Got ready to put my heads back on my 3VZE, after the machine shop (Southwest Engines in San Berdo) replaced a broken exhaust valve in #6 and reseated a leaking intake valve in #2, adjusted valve lash, and micro fluxed)

Cleaned all mating surfaces, mounted Ex mans to the heads, was about to install the heads, then after looking at the HGs in the DNJ kit I found them to be upside down and backwards, just like the ITM HGs.

I read threads about a popular re-builder that uses DNJ gaskets in his motors that's why I went with the DNJ upper gasket kit, but I really don't want to install knock-off gaskets.

Ordered Victor-Reins HGs from Rock. It's not worth the gamble of installing these DNJ gaskets, too much work to replace them if they go bad, plus the cost of the rest of the gaskets and the head bolts.

$60 shipped.

[YOUTUBE] [/YOUTUBE]

 

The previous post is entirely IMO !

 

should have gone oem on hg. Aftermarket will always be....aaaaaaaaaaaaafter market.

 

I'm learey of some OEM parts, Toy's HG recall. I also own a 95 Pont GA w/ 3100, bad lower intake man gasket design, class action law suit upheld.

I know some manufactures would not risk poor design for the loss of their rep, namely Victor/Reinz, Beck/Arley, Nippon Denso and NGK.

 

ive never had a failure with fel pro gaskets in any engine ive done from 4 cyl toyotas to bbc, and sbc marine engines

 

Agreed, Fel-Pro makes a good gasket.
I've seen some threads calling them Fail-Pro, but I do not agree with that.

I put a Fel-Pro upper set set in my Pont, they're nice and meaty, not thin paper crap like some makers, valve cover gaskets are very supple silicone.

 

Vitals right. Always go OEM on gaskets, especially the HGs.

Comparing 3.0 HG's to lower intake gaskets on a 3100 GM is crap. Those intakes leak no matter what gasket brand you use. It's just a poor design. Same with the HG on the 3.0. The difference is that Toyota updated the gasket design to help combat the failure, which for the most part, worked.

 

I have to agree with this. My understanding is that the 3VZE head gasket was one of the first non-asbestos HGs that Toyota used. No way they would put a crappy replacement on there considering the millions and millions of dollars they had to have spend fixing the first ones.

I daresay Toyota is even more invested in keeping their good name intact than pretty much any aftermarket supplier. The only reasons folks buy non-American cars are the low price and the high perceived reliability.

 

My engine rebuild shop put victor reinze and beck arnley gaskets. Both I agreed with. In hindsight I would go with OEM.. Ive learned a lot since 5 months ago.

That said, 900 miles on rebuilt engine and no gasket issues.

 

Only parts I've every had fail on me were Beck Arnley. Not buying them anymore.

Fel pro are pretty good, but nothing beats OEM stuff from Toyota. Set it and forget it.