Installing Intake Manifold Gasket

[ubtripn]

Hey everyone,

I am about ready to install my intake manifold and valve covers. The intake is iron so I bought rubber Felpro gaskets that have a bead of sealant on them. After reading all of the posts I can't figure out what I need to do regarding high temp RTV sealent. I know not to use the front and rear rubber inserts and to use a 1/4 inch bead instead and also to put a glob in the four corners but do I put any on the side of the gasket that touches the head to hold it in place? Do I cover the whole surface? What about with the valve covers, I got Felpro for them too. Do I use RTV as well? thx

[btullis99]

get your intake gaskets set in place first on the heads. you can use a little rtv to hold them in place. then apply the rtv to the front and rear of the block RIGHT BEFORE you install the intake. if there is a little time between squirting in on there and getting the intake in place the rtv will "skin" and wont stick to the intake very well and possibly cause an oil leak. you can use some on the valve covers too just to hold the gasket in place while bolting them down. the more you use the more scraping and wire wheeling there will be if you ever have to do it again.

[El Jay]

I use "Gasgacinch" (sp?) to "glue" the intake gaskets to the heads.
It's available at most any decent auto supply.

For the valve covers, I install 1/4" x 20 studs in the heads and use them to hold the gaskets in place. Install everything and then tighten it all up with 1/4" x 20 nuts.

[ubtripn]

awesome advice, thanks guys.