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Topic: Intake Gasket woes (Read 2639 times) previous topic - next topic

Intake Gasket woes

As a couple of you know I recently finished replacing the intake gasket on the '88 Grand Marquis (5.0 SEFI, just like our cars from '86+)  Once I started it up and ran it a while I got some whitish, steamy exhaust and ended up with gray coolant (mixing with oil).  I didn't notice much "milkshake" on the dipstick.  Seems as if it's only getting oil into the coolant, not coolant into the oil.  Today I took it apart, again, and found a couple things.

1.)  Three or four of the intake bolts weren't but finger tight, I guess you're supposed to run it up to operating temp and re-torque them.  Looking at these bolts and considering how they've been re-torqued a couple times now I think I'd like to get new ones.  Anywhere I can purchase them as a set?  What size tap do I need to run down into the holes to clear the threads out?

2.)  The rear part of the main intake gasket on the passenger side looked wet as if water had been seeping past it.  When I installed them I only smeared a bit of black RTV around the coolant passages. Other than that I just used some high-tack gasket adhesive.  This time around should I just go ahead and "butter" both sides of the gasket like I'm used to? 

3.)  The gasket set I'm getting (just like the one I had) has blue silicon endseals to seal the block and intake.  They're molded and have a lip on each side to wrap down over the block and stay put.  The back one on this car had slipped, not sure if it was because the intake was moved after I had set it down or what.  Should I use any RTV sealant on these blue silicon ones?

So, to recap:

Where to buy intake bolt sets?
What size/pitch of tap to use on bolt holes?
How much RTV should be applied to the gaskets?  In what fashion?
Use RTV sealant on blue silicon endseals?

PS  - Almost forgot I purchased the "Copper" RTV sealant as I'm told that's best to use for intakes (I think they're all mostly the same anyway). This should work, right?  I also got some thread sealant, which, if any, intake bolts need thread sealant applied to them?

My apologies for questioning out the ass like a ed n00b, but I REALLY don't wanna do this job for a third time in what's soon to become very cold snowy weather.

Re: Intake Gasket woes

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Ifixyawata
Anywhere I can purchase them as a set? 


Summit Racing sells ARP branded bolt sets. You can get them in a variety of flavors (12 point, hex, stainless, black oxide etc.). Just do a keyword search for ford intake manifold bolt kit and you come up with a few. Also Edelbrock and FMS have set as well. The FMS set appeared to be the cheapest price wise.

*edit* forget the FMS ones, they're only for the upper to lower.
Temporarily Foxless? Ride the Bull...

Re: Intake Gasket woes

Reply #2 –
When I changed my upper intake, I did the ol' line & loop thing on the gasket with the sealant (single line and ring around bolt holes).
I know this may not be much help, but I though I would post it anyway. Eat mor chiken.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Re: Intake Gasket woes

Reply #3 –
Hmm, I thought upper intake gaskets went on dry.

Re: Intake Gasket woes

Reply #4 –
I did the line and loop method as well. I only did it on one side of the gasket. I have not had an issue yet.

Re: Intake Gasket woes

Reply #5 –
Someone mentioned this on another board and I think I should make mention of it here too, I've discovered some pitting in the aluminum of the intake near the rear water passage.  I'm not sure if using RTV will help to facilitate sealing in this situation or not.  I may need a new lower intake.

Re: Intake Gasket woes

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Ifixyawata

So, to recap:

...
...
How much RTV should be applied to the gaskets?  In what fashion?
Use RTV sealant on blue silicon endseals?

I applied a small amount of RTV to fill up the pitted areas by the water passages. I also sprayed the head surface with gasket adhesive.
Ditch the silicon end seals and use a run of RTV in its place. The silicone seals have a habit of leaking.

Quote from: cougarcragar

When I changed my upper intake, I did the ol' line & loop thing on the gasket with the sealant (single line and ring around bolt holes).

The upper intake gasket is meant to go on dry. Using RTV shouldn't hurt, but it'll make it harder to clean the next time you take off the upper.

Re: Intake Gasket woes

Reply #7 –
Even these ones?





I know cork ones are junk.  But that's a lot a space to fill up with RTV.

Re: Intake Gasket woes

Reply #8 –
a 1/4 bead of orange Rtv will work fine in place of cork,  I used to do them that way and never leaked.  I used the rubber seals in your pic this time but still use a small bead of RTV in the corners.  Has not leaked yet but only been drivin a few miles.  Time will tell.

Re: Intake Gasket woes

Reply #9 –
Ok, well the intake is on, but not torqued down yet.  Didn't wanna squish all the shiznit out.  Here's what I did: 

[list=1]
  • Clean both gasket mating surfaces
  • Lightly coat the head side of the intake gaskets
  • Installed intake gaskets onto heads
  • With a small amount of RTV smeared underneath, install neat-o rubber endseals
  • Coat the gasket surface of the intake with rtv
  • Dabs of sealant at all four corners
  • Drop intake down on using 2 guide bolts, one at the PS rear, the other halfway forward on the DS
  • Started all the bolts into the holes


And that's where I'm at right now.  In trying to re-attach the fuel lines I realized that it was possible to actually move the intake even with the bolts started in.  It didn't move hardly at all, but I'm hoping this didn't screw it up... again.  I think now I'll go out and torque it down according to specs and sequence.  Can't get it all the way together and test fire tonight because I need to get a couple new hoses and a t-stat.

Re: Intake Gasket woes

Reply #10 –
I use a product, call "Gasket Maker."  It is made by 3M and is excellent for sealing all things coolant related (thermostat housings, rad and heater hoses, intakes, water pumps).  It does not require drying time before torking like silicon does.

Re: Intake Gasket woes

Reply #11 –
that stuff is a beach to get off afterwords ;)
 

Re: Intake Gasket woes

Reply #12 –
I torqued it down probably an hour after I put all the stuff on.  Tommorow I'll finish assembling, re torque, fire it up and re torque again once it's up to temp.