Calling out poor QC gasket makers
 

Gotta say as I get down to the wire on my new motor build, shame on the quality control at certain gasket makers.

Remflex might make a gasket that seals headers very well, but if they can’t get the bolt holes right, what’s the point? I’m running Edelbrock round port heads and the Remflex header gaskets for both sides missed the bolt hole over cylinders #3 and #4 by a mile. See photos. I guess I’ll need to modify them and making a cut to their curious material ought to be interesting.

I have two other pairs of round port gaskets from SCE (copper) and the basic Hedman gaskets that came with the headers and they both fit all bolt holes without issues.

Next complaint is directed toward the oil filter mount to engine block gasket that came with the kit that Butler Performance sent me with my reciprocating assembly. Not sure who made the set but the part number RS-617-6 and they’re proudly labeled Made in the USA. For reasons unknown, the opening for “dirty” oil inlet channel is oval shaped instead of round. I’ll admit I didn’t notice that when I installed the housing, but luckily I did notice it when I had to remove the housing to slip my passenger side header in. The oval opening is large enough to cause a gap that would allow dirty oil to pass right into the channel for the filtered oil returning to the motor. When I ran over to Summit in Sparks, NV which is 4 miles from my home, parts guy pulled me up a Felpro individual housing mount gasket and it’s round where it needs to be, not oval.

Just posting to see if anybody else experienced this and as a warning if you’re approaching this point in your project.

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Yup had same experience with them, ordered two sets, the other set still in sealed package. I got those because Butler was out of the Mr Gasket white ones, got 3 sets of those they match up perfectly.

I run the SCE copper gaskets and just ordered a new set today. I made my own gasket for the oil filter adapter.
I have some Remflex but decided not to use them. They cover up a bit of my header tube.
You can cut them with a very sharp razor knife. Slotted one of them.

The best and easiest way to deal with holes in metal clad gaskets that are not punched out right is to nibble away at them with a gasket punch that's 1/2 the size of the actual hole.

The Remflex gaskets were easy enough to trim up, they’re installed now. Big relief.

I did also trim the round port areas where there was a slight overhang into the header tube in a couple of areas. I understand that the port area can likely vary between different header brands, so I don’t hold that against the Remflex crew. However I’m still scratching my head about how hard is it to cut the bolt hole spacing correctly in the first place because that is a very static measurement.

If they give me any trouble I’ll swap in the copper set that really were cut very precisely without any issues anywhere.

I know that lately you really can’t take anybody’s quality control for granted no matter if it’s a new product or a brand that has been trusted for decades. Everything needs double checking. You just don’t know what a company is sending out the door anymore.


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Nice catch on the oil filter adapter gasket, that would have been like running an open bypass valve, very little oil at low demand, low RPM, would have went through the filter.

As far as the header gaskets, I've been using high temp RTV on headers since it was pointed out to me in the late 80s that it will seal the pressure side of a turbo engine exhaust. I was still unconvinced, so I took some RTV, and heated it with an oxy acetylene torch. It had no effect on the RTV, good enough for me from that point forward. I have a set of Hooker second gen D ports I installed in 1988, haven't leaked in the last 35 years.

It's also much cheaper to buy a tube of high temp RTV, than the premium header gaskets, and it actually bonds to the header, and cylinder head, unlike just using a gasket, which doesn't bond to either.

:2cents:

I'll typically use the copper on all the engines and almost always works very well, and can be removed and reused a dozen times. Rarely do they not seal, and when they don't, it's another underlying issue like a poorly made header flange or the surface isn't flat.
Those soft thick remflex gaskets basically bandaid those issues and seal pretty good, but yeah, I've had the bolt holes not be where they should be.

SCE now makes a round port header gasket like the Remflex. 1/8" thick graphite composite. Maybe they will fir better.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...1/make/pontiac

Flatout makes a rubber coated copper gasket for us.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/f...c/make/pontiac

And we might be better off with a tube of red RTV.

Got that right!
 

Yeah and crappy instructions and lack of specs drives me crazy.

Gentlemen - I personally take exception to this blanket statement!

"I know that lately you really can’t take anybody’s quality control for granted no matter if it’s a new product or a brand that has been trusted for decades. Everything needs double checking. You just don’t know what a company is sending out the door anymore."

I haven't rebuilt an engine in years, so no comment about engine gaskets; but if you EVER get a carburetor gasket from me that doesn't fit; CALL, and I will personally make it right!

And I'll bet dollars to doughnuts Cliff feels exactly the same way!

Call out the bad ones, but maybe the blanket statements could be reworded!

Jon

In all fairness Jon is right. I should not have made such a broad statement and I apologize for that. I actually was directing it towards Remflex and whoever made the set that Butler sent. BTW not blaming Butler at all, just the gasket set maker.

That little flaw in the oil pump gasket could have possibly spelled an early death or pressure issues for my new motor.

I’ll admit too that trying to get my car finished in a 100+ degree garage before Hot August Nights 8/1-6 might have made me a wee bit cranky, lol.


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