331 engine head gasket question

[LM 25575]

Hi,

some months ago I bought new head gaskets for my '49 Cadillac. I received GraphTite gaskets, instead of old kind ones. Now, I noticed they are quite different from the old ones which were practically a sandwich with two metal sheets with a gasket inside. The new ones are just a sheet of graphite (?). Would these gaskets be ok anyway? I noticed that even the thickness would be a little different. Any suggestion?
Thanks.
Luca

[J. Friedman]

Luca,

I had a bad experience with the type of head gasket you bought.  2 years ago I installed a set of them on my '49 and one of them blew a short time later.  They are hard to remove afterwards as they become "sticky".  I know some users have not had problems with them, but a blown head gasket is very bothersome as it can happen anywhere and you and your car can be stranded.  In addition, not only must you remove the cylinder head once again to fix it, a big job itself, but you will also have water in the engine oil which means you must drain the crankcase and change the oil, and you don't always get all the water out. 

I suggest you return the ones you bought to the vendor and ask for the old style steel gaskets instead, since, in my opinion, they are much more reliable.  Olson's Gaskets www olsonsgaskets com sells steel gaskets, but you must specify that you want that type.

Jay Friedman

[Sweede64]

I allways use feelpro when avialible, never had any broblems with them.

[PHIL WHYTE CLC 14192]

Last time I looked Felpro had discontinued the 331 gasket sets, I got Best Gaskets and they are the graphite type with metal rings around the cylinder openings. I can't say whether they are good or not as I have on going engine problems anyway!
Phil