NikwoaC's "Commitment Issues" Engine Build
- Thread starter NIKwoaC
- Start date
Ha, you guys are talking to the guy who uses his torque wrench to build IKEA furniture.
You can't see it in these pictures, but the only places where the gasket was compromised was around the water ports at each end of each cylinder head. The rest of the gasket around all the intake ports looks perfect.
It almost looks like the pressure in the cooling system was slowly pushing the gasket out, and maybe the vacuum in the intake port was helping it along. The gasket material looked like it was deteriorating.
Probably not coincidentally, those 4 outer bolts had rusted pretty badly. If anything I may have lost some clamp load and that allowed the gasket to squirm.
You can't see it in these pictures, but the only places where the gasket was compromised was around the water ports at each end of each cylinder head. The rest of the gasket around all the intake ports looks perfect.
It almost looks like the pressure in the cooling system was slowly pushing the gasket out, and maybe the vacuum in the intake port was helping it along. The gasket material looked like it was deteriorating.
Probably not coincidentally, those 4 outer bolts had rusted pretty badly. If anything I may have lost some clamp load and that allowed the gasket to squirm.
I think you need to have the intake manifold mating surface checked for its deck smoothness/warpage. While I'm not completely sure, I was thinking that the 4 outer ends of the manifold can pull tighter than the middle does. A 20ft lb pull on the outside corners equates to more squish than in the middle.
Just a thought.
I have heard of cometic's custom gasket service, it sounds like an awesome option...
5.0Droptop
...all those nights we shared, and you're a dude??
Special Agent Mukity-Muck Whats in Charge Round Here
If heads have been decked much that can throw off the geometry of the head to intake mating faces. So ive been told. Ive never saw it happen.
the state of your current gaskets is fairly common with all the older felpro gaskets (1250, 1262, 1262r etc). remember that they were designed for racing applications 40+ years ago with iron heads (iron distorts way less when hot compared to aluminum).
the 1250 and 1262 have been updated to the -s3 version, which is a steel cored, fiber gasket with printed rubber. much better on the durability, but the 1262r has been neglected.
the oem-replacement felpros are a steel core rubber (or silicon). these are the best for durability but are sized for the small iron e7 heads (though i used them on my old gt40p setup, just barely big enough for that).
fwiw, except for a quick mist of spray on low-tack gasket adhesive if they're being stubborn on alignment, i install these things dry and havent had an issue. you want your mating surfaces as clean, smooth, and dry as you can get. rtv of your choice on china walls, and use studs in the corners to guide the intake on. torque to 25 following the sequence twice, wait a half hour or more, and do the pattern again, and let dry for overnight or two before filling fluids.
the 1250 and 1262 have been updated to the -s3 version, which is a steel cored, fiber gasket with printed rubber. much better on the durability, but the 1262r has been neglected.
the oem-replacement felpros are a steel core rubber (or silicon). these are the best for durability but are sized for the small iron e7 heads (though i used them on my old gt40p setup, just barely big enough for that).
fwiw, except for a quick mist of spray on low-tack gasket adhesive if they're being stubborn on alignment, i install these things dry and havent had an issue. you want your mating surfaces as clean, smooth, and dry as you can get. rtv of your choice on china walls, and use studs in the corners to guide the intake on. torque to 25 following the sequence twice, wait a half hour or more, and do the pattern again, and let dry for overnight or two before filling fluids.
5.0Droptop
...all those nights we shared, and you're a dude??
Special Agent Mukity-Muck Whats in Charge Round Here
@90lxcoupe
Alright, after reading horror story after horror story on the internets about Fel-Pro 1262-style gaskets failing, I convinced myself to call up Cometic and inquire about a custom set. All you have to do is ask them for a 1262R substitute and they know exactly what you're talking about- they already have the pattern. I went with the aramid fiber (kevlar) @ .094 thickness, for no other reason than it's close to the .090" thickness of the 1262R and that seemed to work for me.
He quoted me $13something over the phone, each. Incredibly reasonable pricing.
Their lead time is 4 days, which again, seems very reasonable for a custom gasket, but it does mean the car is going to have to sit a while longer... Oh well.
Alright, after reading horror story after horror story on the internets about Fel-Pro 1262-style gaskets failing, I convinced myself to call up Cometic and inquire about a custom set. All you have to do is ask them for a 1262R substitute and they know exactly what you're talking about- they already have the pattern. I went with the aramid fiber (kevlar) @ .094 thickness, for no other reason than it's close to the .090" thickness of the 1262R and that seemed to work for me.
He quoted me $13something over the phone, each. Incredibly reasonable pricing.
Their lead time is 4 days, which again, seems very reasonable for a custom gasket, but it does mean the car is going to have to sit a while longer... Oh well.
Ah but if you coated the threads for the water-jacket bolts, it will change your torque value. Some of that stuff is pretty "slickery".
Some reassembly pics, because why not? This actually took place weeks ago, I've been driving the car.
Super thin coat of black RTV around the water ports for good measure.
Yea I know, that oil fill neck is ugly. The valve covers used to be rattle can black, I've stripped them and this winter they are going to be refinished and powdercoated. In the mean time they're just bare and ugly.
Fast forward to fully assembled. Sorry, I know my engine bay isn't as pretty as some of the cars around here... Maybe someday. I actually did do a little bit of degreasing, bracket painting, and a little more wire tucking before this shot, but in general it has a long way to go IMO.
Super thin coat of black RTV around the water ports for good measure.
Yea I know, that oil fill neck is ugly. The valve covers used to be rattle can black, I've stripped them and this winter they are going to be refinished and powdercoated. In the mean time they're just bare and ugly.
Fast forward to fully assembled. Sorry, I know my engine bay isn't as pretty as some of the cars around here... Maybe someday. I actually did do a little bit of degreasing, bracket painting, and a little more wire tucking before this shot, but in general it has a long way to go IMO.
Last edited:
At a cruise-in last weekend.
I was one of the last people to leave, haha. Some of these old guys must not like to have their cars out after dark.
I was one of the last people to leave, haha. Some of these old guys must not like to have their cars out after dark.
You know the minute I saw my T top 85 your car popped into my mind and $3700 jumped right out of my pocket.
Love that car.
Love that car.
Ha, thanks man. I've had this car for 15 years now. It's went from a clean, stock, low mile garage queen, to a ragged college kid's hillbilly hot rod, to... Where it is now. It's not perfect, but I enjoy it.
Foxes are definitely getting more rare, and you hardly ever even see 4-eye cars anymore, but oddly enough a primer black '85 t-top slowly cruised by right after I parked my car at the cruise-in. He didn't stop so I wasn't able to talk to him about it.
Up here in the northeast, they've all rusted out long ago and all you're left with are pieced together, badly modified, 9-owner, rot-boxes that guys still ask $5K for. Rust is so bad, even the Sn95 cars are starting to show the typical strut tower rot issues. All that's left are garage queens that come out on nice nights or Sunday AM's from June to Sept, and then go back into hiding.
I haven't seen a clean 4-eye on the streets in years in this area....
Similar threads
