Intake manifold installation question
Platinum Supporting Dealership
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 6,425
Likes: 1
From: Traveling the US
Re: Intake manifold installation question (DaddyO)
Putting them on the heads is best. run a bead of blue sealant around the water jackets. I use black RTV on the others. I sometimes ditch the rubber pieces at the front and the back and use only RTV there is well.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Re: Intake manifold installation question (DaddyO)
If you only want to do this once, then start with a good gasket such as Felpro. They are almost ready to apply even without any sealers. But glue them to the block and heads first with some 3 M weatherstrip cement. When set up, the gaskets will not move.
Apply some grease to the now glued down gaskets and set the manifold down. Since the gaskets and rubber ends are secure and cannot move, you will not be afraid to adjust the manifold to the block and heads to line up the bolt holes. Some builders will suggest the blue junk, but it will not harden up and could move accidently. This you dont want. Good luck, :thumbs:
Apply some grease to the now glued down gaskets and set the manifold down. Since the gaskets and rubber ends are secure and cannot move, you will not be afraid to adjust the manifold to the block and heads to line up the bolt holes. Some builders will suggest the blue junk, but it will not harden up and could move accidently. This you dont want. Good luck, :thumbs:
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 1
From: Hagerstown MD
Re: Intake manifold installation question (Chris@VetteFinders)
Putting them on the heads is best. run a bead of blue sealant around the water jackets. I use black RTV on the others. I sometimes ditch the rubber pieces at the front and the back and use only RTV there is well.
Never had a leak with RTV on the front and rear block walls.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,631
Likes: 14
From: Fountain Hills AZ
Re: Intake manifold installation question (DaddyO)
If you use RTV on the end rails let it set up, preferably overnight, before running the engine. Until it sets up, the detergents in your oil can disolve it and cause a leak. Also, make sure that all the mating surfaces are squeaky clean! A common problem area is where the heads meet the block at the front and rear. Unless you "floss" those crevices, their could be oil residue that will prevent the RTV from sticking.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 11
From: Schaumburg IL
Re: Intake manifold installation question (Vetterodder)
One other tip that does not get posted too much.
Get two old intake manifold bolts (or get two from the hardware store of the same size) and cut off about 3/4" and file the threads on the ends smooth so they can screw into the head. Cut a slot in one end with a hack saw for a screwdriver to fit. Now screw them into opposite or diagional end holes in the heads leaving about 1/4 - 3/8" out. You have two alignment pins for the intake manifold. When the manifold is set in place, use a screwdriver and unscrew the bolt pieces out and put in the regular bolts. This works great with a sotck cast iron 50ib beast. With an aluminum you can eyeball the holes but the alignment pins do help so you don't slide around the manifold on the gaskets looking for the holes to line up.
Get two old intake manifold bolts (or get two from the hardware store of the same size) and cut off about 3/4" and file the threads on the ends smooth so they can screw into the head. Cut a slot in one end with a hack saw for a screwdriver to fit. Now screw them into opposite or diagional end holes in the heads leaving about 1/4 - 3/8" out. You have two alignment pins for the intake manifold. When the manifold is set in place, use a screwdriver and unscrew the bolt pieces out and put in the regular bolts. This works great with a sotck cast iron 50ib beast. With an aluminum you can eyeball the holes but the alignment pins do help so you don't slide around the manifold on the gaskets looking for the holes to line up.
