Difference in gasket sets cost???

JD Seller · Aug 10, 2014

Youngest son's work beater started to leak antifreeze. It is a 98 Malibu with a 2.4 twin OHC engine. You have to take the timing chain off the cams to replace the water pump on this motor. He replaced the water pump last winter but it was colder than heck and he did it in a unheated garage. Part of the gasket has blown out between the pump and block. Also the head gasket is leaking in the back as well.

So he just went ahead and took the head clear off so he can replace the head gaskets and water/timing gaskets too.

A full head set(Felpro) and new head bolts locally supplied comes to over $220. Have it next day.

From Rock Auto Felpro gaskets and bolts are $191 with freight. Takes them four day for delivery.

Domestic gasket set that includes the head bolts is only $75.00 shipped to his door step. Three day delivery.

Have any of you used Domestic brand of gaskets???

I would normally go with Felpro no questions asked but this is a $500 work beater. So saving a $100 plus is a consideration.

What do you guys think?????

bison · Aug 11, 2014

One would be tempted to use the cheap set but it may come back to bite one in the arse.....

Do it once do it right.
Other wiser option is the scrap the beater altogether and buy a better truck.

Bob · Aug 11, 2014

I never heard of 'em before, but your post lead me to GOOGLE "Domestic gaskets".

ONE comment reads " Domestic gaskets should be arrested for selling this ..."

and many others aren't much more favorable.

FWIW.

CenTex Farmall · Aug 11, 2014

A beater, yes.....but! The key word is "work". If he depends on it to get him to work and make money then the value is in making it dependable and worth the extra investment even though it won't boost the sale value of the machine.

i.e. you're not investing in the car as much as you are investing in his ability to get to and maintain employment.

Also we don't want the poor folks at Federal Mogul to starve to death! (as if)

MN Scott · Aug 11, 2014

Felpro gaskets are well worth the extra cost. I hate having to redo a repair because of cheap gaskets even on a beater.

Robert Major · Aug 11, 2014

Hi
if you say the kit has head bolts in for that price I would leave it on their shelf.
From my experience with that 8430 tractor if it said reliance, on the packet i would do it for the saving. That gasket looked exactly the same quality as the green one and only visual difference was the lack of green part number.

if he puts the cheap cheap sings like a baby chick one on , it will cost more than $100 in time and lost earnings if it blows. either fix it right if the motor and the rest is worth it, or buy another beater, and hope for a good one. Would be my thinking.
Not sure if there is a common problem with those motors, My GF looked at buying one that was weeping like that, as soon as she saw it the guy wouldn't sell it to her. Thinking his conscience got the better of him. Figured he new it was an expensive fix, for somebody taking a loan to buy a car. Wonder if there might be warped head or block problems, or just gasket failure like all the intakes on the 97 GMC trucks at certain miles.
Regards Robert

Mark-Ia · Aug 11, 2014

I put the cheaper ones on my "beater" Olds Alero last summer. No problems. Gaskets appeared the same as the expensive set.

Gambles · Aug 11, 2014

Would you put your "Domestic" gaskets on a high dollar John Deere?
Lately, it seems that RockAuto has been trying to get the "beater" market. A good example of this is their DNJ brand of engine parts. DNJ has no factories anywhere, they just put their label on anything. I haven't bought any, but I know of someone who has and the kit had missing parts and everything else was from every other country in the world except U.S.A.
You don't just have a startup gasket factory and have every application, unless you just resell somebody else's product. If I were to make the buying decision, I'd let somebody else be the guinea pig.

tedregentin · Aug 11, 2014

Use the Fel Pro. That 2.4 is no fun to work on. Only do the job once.

Mike M · Aug 11, 2014

That's one thing I don't like about Rock Auto. All those different choices listed and not much info at all about them.
Best thing you can do with that Quad 4 is to RUN fast AWAY from it !!!! Those engines are a disaster.

Brad Buchanan · Aug 11, 2014

Hey JD.

I had a head gasket blow on a 4.0 Ford v-6 recently and decided to save some money by ordering a head gasket kit with bolts off E-bay.

I installed the gaskets after having the head milled for flatness.

After one hour of operation the new head gasket blew. I bought a Victor gasket set and dorman bolt set locally and tore the engine down again.

I installed the new set and the engine operates properly. That was about a thousand miles ago.

Kinda soured me on 'discount' gasket sets after wasting 10 hours wrenching to replace the gasket twice.

Brad

37chief · Aug 11, 2014

Wasn't in easy years ago to walk in to one of the two parts stores in your town, and buy what you wanted and knew it was good quality made in the USA. If you were lucky and knew the parts man you got a discount, and walked out happy.Stan

ypop · Aug 11, 2014

I agree with Bison fix it right or look for an other car or truck. you don't want to be doing the job a third time.
Ypop

ericlb · Aug 11, 2014

when i was working in a parts store i had to attend a 2 day school on gaskets and what was made how and what to recomend for what, what i can tell you on this is go with the felpro, or you will run the chance of doing it again in 6 months or so, the job sounds like a p.i.a. i know you dont want to do it again just for pactice

Difference in gasket sets cost???

JD Seller

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bison

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Bob

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CenTex Farmall

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MN Scott

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Robert Major

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Mark-Ia

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Gambles

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tedregentin

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Mike M

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Brad Buchanan

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37chief

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ypop

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ericlb

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