intake manifold gasket tips

[Hozer 88GTConv]

Just pulled off my GT40 intake manifold to fix a bad rear seal. Oil everywhere on the bellhousing.

After inspecting the gasket, I suspect that the 1262's floated down when I installed them. It looks like the intake runners were really pulling some oil in through the bottom of the gasket from the lifter valley. The head runners were really coated with oil, especially number five. It looks like it doesn't have much room for error. I really think this has been a major problem for my combo for a long time b/c of the wide ports on my TF heads.

What are some recommendations for a quality gasket sealer that will not break down, hold the the gasket in place and provide the best protection against suck up from the lifter valley?

Thanks in advance.
Merry Christmas too, hope everybody gets parts!

[ols0051]

I don't know if this helps but I use that hylomar gasket dressing, I get it from my local auto parts store. But on my lower intake, I didn't use the cork gaskets for the front and rear of the intake. Just black sealant. no leaks yet.

[Ieatcamaros]

I actually have pretty good luck with the cork end seals that come with the intake gasket set. I use the orange hi temp silicone in the corners where the intake, head, and lifter valley meet. I usually put a little shellac on the bottom side of the cork gasket just so the bastard will stay in place. LOL.

[Jeff Chambers]

Glue the gasket in place to the head before installing the intake. I use Edelbrock's Gasketcinch. The gasket won't go anywhere if you use this stuff.

[Hozer 88GTConv]

Thanks for the tips...I got the Hylomar and plan to use it on the heads to set the position of the 1262's. I don't plan on putting any RTV on the upper surface of the gaskets.
I can't believe this may have been a real source of oil consumption in my motor all this time. But after I measured it out, the gasket was easily 1/8" too low on the heads and must have been allowing some serious suck up from the lifter valley.
Thanks again. Merry Christmas.

[Dark_5.0]

Originally Posted by Hozer 88GTConv

Thanks for the tips...I got the Hylomar and plan to use it on the heads to set the position of the 1262's. I don't plan on putting any RTV on the upper surface of the gaskets.
I can't believe this may have been a real source of oil consumption in my motor all this time. But after I measured it out, the gasket was easily 1/8" too low on the heads and must have been allowing some serious suck up from the lifter valley.
Thanks again. Merry Christmas.

I run a ported cobra intake with felpro 1262's and canfield aluminum heads and I had the same exact problems you are having.

I glued the gasket to the head with silicone before installing the intake and now it works fine.

Unfortunately I had to pull the intake off about 4 times before I figured this out

[Hozer 88GTConv]

Hey Dark,
I thought I had read about your gasket issue some time ago. At the time, I was convinced I had a bad oil ring since wet/dry comp checks were good.
Tell me, did you put any silicone on the upper surface (i.e. the manifold side) of the 1262's around the front water jacket ports or front intake ports or just the gasket to head side? I have read where guys have done it both ways, but I don't want to screw up the gasket by putting RTV on the upper surface if it is not needed or will screw up the seal.
Thanks again.

[Dark_5.0]

I coated the entire underside of the gasket with silicone and stuck it to the head. On the side of the gasket facing up I put a little silicone around the water ports.

I had to be very careful torquing down the intake or one side would be higher than the other and mess up the seal.

If I were you I would just run a trickflow intake that will match up better with the heads.

Good luck.

[Hozer 88GTConv]

Well, it's back together and no leaks. In fact, I don't want to jinx myself but it's running very nicely. No puffs of smoke or anything.
The real test will be tomorrow after a 80 mile round trip commute, then I'll pull the plugs, read them and see what's up.
For the record, I used liberal amounts of Permatex Hylomar on the gasket to head side and gobbed a serious amount of rtv under the intake ports and folded the head gasket reference tabs down to ensure no interference.
I torqued the intake in two steps, 15 lbs, then 24 lbs in the recommended criss-cross pattern as per the Mustang Handbook.
I will freak out if this turns out to be the problem all this time.

If number 5 doesn't foul, then I'm home free and supercharger bound.
Thanks again...