Which brand of head gasket set?

[Spiderinsider]

Here's my first of what is likely to be many questions:
My '82 has a blown head gasket so I figured that while the head's off the car I might as well get a full head gasket set and rebuild the head. In shopping for a gasket set I see a set from IAP for $40, a Fel-Pro set for $64 and a Beck Arnley set for $117. I want the best for my Fiat but I don't want to throw my money away. Is there any real benefit (to me) in spending $64 or $117 over $40?

Thanks to all!

[manoa matt]

Go with the Fel-pro. The fel-pro head gasket is the second best head gasket you can get for a spider. The best costing $60 itself. IAP will use a "Tako" head gasket which is known to be inferior. Beck-arnley could be anything, they are not an actual parts brand, just a company that takes various parts and puts them in a Beck arnley box, most of their stuff is good though.

You need to figure out WHY the head gasket blew and fix that problem first or the gasket will just blow again.

[majicwrench]

Head gaskets can and do fail without any underlying cause. Cast iron block and aluminum head means head is constantly expanding and contracting faster than block, and head gasket is constantly getting this shearing/compressing force. Gasket to a certain extent is doomed from the very beginning.
Of course, if it is overheating/pinging it is sure gonna fail a lot faster.

I have used all sorts of gaskets, which gasket you use is up to you, and what matters more than the gasket is the care taken in the cleaning and re-assembly.
Keith

[Spiderinsider]

Thanks to both!

Matt, if the Fel-Pro is at #2, what would you rate as being the best?
The gasket went out due to a bad radiator cap, per previous owner. I agree - super clean and careful installation is a must.

[So Cal Mark]

umm, a bad cap in itself won't cause the head gasket to blow. The only thing a cap does is pressurize the system which raises the boiling point.
I've got Corteco engine sets in stock or AJUSA head gaskets separately at very competitive prices. There are differences in gaskets, both material, construction and thickness. The Ajusa gaskets are oem quality and thickness and are graphite coated to compensate for the disparity of cast iron block and aluminum head. The graphite is a lubricant that allows the head to move around as it expands/contracts without tearing the gasket apart. Corteco uses their own patented coating that accomplishes the same thing with a non-stick coating.

[Spiderinsider]

Hi Mark. Nice website! Looks like a great Fiat source, and you're store is not far from me. Thanks for the advice.