Hi all, I ran into a very strange situation with my intake gaskets. My engine is freshly rebuilt with about 2,500 miles. It started running like crap so I tested the intake system with a smoke machine, sure enough there was a vacuum leak by the cyl. 2 runner. So I removed the intakes and found the gaskets absolutely destroyed, I never saw anything like that.
There were 4 runners with the gasket cracked opened at the top!!!!!!! I used # 1250 but used Gasgacinch glue from Edelbrook (A friend of mine suggested that he said to prevent leaks!!!) I should'n listen that advice
The other thing that happened before I found those vacuum leaks is that my coolant was overflowing out of my new Griffin radiator. I know that sounds like head gasket right?.. Well maybe it is. I have everything clean and ready to install my intakes back this time I'm going to us e gaskets # Felpro-1250-S3, they have a steel core in between plus ARP 12 pt intake studs. This time I'm going to place those gaskets dry only black RTV around the water ports and on the ends of the intake.
So just for my own peace of mind I did a compression test obviously with the engine stone cold because my intakes are off. Here are the numbers:
#1---170 #5---150
#2---170 #6---170
#3---170 #7---170
#4---170 #8---170
*Are those numbers normal for a 2500 miles or the rings will seal better within a few more K's miles increasing the compression ?
*what happened to cyl #5? perhaps head gasket leak? Should I change head gaskets? (If so I will use FPP-1011-2 and ARP studs)
I have flat top forged pistons TFS H/C/I
I'm SOOO SORRY about the lenght of this post. It will be really appreciated all the ideas you guys can offer
Thank you all, Nick