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Has anybody used BEST Vintage automotive gaskets sets out of CA? I was wondering as to the quality of the product. They offer a 230 engine set that is less $ than the FelPro kit.

I may be mistaken, but if you're talking about paper, cork, or neoprene gaskets, I wouldn't think there'd be a lot of difference in the quality of the materials. I've made paper gaskets out of manila folders, the backs of writing tablets, and even paper grocery sacks and they all held up. As long as it's capable of being compressed enough to fill any voids in the mating surfaces, it should be okay.

Never heard of them Hingsing....
Gary

What I was concerned with was the accuracy/alignment of the holes and cut outs as well as the quality of the head gasket ect. I checked out the website www.bestgasket.com and it appears to be a reputable product. I think I will try them and be our "guniea pig"for the forum. I'll let you all know

PS: I know what your thinking, what does David need an engine gasket set for, I thought his posts back in April said his engine was together? Well gang, this is for my spare engine that I am rebuilding. It seems engine one has what now appears to be perhaps a broken ring number 3 with some blow-by. Compression is a whopping 60 and my oil now smells like fuel. It ran great for a few hours. I should have done a total rebuild and started with a fresh long block from the get go. As somebody first told me here when I started "shortcuts will come back and bite you"

I bought the Felpro via the local NAPA figuring I at least knew the guy across the counter. The kit was very complete and we ended up pulling things off the engine for an inspection because we had the gaskets. We have gaskets we don't even know what they fit! Once we figure them out, we'll probably pull more things off. The price complete was around $90.

knattrass wrote:I bought the Felpro via the local NAPA figuring I at least knew the guy across the counter. The kit was very complete and we ended up pulling things off the engine for an inspection because we had the gaskets. We have gaskets we don't even know what they fit! Once we figure them out, we'll probably pull more things off. The price complete was around $90.

The Fel-Pro kit covers more than just the 230 engine, thus some gaskets will not be used.

HingsingM37 wrote:What I was concerned with was the accuracy/alignment of the holes and cut outs as well as the quality of the head gasket ect. I checked out the website www.bestgasket.com and it appears to be a reputable product. I think I will try them and be our "guniea pig"for the forum. I'll let you all know

PS: I know what your thinking, what does David need an engine gasket set for, I thought his posts back in April said his engine was together? Well gang, this is for my spare engine that I am rebuilding. It seems engine one has what now appears to be perhaps a broken ring number 3 with some blow-by. Compression is a whopping 60 and my oil now smells like fuel. It ran great for a few hours. I should have done a total rebuild and started with a fresh long block from the get go. As somebody first told me here when I started "shortcuts will come back and bite you"

I'm not familiar with best gaskets either, but will say this. If the cost between them & Fel-Pro, Victor, etc is close, I'd stick with the tried & true. There is usually a reason for cheaper prices, that is more true today than ever.

Charles you've stolen the words out of my hands (cause I'm typing).
On this kind of things, you usually get what you've paid for.

With out a doubt these guys are right Fel-Pro has always been great to me.

Thanks guys for the input, Youre right. No sense in experimenting with another brand. I will order the Fel Pro today

These are fine products. The reason you see a lower price is that they do not put the rear main seal in the kit. That is a separate purchase. Their gaskets are USA made and I stand behind them completely.
John
Midwest Military

This is good to know that someone does have experience & says it's a good product, but is it still less cost when the rear main seal has to be purchased separately? Is there a UPS charge involved with getting these instead of getting from NAPA over the counter less a freight charge? How does it all come out in the end, are the BEST gaskets really cheaper? I don't know.

Could be that the rear main is excluded from the kit because I recall there are two different types that can be used-some require the one-piece seal while others have a two-piece seal (with the two "h-shaped" end pieces). Mine uses the latter.
Gary

Cal_Gary wrote:Could be that the rear main is excluded from the kit because I recall there are two different types that can be used-some require the one-piece seal while others have a two-piece seal (with the two "h-shaped" end pieces). Mine uses the latter.
Gary

The 2 piece type works in all the M37 engines. The older rope style seal that was used in some early engines is replaced by the 2-piece style.

Hi Charles,
I thought you might have a bit more detail regarding this since you do so many rebuilds-thanks!
Gary