School me on multi-layered stee gaskets

[turtlevette]

So, when I put my AFRs on, I should go with MLS over other types? Price-wise, copper is in the same ball park as the MLS. Why would MLS be better than copper? Or for the difference, should I go with copper instead?
What about just plane single layer steel gaskets?

I'm thinking the next time i replace blown head gaskets or finally do the all aluminum SB1, i'll use copper with the precoated silicone around the water ports. I believe they're around $100 each but worth it to avoid teardowns because of blown head gaskets.

I have not had good luck with Fel Pro blue. They don't have enough metal reinforcement in the fire rings between the center 2 cylinders. I used the GM ZZ graphite gaskets last time and there was much more metal between the middle 2 cylinders where it always breaks.

My philosophy is that metal is much tougher than composite or rubber. I mean, that stuff looks like cardboard. It's sort of intuitive.

I'd go with solid copper over thin metal sanwiched between rubber.

 

[010752]

The guys that started Cometic supposedly left Federal or Victor and then another left Cometic and started his own, supposedly better than Cometic for even more money. Somewhere near Chicago, but can't remember the name.

MLS have anywhere from 3 to 7 layers. Cometics are all 4 layer.
Cometic and the other good ones use spring stainless and Cometic recommends using aftermarket studs if your cyl pressures are going to exceed the bolt tension limits. They attribute a lot of failures of their gaskets to fastener failure, not the gasket initially.

The older MLS and cheapers ones have given mls a bad name. Cometic and the good brands can use a Ra of 50 or less, the poorer ones can't.

Victor supplies a lot of oem mls including European cars and American. Even the Japs are switching from graphite core.
The Bugatti Veyron uses Victor mls.

Can't go wrong with mls as long as your surfaces are decent.

 

[gkz]

I went with what my head manufacture suggested , and they suggested Fel pro. My heads are Brodix and they even gave me a part number. The guy the does my machine work told to go with that also, and suggested I stay away from MLS head gaskets.

Dart (Pro1) recommends the same--FelPro.