Which head gasket material

I am new here, not new to wrenching.
I buy and sell a lot of different brands, fix them , sell them.

My kids were in the market for a first gen Tacoma , I found a very nice , factory black 95.5 extra cab 4x4 , for what I feel was a very good price.

Truck was advertised as having a bad engine , supposedly had a knock.
I checked it over, has water in the oil, and an empty radiator , with crusty gunk at the cap.

I figured head gasket.
Owner said it would not start.
Like I said price was right, loaded it on the trailer and brought it home , 6 hours round trip.

The next day I got it started,
No rattles or knocks , just sweet smelling steam out the exhaust.
Pulled the plugs, all were nice except the middle , right side (passenger #3).
I will usually try to use OEM replacement parts if they are reasonably priced.
I get cost plus 10% on most makes.

I have another running 3.4 that I can use , but would rather fix the one in the truck if possible.
There are no obvious signs of it being abused nor overheated.

My plans are to remove both heads, do both sides since center I am this far down.

I have read the posts here , and on the net, watched the very informative head gasket change video on you tube.
I have a friend that has a machine e shop, builds engines for a living and had for many years.
He told me the scuttle but is true , that the 3.4 have a fairly common issue with cracked heads.
As I said I do have an extra set from a running g engine should that be the case.

I want to have my parts here , and am ready to order them.
I have read a couple of replies on here, that the graphite head gaskets should not be used .
I use them on my 700 , aluminum head , iron block engines , as well as many other applications where I have two dis-simular components , iron block aluminum heads, and have never had problems with leaking.
MLS gaskets require a much different surface than a composition gasket , and from what I have read, factory uses the MLS when first assembled.
I also have read one or two posts, where they has I initially used a graphite gasket, but had a recall , due to leakage.

So what brand and type of gasket are the most of you using.
Thanks for the read, I know it is long , but wanted to let you guys know , I am no rooky to engines, and my I intentions.
Thank you
Ashley

 

I went with oem from Amazon. a few dollars cheaper than camelback Toyota.

 

I recently did mine with OEM metal head gaskets. I get parts from toyotapartsdeal.com - seems to be the cheapest place for OEM stuff.

The early OEM 3.4 head gaskets were only 1 layer thick, then they recalled and did 2 layers. I'm pretty sure the OEM ones I just installed were 3 layers of metal, so they've updated the design over time. I was super careful to clean the top of the block really well and then had the heads resurfaced at a machine shop. I'm probably 800-900 miles out from the job now and no problems.

 

So you think the early gaskets were one piece of composite , or metal ?

 

Mine was a 3 piece and the one I replace was also 3 piece. Mls (multi layer steel) is what they called it.

 

My truck is a 95.5.
I guess i will have to see when i get it apart.
Thank you.

 

My truck that I did recently is a '96 T100 with 3.4. The ones I took out were 2 layers. It looked like somebody had been in there a long time ago - so it might have originally had 1 layer and then been in the recall and gotten the 2 layer put in. The ones I put on recently were 3 layers.

 

Finally had time to get my newly acquired 95.5 tacoma apart.
I will be buying a set of heads.
On the bright side, I have a rolled 96 4runner with a running when rolled 3.4 .
Always need to have a plan B .
Thanks for a great site.