Intake manifold preference

[WarMonger]

Soooo finally pulled the intake. this turd has been leaking since I built it. What gasket set do you guys recommend? I only want to do this once. Well twice now, but whatever. I don't want to do this again. What have you guys had luck with?

[68is4me]

Fel-pro's and I don't use the rubber seals that go on the block. Just a bead of good sealant.

[randy500]

I'm chiming in here but am sure I will get flamed for my answer...

I would never use those end seals since they don't allow for clearance that may be needed for the intake to sit where it needs to seal up on the intake and water ports, it can be too short or too tall which will prevent a good seal, I think the best practice for the last 20 years or more is to use RTV, a bead about 1/4 to 3/8" high set towards the outer side on each end to allow it to squish in towards the valley without too much excess inside.

I also like the very cheap felt, non embossed intake gaskets, don't know the brand but everytime I have removed them they separated in the middle because the were stuck to the intake and the head....don't know the brand.
I have used McChord and felpro with good results though. You will get oil leaks through the bolts on the intake if you don't put sealer on the holes which are not blind tapped.

[WarMonger]

Originally Posted by 68is4me

Fel-pro's and I don't use the rubber seals that go on the block. Just a bead of good sealant.

Like RTV for sealant? Blue stuff?

[randy500]

Black RTV, it just looks better...
I will add though that I think the embossed gaskets with the slick coating are made for a reason, so the intake can slide against the head and keep a seal when it expands and contracts at a different rate. So that style is probably more reliable.

[WarMonger]

Originally Posted by randy500

Black RTV, it just looks better...
I will add though that I think the embossed gaskets with the slick coating are made for a reason, so the intake can slide against the head and keep a seal when it expands and contracts at a different rate. So that style is probably more reliable.

So maybe embossed gaskets with silicone on them? yes... no...

[WarMonger]

can you get the fel pro's at any parts place? Or do you have to order them?

[GASoline71]

Use this for the end seals. A bit spendy but worth the money.



Are you leaking coolant? Or oil? Or both? I always use a little Gasgacinch on the heads and the gasket face (towards the heads) to get them to set up and stick to each other so they don't move when I lower the intake down onto them. No Gasgacinch on the intake or other side of the gasket.



Gary

[WarMonger]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

Use this for the end seals. A bit spendy but worth the money.



Are you leaking coolant? Or oil? Or both? I always use a little Gasgacinch on the heads and the gasket face (towards the heads) to get them to set up and stick to each other so they don't move when I lower the intake down onto them. No Gasgacinch on the intake or other side of the gasket.



Gary

it was leaking oil out passenger rear corner down onto the starter.

[GASoline71]

The black RTV that I posted will cure that. Use no lifter valley wall gaskets and run a 3/8" thick bead of the black RTV on top of the wall. The can that The Right Stuff comes in is pressurized, so it makes laying a bead a snap.

Gary

[WarMonger]

thanks Gary. Do you like the Fel Pro's also?

[GASoline71]

When bolting on an aftermarket aluminum intake I usually use the Fel-pro intake gaskets that are not of the "Permatorque" variety. I've also used intake gaskets made by Cometic, Victor, and whoever makes the gaskets for Edelbrock. Actually all of them have worked just fine over the years.

Gary

[WarMonger]

thanks for all the info guys. I will keep you updated on the back together part also.

[special-K]

I may get flamed for this, but...

My machinist does a lot of performance engines and says he's had worse luck with Edelbrock intakes than Chinese knock-offs sealing. He won't just bolt one on. He resurfaces them all. I agree, valley gaskets do more harm than good. They made me think I was a worthless mechanic after being careful and thorough and they always leaked. They should just leave them out and reduce the cost $.20

[webfoot]

I like the fel-pro printoseal gaskets.

x100 on not using the end gaskets.

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by special-K

I may get flamed for this, but...

My machinist does a lot of performance engines and says he's had worse luck with Edelbrock intakes than Chinese knock-offs sealing. He won't just bolt one on. He resurfaces them all. I agree, valley gaskets do more harm than good. They made me think I was a worthless mechanic after being careful and thorough and they always leaked. They should just leave them out and reduce the cost $.20

Which is the main reason I won't use Fel-pro Permatorque intake gaskets with aluminum intakes. Now even Edelbrock says in their intake manifold installation instructions to not use a "permatorque style" intake gasket. Since stock iron requires more TQ of the fasteners than aluminum the permatorque gaskets never squishes to it's proper thickness with aluminum intakes. At least what I was told many moons ago by an old drag racer. Old bench racing tales can be as wild as old wives tales... so...

Gary

[biketopia]

Originally Posted by special-K

I may get flamed for this, but...

My machinist does a lot of performance engines and says he's had worse luck with Edelbrock intakes than Chinese knock-offs sealing. He won't just bolt one on. He resurfaces them all. I agree, valley gaskets do more harm than good. They made me think I was a worthless mechanic after being careful and thorough and they always leaked. They should just leave them out and reduce the cost $.20

The last few times I've bought a set of fel pro intake gaskets they came with a small tube of RTV instead of the end seals. Sounds like everyone else has gotten you squared away.

[WarMonger]

Now I have an assault intake manifold on it. What should I use for torque specs?

[WarMonger]

Torque specs on intake anyone?

[WarMonger]

i got it. 25 ft lb's in 2 steps. Funny thing, there is this search box you can type stuff in at the top of this website. boom, mind blown

[biketopia]

There you go, glad you found it! Remeber put some kind of sealant on the bolts that go into open holes or you'll have more leaks. I've always just used Teflon tape.

[wbc409]

Make sure you overlap the rtv and intake gaskets in the bottom corners where the heads and block come together. Just a little bit though, all you want to to do is take up any tolerances, and make sure the corners don't leak.

[midniteblues]

Only the four corners are blind holes the rest open into the valley.
There is also a few that if a longer than standard bolt is used will bind up the push rod.

Also I perfer to use studs when I can for the dizzy hold down, throttle cable bracket, carb and sometimes the water neck. Alot less chance of pulling out aluminum threads.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

Which is the main reason I won't use Fel-pro Permatorque intake gaskets with aluminum intakes. Now even Edelbrock says in their intake manifold installation instructions to not use a "permatorque style" intake gasket. Since stock iron requires more TQ of the fasteners than aluminum the permatorque gaskets never squishes to it's proper thickness with aluminum intakes. At least what I was told many moons ago by an old drag racer. Old bench racing tales can be as wild as old wives tales... so...

Gary

I spent the extra couple bucks and bought the "edelbrock" gaskets. Edelbrock gaskets don't come with end gaskets, they tell you to do a bead of sealant like everyone is suggesting.