Defective Moss Manifold Gaskets?

[TRmoment]

Last fall before tucking my TR into the garage for the winter, I noticed an exhaust leak at the very back of the exhaust manifold (#6 cylinder) which may have explained the "ticking / tapping" noise my 14 year-old would describe while we were driving that I could never hear (because I'm old and deaf LOL). When I pulled it apart yesterday, much to my surprise the entire gasket was hard, brittle and cracked everywhere the exhaust manifold contacted the gasket. The intake manifold contact areas seemed ok.
The gasket was purchased from Moss (695-060 Gasket, Manifold, Hi Perf) and installed only 3 years ago. As a result of the pandemic, I don't think I could have more than 1200 miles on that gasket since installing. I had my exhaust manifold ceramic coated silver by Jet-Hot in NC 3 years ago and when I re-installed it, I of course, used the new gasket. I immediately assumed that must be the cause of the fried gasket. I spoke with the guys at Jet-Hot and they were baffled saying they have had no issues or complaints such as mine. A quick Google search last night turned up several postings of the exact same type of gasket failures with the Moss High Performance gasket. I have a new one on hand (ordered before disassembly) but for obvious reasons see no logical reason to re-assemble using the same brand gasket.
I would love to try a Payen gasket but for some reason they seem to be unobtainable. One of the postings mentioned a place in Germany that sells Bastuck gaskets but well, you know, Germany, now? it could take quite a long time to get that from there.
Anyone have any ideas or suggestions for products or sources that I could / should use? Any help appreciated.

[DanB360]

I’ve ordered a few things from overseas recently. One took about a month to receive. The other was here within two weeks via fedex

[poolboy]

Looks like they may have changed suppliers for that gasket...the HD one I put on about 10 years ago was and still is kind of an off white, maybe cream color.

[baws]

I ordered a new "High Performance" intake/exhaust gasket from Moss a few months ago and while combing through my spare parts stores, I ran across another new Moss gasket that I ordered previously. (Go figure? )
Both have the same part# listed above, but the newer version is noticeably thicker.
I too have a small exhaust leak at the rear of head and have meaning to replace the gasket as well.
The newest of the 2 I have is dark grey on both sides, sort of gaskety material, whilst the older one is a lighter gray gasket materiel on the head side and metal on manifold side?

Upon closer examination of the original poster's pics, my newer, thicker Moss gasket, appears to the same manufacture as his failed gasket!
I think I'll be using the older, metal faced version when I do the R&R.

[poolboy]

FWIW..the HD gaskets are described as "SOLID PARTICULATE" in composition...they are not layered.
The other thing I noticed is the different part numbers...one thing in my paper catalog and another number in the online version of the catalog.
Anyway, mine is holding up well...maybe because I used two... one HD and one 'regular'..following "Founder's" advice about using two although not necessarily one of each..that was my idea.

[lfmTR4]

I would contact Moss and share your experience and ask them to explain. One to let them know they have a problem and fix it so that they quit selling a defective part and TWO make you whole with the proper gasket. I have not double gasketed anything.

That said, I got my gasket set from TRF 15 years ago during the rebuild and so far - so good. I have always believed TRF had better quality parts and now with Moss absorbing the Vicky Brit stock, I’m more Leary of ordering critical items from them.

[baws]

In my case, both of 2 different Moss gaskets are marked with the same Hi-Perf part#.

[TRmoment]

I just spoke with a very nice gentleman from Moss who is looking into the manifold gasket issue. He is going to use my photos and speak with the tech department and get back to me with any information they can provide. Evidently, there are ongoing developments with '72-'76 TR6 manifold gaskets as there are (and have been) several different versions available and some now no longer available:

695-040 Gasket, Manifold to head (stock)
695-060 Gasket, Manifold, Hi Perf
695-061 Gasket, Manifold Heavy Duty (no longer available)
695-080 Gasket, Manifold Remflex Graphite

I'll post any information I receive when I get it.

[skootch13]

Great. I just checked my Moss order from last year. I have this gasket too. Gulp.

[poolboy]

And mine is the 061...the good one

[JochemsTR]

I will trow in a little bit more confusion.
I have been ordering 695-060 since 2018. So far still mounted and no issues. After talking to Moss, they explained the 061 is the successor, which according to 061 number makes sense.
On my new 2.7L Engine about to be run in I installed another -060 since I always order 2 of such components. The 061 (its successor) is now NCA. This is no surprise, since partnumber, stock and vendor can easily be seperated by using different numbers. Only assuming the ongoing developments.

The main reason for the -060 (or -061) is, that this gasket can be nicely grind to match exhaust and intake ports, since NONE of the available gaskets match. The Payen is double metal, which may be good from a quality point of view, however, I have not tried grinding this one.

[baws]

Interestingly, I just received the latest Moss catalog and features the 695-080, solid graphite manifold gasket in the first page or so.
Anyone here have experience with that particular gasket?

[poolboy]

That's the REMFLEX that TRmoment mentioned in #8...If it lives up to it's hype, it should be a good one.
https://mossmotors.com/remflex-graph...nifold-gaskets

[lfmTR4]

Usually graphite gaskets have a steel sheet inside and not pure graphite. I would think solid graphite would be too brittle.

I’ve never had any problems with the standard exhaust gasket.

[TRmoment]

I heard back from the gentleman from Moss. He said the Tech guy he spoke with was surprised to hear that I was running a stock, cast-iron exhaust manifold; he assumed that I must be running a header. He could not offer any explanation for the catastrophic gasket failure I experienced. I found that interesting in light of all the variations of manifold gaskets of late. If you have received your 2022 annual TR250 & TR6 catalog, you may have noticed that on page A3 is the very first “Featured Product”; a Remflex manifold gasket. Assured that I would receive credit for returning the new, unused 695-060 gasket and “possibly” some compensation for the failed one, I ordered a Remflex 695-080 as well as a stock 695-040 one for comparison. What I find interesting is that the Remflex has one part # (695-080) for TR250, and TR6 72-76 but the stock gasket has two different part #’s: 695-030 for TR250, TR6 thru ‘71 and 695-040 for TR6 ‘72-’76. One thing I noticed right away is that the intake openings on the stock gasket are 1 1/4" diameter and the Remflex openings are 1 1/2" diameter; I assume to expand fitment coverage? Once I get everything cleaned and prepped I’ll try fitting each of the two gaskets and see how they line up with the ports,then I'll post photos and make a decision as to using or returning the Remflex gasket 695-080.