head gaskets set for 2.3 turbo motor

Piranahbite

Active Member
Jan 21, 2022
220
51
38
American canyon
I'm buying head gaskets for the motor I'm rebuilding, AutoZone has a Felpro kit with 33pcs and rock auto has an engine tech branded kit including 31pcs the only differences iv noticed in the kits are: head gasket on the engine tech kit had blue rings around the coolant passageways, and the Felpro one dose not, the Felpro one has 2 small dowels that come with the kit, the engine tech one dose not. finally the Felpro one comes with a quark valve cover gasket and the engine tech one looks like it comes with the blue rubber Felpro gasket.

link for Felpro gasket set
link for engine tech gasket set

Also I dont know what the small washer looking gaskets are for, i think there in both listings but i would like to know because i dont remember pulling them off my engine while dismantling it.

parts in question are circled below (may have to open link above because of my :poo: circling job)
Screenshot (4).png
Screenshot (3).png
 
  • Sponsors (?)


Most everyone uses the Fel-Pro 8993 set. The 1st circled pic may be distributor O-ring, 2nd is 8 valve seals, 3rd are 2 dowel pins, 4th may be distributor gasket and 5th are probably injector O-rings. When you buy the kit it'll tell you on the box exactly what's inside. Toss the cork valve cover gasket and buy a rubber Fel-Pro instead. You'll be glad you did!
Oh yeah, this should probably be moved to 2.3 section.
 
Most everyone uses the Fel-Pro 8993 set. The 1st circled pic may be distributor O-ring, 2nd is 8 valve seals, 3rd are 2 dowel pins, 4th may be distributor gasket and 5th are probably injector O-rings. When you buy the kit it'll tell you on the box exactly what's inside. Toss the cork valve cover gasket and buy a rubber Fel-Pro instead. You'll be glad you did!
Oh yeah, this should probably be moved to 2.3 section.
yeaaaaaa i noticed I posted it in the wrong section after I posted it the parts I'm mainly concerned about are the two dowel pins. and lack of them in the other kit. the engine tech kit is supposedly for rebuilt engines. I also haven't gotten my head worked on at all as far as cleaning or machining so the surfaces might be a little unfavorable which made me lean towards the engine tech one plus it looks like it comes with a valve cover gasket instead of quark
 
Weeellllll, he's not asking for advice on changing a head gasket, he's asking an opinion on parts that are included in a gasket set so actually it was in the correct spot but I moved it so members that are familiar with 4 cylinders can advise the op.
no harm and only a technical foul, 10 second penalty and repeat run. :jester:
 
I'd buy the PT5, bring it home and find out. If not, you can always return it.
BTW, I've got an 8993 head gasket still sealed in the FelPro box if you just need the head gasket. In addition, if you don't know, the original head bolts are torque-to-yield which means they'll need to be replaced.
 
I'd buy the PT5, bring it home and find out. If not, you can always return it.
BTW, I've got an 8993 head gasket still sealed in the FelPro box if you just need the head gasket. In addition, if you don't know, the original head bolts are torque-to-yield which means they'll need to be replaced.
thanks, i ended up buyig the pt3 set just because i wanna get this done
 
The turbo heads have a tendency to crack, usually in the combustion chamber right between the intake and exhaust valves. Ideally, I would have the head hot tanked, magnafluxed for cracks and have the head surface checked for straightness. Next would be a 3 angle valve job and valve guides knurled or replaced. However, I think you're on a budget so I would just scrub the head down real good, remove the valves, wire wheel the chambers and look very closely for any cracks. Lap the valves and replace the seals then reassemble the head. Here's one way of checking the head for straightness. I did this on my 5.0 budget rebuild. Go over the head with 80g sandpaper on a piece of tubing, in two directions. This'll tell you if you've got any low spots or warpage. If the scratches are evenly distributed, you've got a pretty flat head surface that shouldn't blow a head gasket.

deck3.JPG


deck4.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user