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Alfa head gaskets 3.0l:

Many people say Victor Reinz head gaskets are the best

although if you look closely, they are owned by Dana corporation. Money makers. Are these gaskets really any better anymore? MAybe years ago they were....I don't know

I bought the standard 3.0L head gaskets from IAP and had a failure about 500 miles after install. The middle cylinder metal ring had a tiny kink in it (not noticed by me) which becam the fail point later. the other side original and the new left side are fine now (still IAP brand)

Anyway, I am building up a tough engine w/Venolia pistons, carillo rods, C+B cams, all new valve guides, teflon seals, new springs...etc.

any thought on head gaskets?

Sweet, what compression ratio? 11:1?

I'm using the Centerlinealfa headgasket for my 164S. Forgot the brand but they say it is ok. Car will be ready this Weds.

I used Victor Reinz on my Milano and it has been good so far, 3 years no problems.

I usually insist on Victor Reinz as they are a known quantity, but you never know, change in management could be mean change in quality.

we have used reinz gaskets on my 3.0 l rave engine for over 0 years and no problems and we were useing 13:1 compression

Not sure on compression yet....

Thanks for the input.

Victor Reinz gaskets are very good.

I have in an emergency re used the old VR gaskets off my v6..My Giulietta is still running with those re used gaskets today.
I'm now using VR gaskets on all the 4 bangers as well..

Some pointers here and observations re. head gaskets:
If the mating surfaces are CLEAN, most gaskets will work well. What nobody mentioned is the necessity to have FRESH gaskets. An automotive parts supply store here in Athens told me that Reinz, Goetze and Ajusa are respectable makers and they COLLECT the unsold head gaskets every six months, because the adhesive strip (blue, red, gray or black) polymerizes rendering the gasket inefective. Case in point, I had a set of still sealed 'brand new' such gaskets at home for 3 years or so, which I used when I first assembled my 3liter....ever since I started the thing up, I kept noticing a lower level in the expansion bottle....antifreeze was leaking out all around the heads!! No compression loss, just antifreeze. When I removed the heads after a couple of weeks, the gaskets came off in perfect shape, with the 'adhesive' strip still intact and in place!
Respectable stores will not sell you 'dead' gaskets. There is a date code stamped somewhere in there for your assurance so look for it and make sure there are no cuts on the transparent seal pack! If there are, polymerization is progressing faster than it would in a sealed pack.
Jim K.

Hey Freddy Feelgood,

Those 46*C temps in Athens sure have had an effect on your cranium..Used by dates for head gaskets??? !!! What a load of crock. The time it takes to ship them to Oz and send a set to the nearest sheep station would put them out of date before they arrived !!!!!!

Never struck a probelm with genuine Alfa head gaskets. Most troubles I see is incorrect pressure caps on radiators, insufficient or no retentioning after a rebuild, haphazzard use of coolant additives (if any) and the lack of use of distilled water as the main coolant base which all lead to failures.

The best way to stuff a good head is to use good old tap water only..ooohh yeah !!

I like the reinz gaskets because the come off cleanly...other brands leave a lot of crap in the head which has to be carefully removed..

How about the old 'copper' gaskets...??? I had an engine with three original 'rings' on one side and 'newer' copper on the other...

Copper headgaskets are usually used for higher CR and high boost applications, but I'm not sure if they cause electrolysis of coolant or help it... I had a Ford Thunderbird in which Ford used different metals for the head and block, so electrolysis was a problem, ruining the coolant in a year or less depending on boost, etc. And I remember looking up a thread in which copper head gaskets were recommending as they keep the coolant from exchanging particles with the head material. But that was a year ago, and I sold the car luckily, so I don't remember.

well, i guess it's just copper coated.....but came off head real easily

So, I'm still hanging out waiting for you to get that 3.0l fixed and dialed it just to see your response to, "So ... how do you like the extra umph of the 3.0l?"

You've got to get through this stuff to put a smile on your face again as you redline 2nd gear!

GV

Gregory..you asking me??

I have had a 3.0 in the car for 3 years...running most of the time..and I love the power

other one and a half engines are 3.0 also but in various rebuild stages..

Oh, okay ... for some reason I was thinking that you were just putting in the 3.0

GV

well..i guess I am just putting in 'an other' one...kind of a constant cycle.