Fel-Pro 9441PT Gasket Problems?

[Silver 'T' Top]

$50 a whack for the 9441's now!? Guess like everything else, price goes up, quality goes down!

 

[bison]

I have noticed this same problem...And also on a few friends cars also...We have eaten up Fel-Pro's last year at a ridiculous rate.

No tuning issues...especially not on 3 different good running cars..On most of our gaskets though...The gasket itself deteriorated,Leaving the fire ring in tact.But was blowing out under boost over 20 or so psi.

There is a definite problem with Fel pro 9441's now...No question about it.To the extent that if you look at Summit racing's website...The clearly list that the 9441's are not recommended for racing applications....Wonder why they would do that?They never listed that before.

Fel-Pro 9441PT - Fel-Pro Head Gaskets - summitracing.com

At one time the 9441 was the only gasket I would ever buy...Now you couldn't give me a set for free.

Also...All of our heads were not warped,Clean&prep for install was well done,new arp bolts or studs,Proper Tq setting and sequence...Still had problems...Changed to a different gasket...problem solved.

There was defintiely detontion on the gasket that did not blow out. The ring is not round to begin with but i can see visible distortion there. Ive ran these gaskets and the stock GM ones many times before on engines. They are great until you detonate it. A engine that is making 600hp cant have any detonation or a set of gaskets like this will fail. There are not enough fasteners in the block to hold them down and the deck and head surfaces are not thick enough. Champion has a good solution for head deflection on the intake side. If i was running a high hp iron headed engine id have it done. They actually drill through the head mating surface thread it and screw in a stud that deflects the head surface outward approx. .001. Then they mill the head flat. It is very rigid after this is done.

 

[bison]

What is the new head gasket of choice since the Fel pros have issues? GM head gaskets still good?

RJC steel shim gaskets are my choice. They work excellent in high hp iron head combos.

 

[Jeff Strube]

I have never had a Problem with 9441PT FEL-PROs I have been using for over a Year with Boost at 20-26 PSI. I blu two sets of Victors Before
the Fel-pros. I will be pulling the Motor down shortly to change some things
and was going to use New a set of the Fel-pro 9441 PT again.


Is everyone have big problems with 9441 PT FEL-PROs?

 

[19TTA89]

There was defintiely detontion on the gasket that did not blow out. The ring is not round to begin with but i can see visible distortion there. Ive ran these gaskets and the stock GM ones many times before on engines. They are great until you detonate it. A engine that is making 600hp cant have any detonation or a set of gaskets like this will fail. There are not enough fasteners in the block to hold them down and the deck and head surfaces are not thick enough. Champion has a good solution for head deflection on the intake side. If i was running a high hp iron headed engine id have it done. They actually drill through the head mating surface thread it and screw in a stud that deflects the head surface outward approx. .001. Then they mill the head flat. It is very rigid after this is done.

Talking about the cars that we had the problems on....NO DETONATION!...After they were replaced...Problem solved...Hmm.

And this was on cars that ranged from low 11's to low 12 sec cars.

 

[19TTA89]

I have never had a Problem with 9441PT FEL-PROs I have been using for over a Year with Boost it the 20-26 PSI. I blu to sets two sets of Victory's Before
the Fel-pros. I will be pulling the Motor down shortly to change some things
and was going to use New of the Fel-pro 9441 PT again.


Is everyone have big problems with 9441 PT FEL-PROs?

we never had any problems either...until now...And it seems like there are lots of people who have had similar problems...I highly doubt everyone is suddenly having tuning issues.,That go away when you get rid of the 9441's.

 

[19TTA89]

RJC steel shim gaskets are my choice. They work excellent in high hp iron head combos.

+1 on the RJC's....Like the Cometic's also.

 

[Rodney87GN]

What is the new head gasket of choice since the Fel pros have issues? GM head gaskets still good?

I'm using a Victor Reinz head gasket...supposedly it's a direct replacement for the GM ones.

 

[Jeff Strube]

I'm using a Victor Reinz head gasket...supposedly it's a direct replacement for the GM ones.

That is what was running Blu out Two sets. what is the compressed thickness
of the Replacement Victor Reinz and 9441 PT Fel-pros?

 

[Jeff Strube]

We always Copper Coat are headgaskets let them tackup then but them on

 

[Rodney87GN]

That is what was running Blu out Two sets. what is the compressed thickness
of the Replacement Victor Reinz and 9441 PT Fel-pros?

In the other forum there's mention of the factory GM head gaskets made by Victor Reinz. My old motor build had GM gaskets and never had problems with them even at 26 psi.
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/engine-tech/239284-head-gaskets.html

Sorry don't know the compressed thicknesses of either one.

 

[87GNSteve]

there is a thread in the Engine Tech about this too.

I dont like FelPros anymore, they made me go to Cometics and never look back!

Heres the link to the other thread:
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/engine-tech/239284-head-gaskets.html

 

[79TurboCutlass]

$50 a whack for the 9441's now!? Guess like everything else, price goes up, quality goes down!

Murray's Auto Parts had to order them $43 and some change a piece. Said no thanks. For a couple bucks more I can have the GM ones.

 

[GNRick]

+1 on the RJC's....Like the Cometic's also.

I have Cometics and my mechanic said the pass. side is leaking outside. I posted this problem and others have said to use sealing tablets that go in the radiator. I questioned my engine builder about retorqing them and he said he never does. I was told that if I retorque them now, I would break the seal with the silicone or whatever is used for sealing. I have ARP head bolts. So I will try the radiator tablets. Don't mean to hijack this thread but does anybody have any other suggestions? Any other experiences with Cometics?

 

[19TTA89]

I have Cometics and my mechanic said the pass. side is leaking outside. I posted this problem and others have said to use sealing tablets that go in the radiator. I questioned my engine builder about retorqing them and he said he never does. I was told that if I retorque them now, I would break the seal with the silicone or whatever is used for sealing. I have ARP head bolts. So I will try the radiator tablets. Don't mean to hijack this thread but does anybody have any other suggestions? Any other experiences with Cometics?

I would start with the Gm seal tabs...That should do the trick.If not...There is no problem doing a re-Torque on the cometics.It might be a good Idea anyway.

 

[gnpoweredrail]

do these gaskets still have issues??

 

[49-blues]

Never heard of any and I happen to have a extra set for sale if you need them. I went to 4.1 blocks and they use a different head gasket .

 

[Ttype6]

The Victor,Felpro,and GM are the same gaskets,made at the same place. The GM gaskets used to have a Mc Cord number on them. No company is going to tool up for a new design for such a small amount of Buicks. These gaskets are no different than they used to be.

 

[87GNSteve]

The Victor,Felpro,and GM are the same gaskets,made at the same place. The GM gaskets used to have a Mc Cord number on them. No company is going to tool up for a new design for such a small amount of Buicks. These gaskets are no different than they used to be.

This statement is grossly inaccurate; a side by side comparison shows a noticable difference in the fire ring construction with the advantage going to the Victor-Reinz which makes them for GM. So GM and Victor are the same, and Felpro are their own.

 

[49-blues]

I ve had mine for about 4 years in a heated garage so definently not the newer ones -$65. Shipped in the USA.