Re: Shoddy Gasket Sets

Posted by JD in KC On 2009/3/4 10:53:39

Really sorry to hear you are having problems. My experience with Max Merritt has been the opposite. The head gasket for my 356 was in perfect condition. Six months ago I ordered some rubber dust covers for the front suspension and received an incorrect part. One phone call and they re-sent the correct part with no hassle at all.

I can't imagine why the valve cover gaskets wouldn't fit unless they were for a six cylinder engine. Weren't they the same for the whole straight 8 family from at least 1940 on? Are you working on pre-1940 engines?

I had a complete, unopened Fel-Pro 356 gasket set in the trunk of the '41 limo when I got it. I'm guessing it was at least 20 years old. The bulk of the gaskets were paper including the oil pan gasket. The valve cover gaskets were cork, and the timing cover seal was cork but just about everything else was paper. I ordered a new oil pan gasket from Max Merritt and it was a really nice cork type and fit perfectly.

May be just dumb luck, but I've had no problems with Max Merritt, Kanter Bros, Terrill Machine, Patrician Industries, or any of the better known vendors I've dealt with (knock on wood).

Hope you have a better Packard experience with whoever you deal with in the future.