2rz/3rz head gasket brands??

Sooooo I bought a 96 4x4 2.7 ex. cab with blown head gasket. does anybody have any reviews or recommendations for head gasket brands? i was looking in to the Engine Tech top end kit w/ head bolts. its kind of a budget rebuild. head has been pressure tested and decked. I did pull the motor because the timing chain is out of service limit, and the guides are worn and cracked. I figured it would be easier to do all of this in the garage instead of in the truck. Ive considered getting the kit and buying oem head gasket to use, but i thought i would call upon the good ole TACOMA WORLD to get some opinions... let me hear em, thanks duudes

 

Out of the Rockauto brands, I like Mahle the most. I've used them hundreds of times without concern.

Buy the set with the gaskets included.

 

I've never had to replace a head gasket on a tacoma, but I've always used Felpro in the past for all the vehicles that I've worked on.1974 Ford F100 6 cyl, 1969 El camino 350, and the last one I did was a 1977 GMC Jimmy 4x4 350. Never had any problems with them after installing Felpro head gaskets.

 

IMO, Buy nothing but Toyota manufactured parts when it comes to critical items for the motor. You can get great deals on Ebay.

 

I did head gasket replacement few years ago. It never occurred to me that I might put not OEM parts to put on my engine. But maybe it's just me - I put not OEM parts only if it is non-essential for drive-ability (like some electrical, body or interior parts).

 

Mahle is pretty solid for the price. I've grown to dislike the felpro kits after using a few. The Victor-reinz was also OK.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I bought a complete set from engine tech. I really want to see the quality of this brand. But I bought oem h.g. Off eBay for cheap. So hopefully this will take care of it and go for another 300,000!!

 

Just to reiterate.....OEM all the way. 100%. Every time. You don't wanna do it again because of an inferior gasket do you?