install manifold gaskets dry?

[Clydes 31 P/U]

It won't act as an adhesive like glue or contact cement, it is sticky but won't make it any harder to remove the gasket later, It just fills any small scratches and imperfections in the castings and the gaskets themselves when torqued up properly. Glad to be of some help.

 

[Kirby1374]

It won't act as an adhesive like glue or contact cement, it is sticky but won't make it any harder to remove the gasket later, It just fills any small scratches and imperfections in the castings and the gaskets themselves when torqued up properly. Glad to be of some help.

Thanks again so much!

 

[rdscouple]

With the copper manifold gaskets, dry is good.

 

[Bubby Sharp in KY]

I thought this would be a good time to warn what CAN happen to foul up your day. When I put my engine together after everything was tightened up I started and ran for 15 min, let cool overnight, retorked head , started engine and had a miss on # 1 . I tried just about everything and finally discovered intake leak was the problem . # 2 was firing even though 1&2 share the same port? How was this possible? New gasket fixed problem . Bubby Sharp in KY

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

Thanks, Is copper coat an adhesive? Will it "glue" the gasket in place and make it hard to remove later?
Excuse my ignorance

Never been a problem in my experience.

Now, if you spray shelac on a gasket, you may as weld the two parts together!

 

[RHD]

With a re-surfaced exhaust and inlet (combined and not parted since the re-surfacing) you don't need any sealer. I have never used any in 45 years and I never have manifold problems. I always use the gland rings and never torque. Just go by feel and have the manifold nuts tight but don't over do it. They don't have to be viciously tight, but keep an eye on them all the same. Every 1000 miles I check the tightness and occasionally get a fraction of a turn from the rear nut. The washers must have the concave side to the block.

 

[Art Bjornestad]

An old story from my youth.......The Mack Truck Co. brought out a new design engine which continually blew head gaskets. The plant solved the problem by coating the gasket with heavy aluminum paint.

I use a very light coating of # 101BR Permatex gasket maker for engine assembly. It's orange and I use not much more than a smear. It's hi temp.

 

[Grapejuice]

I use Permatex "High Tack" on all of my gaskets. It's a red spray on glue that seals well, but still turns loose easily when you need to remove the part.