exhaust manifold gasket on 318

[bgilbert]

Not alot of exposure in the 'Other' forum, many old Dodge guru's in our bunch so PB please not shun me for this. Replacing the exhaust manifold gaskets on my 78 Power Wagon's sickly 318. Got them from Napa, each is one piece with performated sections, breaking apart into three pieces. Three ports on the head, two in center go into one. One side of the gasket is cork like material, the other has a shiney aluminum/metal looking material. Question is, what side of the gasket goes against the head and which against the exhaust manifold? Also should I use any of my ultra copper HT RTV? I'd like to use some to hold the gaskets in place while I position the em. How bout it? Thanks.

 

[MMiller]

Can't help ya with the direction of the gasket. My gasser has headers on it, don't know sometimes if thats any better or not. AS far as the RVT I do not like putting stuff on gaskets. AS far as Cat and JD iron goes they usually want the gaskets dry, but then again I usually have to reseal automotive stuff two times to get it to seal.



Well here is my help. Will the gaskets go in in one piece? If so I would notch the bolt hole on each end, so the manifold could be loosely installed with the end bolts then the gasket slid in from the top. Then the rest of the bolts could be installed and tightened. Hope this makes sense.



Sounds like you need a big block in your dodge. I thought they ALL came that way , 'cept for the diesels af course! How can you drive around a 318 when you have a couple of diesels in the yard too??? I drive my stout 440 and think the old cummins would run with it!



Michael

 

[wtfd6]

hey bill,



in my experience i have put the cork side toward the head since the head will run cooler than the manifold. the head has coolant running through it and the manifold doesnt. i have never had a problem this way. anybody tell me if my thinking is wrong.



mark

 

[Philip]

Cork side to the head.



Bill take a pair of wire cutters and take the bottom out of the bolt holes on the gaskets. Then start all the bolts on the manifold. Drop the gaskets where they belong.



That is a common trick in commerical shops.

 

[bgilbert]

Thanks guys, just the info I needed. I thought about headers, just never looked around for any. The old gaskets leaked terribly, probly cracked manifold or something, I will find out once I get the new gaskets on. With all the rust holes in the cab and floor, once I got to where I was going, I smelled like stinky gasser exhaust. I will try that trick Philip thanks.

Let me tell you, driving a turned up Dodge Cummins, then driving a weak, worn 318, a TQ slipping, 203 chain stretched, carb needs rebuilt Dodge fulltime 4wd, its a BIG difference. You kind of get used to roaring away from a stoplight, then drive the gasser, and feel like ya gotta get out and push it to get anywhere...

 

[Philip]

Bill make me a good offer on the 0 mile 203 I have in my garage. The tag says its around a 86 model.

 

[TKingsbury]

You should have studs on each end of the head. Hang the gasket on the studs and put on the manifold and tighten, bam your done. If you don't have studs, put some in. No sealer required. Almost forgot, metal side toward manifold.

Travis. .

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

If the manifold is flat, I wouldn't use a gasket.

 

[bgilbert]

The old gasket was one piece, not this new one. Right now its one piece but its not the entire length of the exhaust manifold. You have to break it apart into three separate pieces for the three exhaust ports. Yes I have one stud at each end of the head, so if the gasket was one piece I'd have no problem, just hang it there.

As far as the manifold being flat, well it is 26 years old. I don't have a level, but I did place a 2x4 on it and it seemed flat, but you thats not a good tool. This is a used very little truck, pulls my boat to the river about 2 miles 5-10times a year, and then in the snow it will get used alot. I was offered $1000 for it and wouldn't take it, even though I gave $200 for it. Got two other toys to put my money into, so this one ain't getting anymore than the basic maintainence.

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

"..... As far as the manifold being flat, well it is 26 years old. I don't have a level, but I did place a 2x4 on it and it seemed flat... . "



:-laf :-laf :-laf ... ... ... crap, yer killin me here... :-laf :-laf :-laf



pb... .

 

[TKingsbury]

Man, I wrote a whole explanation on the 3 piecers and then changed it because your truck is so new I figured they'd give you the 1 piece gaskets. So here goes. Put the end gaskets on the studs, hang manifold on studs and use a finger to swing the gaskets into position and loosely start the inner bolts. Very loosely start the center bolts and while angling the manifold outward, slip in the center gasket. The older style center gaskets had hooks, not holes so they will slip in. If the new ones are just holes, cut them out at the bottom so they'll slip over the bolts. Don't use any sealer and tighten the bolts, good to go. Move to other side and repeat.

Travis. .

 

[steveinaz]

"If the manifold is flat, I wouldn't use a gasket"

I agree with Joseph AND the fact that they didn't come with gaskets from the factory. Just use a little hi-temp sealer.