Water neck seal: Silicone or gasket, or both
 

Well, due to a rusty and pitted water neck, I replaced it with a chrome aftermarket one near two months ago, picked up a new gasket, and replaced it and yadda yadda. Well, even though it was cranked down tighter than snot (though not too tight due to aluminum Edelbrock manifold), it leaked ever so slightly; through the gasket. Apparently I forgot to use some kind of sealant with the gasket.

So, I have a new gasket and some water neck silicone seal, and the question is, can I use both, or should I just use the silicone? This leak is really annoying.

Re: Water neck seal: Silicone or gasket, or both
 

Take your water neck and hit it on the wire wheel of your bench grinder. Rough up the surface of the neck and you should have no more leaks.

Re: Water neck seal: Silicone or gasket, or both
 

In addition to the reply above mine, yes you can use both. I am.

Re: Water neck seal: Silicone or gasket, or both
 

I switched to an O-Ring style last year. No leaks at all.

- Dave

Re: Water neck seal: Silicone or gasket, or both
 

Chromed parts retain loads of heat and heat eventually will cause those chromed water outlets to warp. Then no amount of gaskets or sealants will keep them from leaking.

Re: Water neck seal: Silicone or gasket, or both
 

Thing of it is, it leaked 5 minutes after I put it on. The surface of the neck and the manifold are just too flat/smooth to make a seal; no grooves like with the stock/steel one (neck or manifold).

I didn't think to get an o-ring; perhaps I'll ask when I pick up my Holley choke cable tomorrow. If not, then I'll scratch up the water neck, and use the silicone and gasket.

Re: Water neck seal: Silicone or gasket, or both
 

+ 1

Even though those gaskets are $5, they're worth every penny to me.

Re: Water neck seal: Silicone or gasket, or both
 

I used a plastic rubber gasket from autozone. look up one for a 89 jimmy that should be right used on my 86 (same style just different materal and its reuseable) ill see i f i can find a part number for u (ok part number is 35562T Pricing: $7.99 should be the one im talking about. it on a eldelbrock intake should solve ur problem)

Re: Water neck seal: Silicone or gasket, or both
 

Hey, thanks. I appreciate it.

Re: Water neck seal: Silicone or gasket, or both
 

+2 they're great

You can't just get an o-ring, the neck has to be designed for an o-ring. It needs the o-ring groove in it.

Re: Water neck seal: Silicone or gasket, or both
 

I think mine has that. I'll double check. Thanks for the heads up.