Gasket Recommendations

live4theking

Old Man with a Hat
Joined
Nov 24, 2014
Messages
12,730
Reaction score
8,923
Location
Rockland; Venango County Pennsylvania
Since I have to wait for the AC Compressor clutch I'm going to pull the heads and remove the broken exhaust manifold studs.

Any recommendations on gaskets? Is any one brand better than the others?
 
No gaskets on the manifold just like the factory did it.
 
Big John, after so many heat cycles, wouldn't you think they would warp just enough to need a gasket?
If the manifold is warped, I'd have it resurfaced, but I've never encountered one that was. I do run a file over them though.

But... if the surface is in bad shape, a gasket might be what's needed.

The PO of my car used some sort of RV gasket on the manifolds. It sticks up a little out of the manifold, apparently to catch oil from the valve cover or something like that. I've really expected them to start leaking by now, but they haven't. He said he swears by them and has never had a problem. So... I guess some of the gaskets work well, but some don't. I've seen a number of them blow out over the years.
 
Since I have to wait for the AC Compressor clutch I'm going to pull the heads and remove the broken exhaust manifold studs.

Any recommendations on gaskets? Is any one brand better than the others?

You should be fine with the heads, but don't set them on anything uneven while working and get them right back on when done. Leaning them in a corner of the garage will warp them.

Use the FSM torque sequence in reverse to remove the head and manifold bolts... the manifolds may crack if not torqued properly. Broken studs may have already done the manifolds in... give them a good inspection with a mirror before you start and try to have the hardware on hand so you don't delay reinstallation.

If you haven't removed many broken fasteners before... avoid breaking the extraction tools in the drilled holes... use a squirt can or bottle to soak them with atf several times over a few days before you get started. If you get lucky, you may be able to tap it out with a punch and hammer until you have enough to grab onto. I like to use a small drill bit to get a clean pilot dimple started, and once I have that centered and straight go to a bigger bit to drill through the stud... be patient, and careful not to drill into the head... cheap extractors are crap, and good ones are expensive. When what seems to be the "right way" fails, I have drilled the bolt/stud thin and jammed a cheap flat screw driver into it to wind it out, the cheap steel deforms enough to work, the good screw drivers and hardened extractors like to snap off and make life suck as you get to drill through tool steel.

If in trouble and unsure, snap a picture and someone here will have an idea... maybe a good one.

2 big thoughts to remember... don't grab the torches, heads will warp when off the block pretty easily... the old stud is the sacrificial piece, if you get one too buggered to remove with conventional methods you can drill it thin enough that you can get it to collapse and wind out... If you screw up the head too much... the party is over.

1 more neat trick, if you put a drill bit that fits snug into a clear hole, you can use it as a guide to keep your angle straight... very helpful if working on an angle.
 
You should be fine with the heads, but don't set them on anything uneven while working and get them right back on when done. Leaning them in a corner of the garage will warp them.

Neat thing about big block Mopar heads is they can sit straight up on the bosses. No need to lean them on anything.

1 more neat trick, if you put a drill bit that fits snug into a clear hole, you can use it as a guide to keep your angle straight... very helpful if working on an angle.

Wow... Great tip!!!! I have to remember that one.
 
If the manifold is warped, I'd have it resurfaced, but I've never encountered one that was. I do run a file over them though.

But... if the surface is in bad shape, a gasket might be what's needed.

The PO of my car used some sort of RV gasket on the manifolds. It sticks up a little out of the manifold, apparently to catch oil from the valve cover or something like that. I've really expected them to start leaking by now, but they haven't. He said he swears by them and has never had a problem. So... I guess some of the gaskets work well, but some don't. I've seen a number of them blow out over the years.
I didn't even think about the exhaust manifold, resurface them and no gasket like Big_John said. If you do need a gasket try to find a steel shim gasket like the RV type that was suggested but the manifold has to be FLAT. I have used the Remflex on a Chev truck with headers and they worked great.
 
You should be fine with the heads, but don't set them on anything uneven while working and get them right back on when done. Leaning them in a corner of the garage will warp them.

Use the FSM torque sequence in reverse to remove the head and manifold bolts... the manifolds may crack if not torqued properly. Broken studs may have already done the manifolds in... give them a good inspection with a mirror before you start and try to have the hardware on hand so you don't delay reinstallation.

If you haven't removed many broken fasteners before... avoid breaking the extraction tools in the drilled holes... use a squirt can or bottle to soak them with atf several times over a few days before you get started. If you get lucky, you may be able to tap it out with a punch and hammer until you have enough to grab onto. I like to use a small drill bit to get a clean pilot dimple started, and once I have that centered and straight go to a bigger bit to drill through the stud... be patient, and careful not to drill into the head... cheap extractors are crap, and good ones are expensive. When what seems to be the "right way" fails, I have drilled the bolt/stud thin and jammed a cheap flat screw driver into it to wind it out, the cheap steel deforms enough to work, the good screw drivers and hardened extractors like to snap off and make life suck as you get to drill through tool steel.

If in trouble and unsure, snap a picture and someone here will have an idea... maybe a good one.

2 big thoughts to remember... don't grab the torches, heads will warp when off the block pretty easily... the old stud is the sacrificial piece, if you get one too buggered to remove with conventional methods you can drill it thin enough that you can get it to collapse and wind out... If you screw up the head too much... the party is over.

1 more neat trick, if you put a drill bit that fits snug into a clear hole, you can use it as a guide to keep your angle straight... very helpful if working on an angle.

 
No gasket high tack and bolt them on. Big block studs go through to water so drill straight through and cock the bit reverse the drill back out whats left.
 
To add to the already heavily laden advice choir. I've always liked the Victor-Rentz 6 Pack set of gasketz for the RB enginez(3 per side and nothing between the mounting surfaces 'cept air), but they're gettin' hard to find, Jer
 
Well, the studs are out and replaced. The original gaskets were not stuck to the head or block at all. This leads me to think that there was any tupe of RTV or sealer used on the gaskets. The FSM specifies using a sealer though.

As far as cleaning the head gasket surfaces I was going to spray some brake clean on a rag and wipe them down good after scraping the surfaces. Is this a good or bad idea?

No gasket high tack and bolt them on.
Dave, are you saying not to put anything on the head gaskets? Just clarifying. I don't get into motors very often.
To add to the already heavily laden advice choir. I've always liked the Victor-Rentz 6 Pack set of gasketz for the RB enginez(3 per side and nothing between the mounting surfaces 'cept air), but they're gettin' hard to find, Jer
Jer, would you not use any sealer on head gaskets?
 
All of the Modern head gaskets are made to install right out of the box, even the new MLS gaskets on late model cars. Did you have your exhaust manifolds milled/ground flat?
 
As far as cleaning the head gasket surfaces I was going to spray some brake clean on a rag and wipe them down good after scraping the surfaces. Is this a good or bad idea?
The brake cleaner will work great, lacquer thinner also works.
 
Nope, nothin'. put 'um dry and torque 'um to spec. Thatz the way Mother did and do it. Good enough for me too!
Cool!
All of the Modern head gaskets are made to install right out of the box, even the new MLS gaskets on late model cars. Did you have your exhaust manifolds milled/ground flat?
This is good to know. I need to put a straight edge across them, but they look really true.
 
Arm yourself with a feeler gauge also and report back your finding. Exhaust manifold resurfacing keeps our resurfacer active every day. There is an allowable amount you can be out, so give it a measure.
 
Back
Top