Header Gaskets; OEM or Supplied?
 

Just had my Tomei UEL and SME OP HPC'd and about to fit.

Just wondering if those that have fitted the Tomei or others used the supplied gaskets or bought the OEM from Subaru.

Have others had leaking gasket issues with their headers?

I know I've read somewhere on this forum that some supplied gaskets are average at best and lead to leaks, while the OEM are apparently the best available.

Anyone who's worked on cars knows that not all gaskets are equal despite looking the same.

Putting these things on is something one only wants to do once so for the sake of a $28 outlay I'm prepared to pay it if it's a permanent fix.

I got the shop to install my full exhaust with PSR Headers and OP with the included gaskets. I've had no leaks or issues. Just be pushy and ask them to make sure that there are no leaks. The only gasket that was reused was the doughnut gasket that's in between the frontpipe and catback and that's apparently ok to be reused. Mine did have a burning smell for the next 2 weeks but it went away.

GrimmSpeed's are the best available, if you can get them there.

Edit:
http://www.grimmspeed.com/grimmspeed...st-gasket-set/
http://www.carmodsaustralia.com.au/e...et-86-brz.html

Also, holy shit things are expensive in Australia.

Yes they are that's because we live iin a country where the minimum wage is probably triple that in the US and now makes basically nothing and imports (Thanks China!) 99% of anything needed, especially for these cars.

Thanks for the suggestion but I think the OEM are rated as highly, or higher than the overpriced, even for Oz, Grimspeed.

yep

ecutek tune plus licience in oz $1800 aud
ecutek tune plus licience in usa $450 (moto east na) or about $600 aud

hence the popularity of oft opensource and brzedit in oz

Well finally got my OEM gaskets form a local (Melbourne ***) Subaru seller.

After initially being told it would take 2 days to get them it took exactly 3 weeks and 1 day, 6 unreturned phone calls, 4 unanswered calls directly to Spare Parts section, and a threat to call Subaru Australia to get spare parts to call me back, and the just ONE day in the snail mail to get them. Reason? Someone forgot to ring when they arrived after the two days quoted. Oh and they were understaffed!

I've never dealt with Subaru before, yes I know that ALL 86's are mechanically Subarus, but if this experience is anything to go by I definitely won't be..