Intake gaskets
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: barnegat new jersey
thanks for responces its a lt1 i think i will go with fel pro and the right stuff as sugested by bill thanks for replies
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
Use the RIGHT STUFF. It works great.
I would also suggest that you take a center punch and use it on the front and rear "china wall" of the block and dimple the block. You should run a 3/8" diameter bead of the Right Stuff on the wall between the intake gaskets on the heads. (This is not applied to the gaskets...but on the China wall between the right and left heads at the front and rear of the block). By creating dimples in the block (I also did the same to the intake in these areas) you give the sealant something to grip. SB Chevy's are well know for leaks in these areas (front and rear of the block between the intake and block).
Take the center punch and a hammer and punch the block wall about every 1/4 inch or more.
I would also suggest that you take a center punch and use it on the front and rear "china wall" of the block and dimple the block. You should run a 3/8" diameter bead of the Right Stuff on the wall between the intake gaskets on the heads. (This is not applied to the gaskets...but on the China wall between the right and left heads at the front and rear of the block). By creating dimples in the block (I also did the same to the intake in these areas) you give the sealant something to grip. SB Chevy's are well know for leaks in these areas (front and rear of the block between the intake and block).
Take the center punch and a hammer and punch the block wall about every 1/4 inch or more.
Last edited by John A. Marker; Apr 11, 2010 at 05:21 PM. Reason: define where to apply 3/8" bead
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
I think it's hard to convince anyone to try something new!
(Builders probably don't get much chance to see one of their motors a few years later.)That said, I can't imagine putting a 3/8" DIAMETER bead of sealer on an intake gasket. What's to keep it from oozing into a port!
Surely, I'm misunderstanding something here.Now that makes a lot of sense! I like that part of the suggestion.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
The 3/8" bead does not go on the gasket. You use it to form a gasket on the "China wall" as pictured in the prior post. This is the metal part of the block at the front and rear of the block and about 1/2 inches wide. If you look at the picture you will see all the "dimples" that I made with the center punch.
Most gasket kits come with a rubber seal that goes in this area. The 3/8" bead of sealant replaces this rubber gasket which is prone to kick out and leak and has proven to provide a much better seal.
The ADVANTAGE of the Right Stuff is that it is a great sealer and is used in place of the standard silicone sealants on the market. The #1 advantage to the right stuff is that you can use it as soon as it is applied. With silicone, you need to wait 24 hours so it can set before using. It will also clean up with lacquer thinner.
You should put a very thin...repeat thin....amount of sealant around the water jacket openings on both sides of the gasket and where the gaskets meet the China walls.
Most gasket kits come with a rubber seal that goes in this area. The 3/8" bead of sealant replaces this rubber gasket which is prone to kick out and leak and has proven to provide a much better seal.
The ADVANTAGE of the Right Stuff is that it is a great sealer and is used in place of the standard silicone sealants on the market. The #1 advantage to the right stuff is that you can use it as soon as it is applied. With silicone, you need to wait 24 hours so it can set before using. It will also clean up with lacquer thinner.
You should put a very thin...repeat thin....amount of sealant around the water jacket openings on both sides of the gasket and where the gaskets meet the China walls.
Last edited by John A. Marker; Apr 11, 2010 at 05:16 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 76
From: Santa Maria, CA
My approach was to dimple the walls as suggested and apply a 3/8" bead of RTV. First, I applied a thin film of RTV around the intake and coolant ports when I set the Fel Pro gasket in place. I installed the intake manifold dry and snugged the bolts to press the gasket to the heads. After 24 hours, I removed the intake and then applied a thin film of RTV to the intake side of the gaskets, set the manifold and torqued. This approach is supposed to keep the gaskets from deforming when the bolts are torqued. So far, no leaks.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Sorry John, I didn't understand you to mean the China wall in the sentence I quoted above. Somehow I thought that sentence referred to the intake-to-head surface. :o
So, who's in favor of applying a sealant to the intake port gaskets? I have to decide that within the next week.
Edit: Hope this is relavent to the OP. Also, my choice is to use FelPro though I don't have use-history to back up that decision.
So, who's in favor of applying a sealant to the intake port gaskets? I have to decide that within the next week.
Edit: Hope this is relavent to the OP. Also, my choice is to use FelPro though I don't have use-history to back up that decision.
Last edited by GREGGPENN; Apr 12, 2010 at 12:47 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 76
From: Santa Maria, CA
Sorry John, I didn't understand you to mean the China wall in the sentence I quoted above. Somehow I thought that sentence referred to the intake-to-head surface. :o
So, who's in favor of applying a sealant to the intake port gaskets? I have to decide that within the next week.
Edit: Hope this is relavent to the OP. Also, my choice is to use FelPro though I don't have use-history to back up that decision.
So, who's in favor of applying a sealant to the intake port gaskets? I have to decide that within the next week.
Edit: Hope this is relavent to the OP. Also, my choice is to use FelPro though I don't have use-history to back up that decision.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,077
Likes: 72
From: Reno Nv
The 3/8" bead does not go on the gasket. You use it to form a gasket on the "China wall" as pictured in the prior post. This is the metal part of the block at the front and rear of the block and about 1/2 inches wide. If you look at the picture you will see all the "dimples" that I made with the center punch.
Most gasket kits come with a rubber seal that goes in this area. The 3/8" bead of sealant replaces this rubber gasket which is prone to kick out and leak and has proven to provide a much better seal.
The ADVANTAGE of the Right Stuff is that it is a great sealer and is used in place of the standard silicone sealants on the market. The #1 advantage to the right stuff is that you can use it as soon as it is applied. With silicone, you need to wait 24 hours so it can set before using. It will also clean up with lacquer thinner.
You should put a very thin...repeat thin....amount of sealant around the water jacket openings on both sides of the gasket and where the gaskets meet the China walls.
Most gasket kits come with a rubber seal that goes in this area. The 3/8" bead of sealant replaces this rubber gasket which is prone to kick out and leak and has proven to provide a much better seal.
The ADVANTAGE of the Right Stuff is that it is a great sealer and is used in place of the standard silicone sealants on the market. The #1 advantage to the right stuff is that you can use it as soon as it is applied. With silicone, you need to wait 24 hours so it can set before using. It will also clean up with lacquer thinner.
You should put a very thin...repeat thin....amount of sealant around the water jacket openings on both sides of the gasket and where the gaskets meet the China walls.
And I've discarded the rubber chin wall gaskets and used TRS on some SBCs.
Personnaly, I feel the dimpling is more effective when using RTV and it can't hurt with TRS. I haven't done it lately. The last 3 LT1 intakes I've done weren't dimpled, my car's at 4 years with no leaks. But it's probably an extra but of insurance.
