Intake Gaskets? WHICH ONES??

[johnny_munyak]

I was getting ready to do an H/C/I swap on my 95 GT. I was told to use a Felpro 1250 gasket for the intake as my heads were also port matched to that gasket.

However, I keep reading about so many guys that had head gasket leaks and failures that I don't know what to do or think.

Ford racing sells a set of reinforced steel (made by fel-pro I believe) intake gaskets as well, but will they match my porting?

Am I stuck with using the Fel-pro 1250's or can I use something else?

Are the incidents guys were having isolated incidents, or just a crappy gasket?

There are also other guys that have used them for year and have had no issues.

What do I do?

 

[thumper460]

The Head to intake interface is straight forward!! The felpro 1250 is a great and good sealing gasket!! Issues may develop do to the heads being "angle milled" or the intake milled for a different application?? Heads milled greater than .060 and the intake not also milled to the heads... all this will cause issues! However if this is a basic head and intake change.. the Felpro is the gasket!!

I suggest that you put a small amount of RTV ( Ultra Blue of course) around the water port on the heads.. set the gasket on the heads, I dont use the front and rear valley gasket supplied, I use a bead of RTV on the front and rear valley. ( This allows the intake to sink to its own position when the intake is torqued and absorb any abnormalities in the head/ intake ) After the gasket is placed on the head, I put a small amount around the gasket water port!! It doesnt take a "Bunch" just a little! Drop the intake on , install bolts , and torque to proper torque IN the correct sequence!! After the engine has run a bit.. I re- torque!! No leaks and no problems!!

Just me...................................

Thumper

 

[johnny_munyak]

Sounds simple enough, Mike. Seems like the guys having the most problems are those with Aluminum heads and aftermarket intakes?

So a cast set of GT 40s or E7s mated up to an GT 40 lower should seal just fine if the steps are followed as you outlined?

If you had a second choice for a gasket, what would it be? Do the metal impregnated gaskets seal ANY better?

 

[thumper460]

LOL.. after I found that the intake leaks were MY fault.. and the above procedure corrects any issues ( even works in a head milled .100 " ) I have found NO need to look for different gaskets... sorry!! If it works, don't fix it!! Yes??

Just me..........................

Thumper

 

[johnny_munyak]

Fair enough. Will stick with what was recommended. Just looking for clarification.

Perhaps the aluminum vs cast has something to do with it?