything else FEL-Pro

Plenty of people here use Fel-Pro headgaskets with no problems Dave. I've seen people on ClubGP discussing Fel-pro replacements before(they looked the same as our Fel-Pro replacements) and some of those guys were pushing 20psi+ with pretty large turbos and not having gasket issues.

EDIT: I may take some pictures of the metal and paper gaskets for comparison purposes, I know I have a spare set of the paper ones, and I believe I have a set of the metal ones somewhere too...

Just my policy i was sharing, feel free to use what you wish... :icon_biggrin:

Quote from: mfewtrail on February 02, 2007, 04:35:29 PM
I used the paper style gaskets in my TGP when I swapped in some 1.6 ratio rocker arms last year. The paper gaskets make the intake fit a little better IMO. I have the metal/rubber ones in my 1993 3.1 and the intake sits up noticeably higher, I have not had any leakage issues though. I was kinda leery of using the metal/rubber ones on my TGP because it seems like they would be easier to leak under boost since the rubber only seals right around the port area whereas the paper gives you a lot more area out past the port to seal up.

From what I read on w-body, the rubber ones will fit the '91-'93 engines properly, as their intake (maybe just the lower) is different than the pre-'91 motor. I know the member that posted it is knowledgeable, so I'm not doubting what he posted...I just wanted to hear from the TGP crowd as to what they were using.

As far as head gaskets, I used Fel-Pros on this motor (already have the heads on and torqued...they've been on for about two yerars now  :icon_redface:). I've used fel-pro gaskets on every motor I've rebuilt, except for my V10 where I used Mopar gaskets. I bought a whole bottom end fel-pro kit for this motor. I held off on the top-end kit though, because I wasn't sure whether or not to go with the rubber (more expensive) gasket set or the paper set. I've had no trouble with fel-pro as a brand in the past.

Matt, did you use the 1.6 rockers from a 3100? Did you use the stamped ones or the roller ones? I have a set off of a '95 cutty here, but I'm not 100% sure what ratio they are.

Thanks for the replies guys!

Quote from: The Burning Rom on February 02, 2007, 05:26:46 PM

Matt, did you use the 1.6 rockers from a 3100? Did you use the stamped ones or the roller ones? I have a set off of a '95 cutty here, but I'm not 100% sure what ratio they are.

Thanks for the replies guys!

They're the stamped ones Jason, the roller ones won't work unless you're swapping to the later heads/top end. A 1995 Cutty would have the stamped 1.6's. I crudely measured a few of mine and posted the results in this thread about swapping rockers. ;)

http://www.tgpforums.com/index.php?topic=3564.0

EDIT:  I did have some spare metal and paper style gaskets kicking around my parts shelf(along with a ton of other W-body related parts I had forgot about :laugh:).

Ah yeah, I suppose the roller ones wouldn't work. Thanks for the info. I already have the rocker arms on this motor as well, but I might as well swap the cutty rockers on as long as I have the valve covers off yet. This motor isn't the original one for the TGP it goes in anyway...it's a factory reman with roughly 15,000 on it....so keeping it stock for collector's sake doesn't really matter :icon_cool:

i remember Jeff M posting a long time ago that a TGP owner actually broke his plenum using the metal/O-ring plenum gaskets because he couldn't get the bolts evenly torqued - and he was using an in/lb wrench.  that's probably because the bolt holes in the plenum are a different size.  use the gasket the engine calls for, or more specifically, use the plenum gaskets that match the year of LIM you are using.  i used the metal/O-ring '91+ Fel-Pro gaskets with no problems back before i turobcharged my '91 'LH0' engine, but after i added the TGP parts to the engine (including the LIM) i started using the paper Fel-Pro gaskets.  i haven't had any problems at all.

as for head gaskets i don't think there is any problem at all with Fel-Pro....depending on application.  that's what i use in my turbocharged ~250,000 mile 'LH0' engine and it has probably spiked to 15-16psi a few times.  it was pushing 14psi while on the dyno last November.  however, i would never use Fel-Pro head gaskets on my old '89 Chrysler Lebaron GTS Turbo.  the only head gasket i would consider with that car was the Mopar head gasket.  Fel-Pro seems to get it right for some engines, while i hear of horror stories about Fel-Pro head gaskets on other engines.  but for the 60*V6 i think they are just fine.

THe papers are better.  I've stoped using a gasket and just used silicone.

Quote from: TurboGTU on February 06, 2007, 11:48:44 PM
THe papers are better.  I've stoped using a gasket and just used silicone.

wow  :icon_eek: i gotta ask....why????  the paper gaskets are only $10!

I kept taking off my uper intake to change injectors and it's ported so the stock gaskets are useless to me. But eitther way I have plenty of silicone that is sold at hardware stores in coking gun tubes for less than new gaskets.  The stock gaskets lasted me 2 RandRs.

instead ofstarting a new topic i will just post here.


my intake gaskets are beond being gasket matched. what would be the best way to modify the stock paper style UIM gaskets? i was thinking of just carefully using a hobby knife and going to town, unless someones got a better idea

Quote from: kuntzie on February 11, 2007, 10:06:12 AM
my intake gaskets are beond being gasket matched. what would be the best way to modify the stock paper style UIM gaskets? i was thinking of just carefully using a hobby knife and going to town, unless someones got a better idea

You've got the right idea, mark them with something and carefully enlarge them with a hobby knife.

thanks matt. i figured so much i think a nice size hammer could hshatter the LIM pretty easily.. im *TOLD* will come with in 2 CFM of stock 3500 intakes