Opinions please on head gasket purchase

[Nessism]

Bought an OE GS1150 head gasket on ebay for a good price. It's MLS, obviously, and the top layer on one side has a few deformities, the worst of which is shown in the photos below. I wouldn't worry at all but the bend is right though one of the oil passage seals. Only the top layer seems affected. What do you guys think?

[waterman]

I think someday in the very near future I am going to see a post with pictures of a spectacularly immaculate 1150 with your name in the top left corner.

On the corner stud, has the metal delaminated from the seal? If it isn't and corner just got buggered, I would be tempted to try it and see. I would think the clamping forces would prevent any leaking. Worst case is you are out some time and will need to replace anyway.

[bwringer]

I think it'll be fine.

Look at it this way: in that area of the gasket, the metal's only job is to stay out of the way of the rubber-ish oil seal and maintain a bit of spacing for that o-ring-ish oil seal between the head and block after you torque down the head nuts.

[salty_monk]

I'm no expert but Brian's explanation is exactly what I was thinking

[Nessism]

Okay then. Thanks to all that responded.

Wasn't too happy to see the damage when the gasket arrived from the ebay seller, but guess I'll keep it and give the sell a positive review (or should I go neutral?).

[bwringer]

I'd give the seller a positive, but mention that the item was slightly damaged in shipping. I reserve neutrals and negatives for far worse situations than this, and always give the seller a chance to make it right.

You might email the seller to let him know he needs to pack a lot more carefully (if it's a seller that handles a lot of parts, anyway). He might even do something to make it right.

[rapidray]

Run it Ed, it will be fine. Ray.