Anybody have any experience with theses plastic gaskets? How many mileage on them? any problems? Do you think they can handle a FD with a single turbo? I was just gonna reuse my old ones, but came across these. Never heard of them. I don't buy the extra hp gained if you use them, that's BS.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/93-95...em350040280875

 

I would just use the OEM gaskets.

 

Those are more expensive than OEM through Malloy. I think UIM to LIM is < $9. I wouldn't reuse the old.

 

I purchased these for my rebuild. curiosity overtook me and I decided to give it a try. from what they claim, it seems as if they should be as good if not better than stock.

They look good. I should have them in and running by then end of April. I"ll update with more results after they are in.

 

I made and use a set of insulating gaskets, and they do work--well. It reduces heat spread as well as heat soak and reduces the intercooling requirement. Anything that keeps things cool will maintain or increase the charge density which is good for power. The only caviate is that you may need longer bolts and studs to accomodate these gaskets, depending on their thickness.

 

Intuitively, my feeling is that the intake tract (Elbow, UIM and LIM) is heated as much as by ambient underhood heat as it is from conducted heat from the block, and the insulating properties of those gaskets isn't going to make any difference in that. Additionally, IMHO, any heating up of the charge air from the intake tract will be a function of contact time of that air with the tract, and the temperature differential. Neither of which I THINK will be of much consequence.
IMHO, those gaskets might seal fine, but provide no significant benefit beyond that. And they appear to cost more.