headgasket Q's

[1slow_si]

Ok Guys, Fel Pro or OEM? and Do I need to replace the headbolts?

 

Tanks a million,

Bill

[GeneralDisorder]

No need to replace the head bolts. I swear by the Fel-Pro's myself. Better than OEM in my opinion. Don't have to be re-torqued, which is a huge plus on the EA82 as that requires removing the cam towers unless you make or buy the special socket.

 

GD

[1slow_si]

Thanks for the quick reply! I'm off to order gaskets.

[[HTi]Johnson]

I'm trying the Fel-Pro Perma Torque myself. I just installed them and haven't got the engine back in the car. I picked them up at www.rockauto.com . For $19 each, plus shipping. But if you're doing head gaskets you might as well order oil pump (or just reseal), timing belts, oil pan gasket...etc. so it makes the shipping cheaper per part.

 

Oh yeah, Napa has ball joints for $28 and rockauto has them for $18 (same ones by part number) or so. I've had nothing but good luck with rockauto. Some people don't like them for some reason.

 

my .02 cents.

-Justin

[idosubaru]

Some people don't like them for some reason.

i like their prices but not that they show 4 cylinder EA82 parts when drilling down for an XT6 (6 cylinder ER27). part no fit, do no good! other than that they have great prices and have always sent the right thing...well, the thing i ordered i should say! actually i've never ordered the wrong thing either, if it's questionable i no clickly and get it elsewhere.

 

i've use Fel-Pro gaskets and OEM both with good luck a number of times, but haven't gotten a chance to put many miles on them. Have about 30-40,000 on a set of Fel-Pro's on one of my XT6's. The corteco's look nice as well, i've gotten a few sets of those. when replacing the exhaust and intake manifold gaskets the Subaru OEM and Corteco ones are thicker and nicer looking than the Fel-Pro ones i've gotten. Of course they aren't nearly as critical or prone to failure though.

[GeneralDisorder]

i like their prices but not that they show 4 cylinder EA82 parts when drilling down for an XT6 (6 cylinder ER27). part no fit, do no good! other than that they have great prices and have always sent the right thing...

 

IMO, no worse than any other parts source, but they have lots of hard to find stuff, their prices on some things are simply unbeatable ($0.94 for an EA81 fan thermoswitch ?!??!), and their customer service is great. Recently I ordered a part they did not have in stock, and were unable to secure from the manufacturer (also out of stock, with no idea when they would restock it). Rockauto called me, and also sent me an email. The issue was promptly resolved. They also usually have detailed pictures of most parts so if you know what you are looking for it's not much of a problem.

 

.... when replacing the exhaust and intake manifold gaskets the Subaru OEM and Corteco ones are thicker and nicer looking than the Fel-Pro ones i've gotten. Of course they aren't nearly as critical or prone to failure though.

 

Definately - I get the Fel-Pro entire engine gasket sets from rockauto, and then buy the intake manifold, exhaust, oil pan, and valve cover gaskets from the dealer.

 

GD

[idosubaru]

IMO, no worse than any other parts source,

i should qualify those comments since it's always XT6 related. it's probably XT6 only...it always is.

 

same thing here, i placed an order that included something they no longer carried. on one hand it probably shouldn't be listed...they emailed, didn't charge and sent the other items. it was seemless and required no effort on my part.

 

Beck Arnley has two styles of headgaskets. Same part number but one has the thin black rubber stripping around it and the other does not. I ordered two and got one of each??? He ordered 3 more to see if he could get another with the rubber ring on it...don't know if it does anything but "looks" better. I checked back in a week and he didn't have anything, never asked again after that as I haven't needed them yet.