Bah! I think i ****ed up my lower intake install...

[stangzroastrice]

Well, I was rushing while doing my street heat lower intake install, and based on reading, instead of choosing just one option, I ended up using a ****load of RTV on the end rails and in the corners, but also used the cork end pieces on top of the RTV, and then making sure everything was sealed. Was this a big no no, and should I just take it all off and do it with just the RTV?

 

[BlueBomber]

I did my cobra intake with the sealant and the end pieces. The end pieces were rubber and not cork but shouldnt be a huge difference. I had no problems with it at all. My brother also redid his chev engine and he found that it was better to just load it on and bolt down.

 

[ninety15.0]

I used RTV for the ends of the lifter valley...they give a better seal..especially in the corners. If the thing isnt leaking, i dont see a reason for you to rip it all apart?!

 

[stangzroastrice]

yeah i should be dropping this motor into the car within the week or so, but i just wanted to make sure i didn't **** up royally by using both a ton of RTV AND the cork pieces, usually people just do one or the other, which I didn't realize until i sealed the intake lol.... guess we'll find out if it leaks, still tempted to take it back apart though...? anyone else ever do this?

 

[Goober89]

i used both the gasket and rtv. I didnt use a butt load of rtv in the corners. i really dont like that cork crap personally. i had the rubber end pieces though, and havent had a single leak in 4 years. my buddy rtv'ed the whole damn lower intake and he had to pull his apart 3 times before he got it to seal. I think you will be alright, when you tightened the intake, it probablly just squeezed the excess rtv out of the way.

 

[Mikie]

I just completed my Cobra lower and upper install. Once I got down in there I noticed that my heads had been milled down a few thousands and saw it was going to be a big gap. I took the rubber end seals that came with the felpro 1250 kit and used them along with alot of the black rtv sealant. Not one problem to date.

 

[stangzroastrice]

ttt

 

[5spd GT]

Using the end gaskets along with RTV isn't a big deal.

But, if you put the end gaskets on top of the RTV, I haven't seen that 'approach' yet...

I guess with enough of that RTV it will seal either way, it may not be neat, but it may work just fine

Just consider while the engine is out, you may want to do it for piece of mind...

 

[stangzroastrice]

yeah its sloppy as hell in the back but i made sure that it would be sealed, can't see the back when its in the car anyway, yeah i don't know, it's such a satisfaction knowing its all torqued down and everything, hate to do it again, but thinking about just taking the approach of using all RTV or actually putting it in the car and trying it out... hmmm

 

[Mustang5L5]

I always use both the end gaskets and RTV. I never just use 1 without the other. I don't know why but i don't trust just RTV alone.

I don't lay a ton of RTV, just a big glob at the corners and enough to make a seal on the top and bottom of the gasket.

I've done it with the cork and rubber end gaskets.

Never had a prob.

 

[ninety15.0]

Here another suggestion...go to the hardware store and get a couple bolts that match the thread of the lower intake bolts. Make sure they are about 4" long. then cut the head of the bolt so you essentially have a stud. Then spin them into the block on two corners. Now after you apply your rtv you can just slide the lower intake down onto the lifter valley using the studs as guides. This way you can precisely drop it where it needs to be and not mess up your end gaskets or RTV. Then just thread in the remaining lower intake bolts and then take out the studs and finish up the job. This worked for me and i think its the best approach.

 

[ShortThrow50]

the key word here is "tons". If using the cork gaskets, you should use only a thin film on either side. I have had cork gaskets come apart after several hundred miles with using too much rtv. Run it till it leaks. Next time, just use a thick bead of rtv and be done with it. You should wait 24 hours for the stuff to cure, as per instructions, then u can start car.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

I use Ultra Copper on every 5.0L intake I have done. I have never used the cork gasket, or the rubber one. I have stopped every leak I have had!!

 

[stangzroastrice]

yeah i'd hate to take it apart again, so i guess i'll see how it runs, i get my license back october 4th, hopefully it doesn't leak after just a couple hundred miles

 

[90_Red_LX]

Used the cork and straight RTV. No problems out of either of em.

 

[stangzroastrice]

yeah seems like everyone has luck with either one of the two, i ****ed up and used both haha... i think i may just save myself the hassle of doing it while its in the car and buy another tube of RTV and do it all over again without the cork gaskets. what do you guys think? i mean it looks sealed like a bastard the way i did it, but that can only say so much once the engine is running...

 

[5spd GT]

yeah i'd hate to take it apart again, so i guess i'll see how it runs, i get my license back october 4th, hopefully it doesn't leak after just a couple hundred miles

Gee whiz...with that much time, I say pull it and redo neatly

I'm sort of a perfectionist...

A perfectionist with little money

 

[stangzroastrice]

heh, i hear ya, yeah i'd rather take the precautionary root because it's bound to leak sometime due to the way i did it, oh well, what's the cost, a 9 dollar thing of RTV and an hour of my time... going to redo it hah!