Photo Request: Lower Intake RTV Application

bretamo said:

I am writing to request a photo of how RTV was applied for a lower intake install.

There is a posting out there somewhere that has the most perfect photo of how RTV can be applied around a lower intake gasket, but I cannot seem to re-discover it in my searches. So any help in finding the photo would be much appreciated.

My current situation is that I found water/coolant in the oil pan and a little steam/water dripping from the exhaust after a head, intake, and TB install. While I have not done a pressure test on the cooling system to find where the leak is, I am betting it is where the lower intake meets the heads. Reason? I did not use RTV when installing the lower intake gaskets; instead I used a spray-on all purpose adhesive to apply the gasket to the heads, then used the old bolts as guides to set down the lower intake. I am thinking I missed an opportunity to prevent this internal water leak with RTV, so I plan to use the photo as a guide on doing it with limited risk.

Thanks in advance for your help.

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I know this is an old ass post, but I happen to have a photo if anyone needs it.

Water jackets, and all around dude- ALWAYS use RTV!!!

i've helped with 5 or 6 intake installs and the only place we've ever used rtv in the corners where the front and rear block gaskets makes contact with the head gaskets. and that's just to make sure you get something in the corners.

i've helped with 5 or 6 intake installs and the only place we've ever used rtv in the corners where the front and rear block gaskets makes contact with the head gaskets. and that's just to make sure you get something in the corners.

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This is what I did and it worked great. I like using the gaskets and thats the way Ford assembled it.

I never use the front and back gaskets, always just rtv them. I have done and helped with many many intakes and this always seems to work the best.

mricci said:

I never use the front and back gaskets, always just rtv them. I have done and helped with many many intakes and this always seems to work the best.

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i'm still a newbie and learning from everyones post , but you're saying I can throw away the front and back gasket and just use rtv to replace those gaskets ...right?

You are going to hear this board split a bout 50/50 on that question, some swear by the cork end rail gaskets because almighty Ford built the motors with them, others such as myself throw them away and use RTV instead.

One thing I can tell you, for certain, is that most performance gasket manufacturers, such as Edelbrock (like the one's I have pictured) or Fel-Pro and others, tell you explicitly in their instruction to NOT USE the end rail gaskets and use Permatex black RTV or "The Right Stuff" or similar products. Hell, the Edelbrock gaskets I used didn't even include the cork end rail gaskets, so that way you didn't even have the choice of whether to throw them away or not. They also recommend to use Permatex blue silicone around the manifold (not head) side of the intake gasket on the coolant ports. I have done this on my carbed 289 and injected 5.0 manifolds, and not a single drop of ANYTHING ever leaks from the manifold.

Many people on here use the cork end rail gaskets and will stick with it, and that's a-ok. I don't, for me they always eventually push out and slight oil leaks develop. With the RTV, I stay bone dry.

Yah i would recommend throwing the end gaskets out ans using rtv. not sure if you heads have been milled or block has been decked. either way just use a bead of rtv. you dont want the cork gasket to squeeze out. just my two cents.