engine gasket kits

[Tony 38901]

Can somebody recommend a quality engine gasket kit for a '72 LT-1? I already have the correct intake & valve cover gaskets, but don't mind if I get some spares in a new kit.

Thanks,
Tony

[Joe L.]

Re: engine gasket kits

Tony-----

GM never sold a gasket kit which included all of the gaskets to assemble a complete engine. From GM, the best you could do was to purchase 3 kits, the total of which would be all required to complete an engine. None of these kits remain available from GM, though.

For the most part, if you wish to use high quality, performance-type gaskets, you need to purchase the gaskets individually. That's what I recommend, anyway, since there is no gasket set ever made which would include all of the gaskets which I would recommend for specific applications.

You can likely obtain a complete gasket set for your engine, though, with OEM-type and quality gaskets for each gasketing requirement on the engine. I would expect that these would be available from Fel-Pro, Victor-Reinz, or McCord. Any of these would be about as good and it would depend on which line your auto parts store carries.

GM manufactured few, if any, gaskets in-house. For the most part, GM gaskets were manufactured by Detroit Gasket (which now sells gaskets to consumers under another brand name that I've forgotten) and the above-referenced 3 companies.

[Terry M.]

engine gaskets

Joe,
I believe Detroit Gasket is still in business. I just saw some at school, unless we got some old stock. They came from a NAPA store, I believe.

[Joe L.]

Re: engine gaskets

Terry-----

Yes, they are still in business but I think that their name has changed.

As you may know, for many years Detroit Gasket was an OEM supplier ONLY. The only way that you could get their products was through the parts channels of a major auto manufacturer like GM. The only way that you knew that you were getting their product was if you happened to recognize their logo embossed on the gasket in the GM package.

About 15 years ago, or so, they started selling gaskets into the aftermarket under their own brand name and logo. Recently, I think that they have been purchased by a German company and I think that the name has been changed to "Corteco". But, that's just a vague recollection and I'm not sure that's correct.

[Terry M.]

Re: engine gaskets

The gaskets I saw last week said Detroit Gasket right on the box. I'm relatively sure they came from a NAPA store, but it was on someone else's project, and I didn't pay as much attention as I would have had I known this topic was coming up.

[Patrick H.]

Re: engine gasket kits

I've used the Fel-Pro Performance kit several times with great success. It's FPP-2802 from Summit at $94.95.

Depending on your goals, I do not think you would need any additional gaskets whatsoever. The only exception (and this is likely what Joe is thinking too) is if you preferred a one-piece oil pan gasket to the stock 4 piece type (see picture below). In that case get FPP-1885 at $37.88 in addition to the above kit. As it is blue, be prepared to install it before you paint the motor. I have this gasket on my 71, but have other cars with the standard 4-piece oil pan gaskets including my recently finished 66 327 motor.

Patrick