V-8 Intake Manifold

[Denis]

Am replacing the intake manifold gaskets on an older V-8 with carb. What is good to use on the gaskets to hold them on the heads so they don't slip? When I remove the old gaskets, which were original, there didn't appear to be any type of seal or glue on either side of the gaskets.

 

[RHestand]

What kind of engine?

For a Chev. V/8, I use a 1/4" bead of blue RTV (no gaskets), and 4-5 dots of weather strip adh. on each head to temp. hold the gasket, while setting manifold in place.

Ray

PS. Let RTV bead stand for a few minutes, to get a film on it, before inst. manifold.

Ray

 

[Denis]

Engine Type

It's a 5. 0 liter in an '85 Mustang.

 

[Matt42]

My first rule is to use what the Factory TSM calls for, unless years of experience from a knowledgeable mechanic call for something different.

For Jeep engines, my preference is spray copper. Actually, it's my preference for any cast iron head to cast iron block application.

Aluminum heads to cast iron blocks are real hair-pullers because of the differential expansion rates. Adding an aluminum intake into the mix complicates it. I try to ask around to high-performance users.

If Fel-Pro makes a Printo-Seal head gasket for an aluminum-iron application, I use it following their instructions exactly.

If no Printo-Seal, I try the spray copper on both sides because it generally allows differential movement.

The weirdest case I ever ran into was a Mazda GLC cast iron block and aluminum head. I had major, big-time sealing problems with a new head. The grizzled master mechanic recommended GM Part B silicone gasket THINLY on the top and spray aluminum or copper on bottom. Worked great.

Another product that seems to work when nothing else will is Gasgacinch, available at speed shops.

A word of caution on cleaning surfaces. Don't stop with lacquer thinner. Finish with denatured alcohol. Silicone sealers and some other exotics won't stick to any kind of oil, even very lightweight petroleum distillates like residual lacquer thinner. A finish cleaning with denatured alcohol removes the thin layer of lacquer thinner (which is just 00000 weight oil) and makes the silicone stick super well.

 

[Moe]

Gaskets normally go on dry with a little dab of rtv silicone at each corner of the intake mating surfaces. MOE

 

[Matt42]

Gaskets normally go on dry with a little dab of rtv silicone at each corner of the intake mating surfaces. MOE

Depends on the application. Many, perhaps most, go on dry. I may have had the interesting fortune to get the exotic ones.

 

[Denis]

Engine Type

The engine is a 5. 0 out of my '85 Mustang. It has a cast iron block with aluminum heads and intake manifold. I have the original factory service manual but not much is said about the intake gasket replacement. Also the Fel-Pro gasket box the gaskets came in doesn't say too much about how to hold them in place; hence the question here.



Thanks for the help.