Thread:

manifold end seal

Originally Posted by rpm0414

Ok all ford gurus, I have a stealth intake on a pair d0ves. The port alignment is perfect, the manifold bolts align perfectly. BUT there is a 3/8" gap on the end seal area. This normal for a 460?? I used silicone by itself without end seal and yes it blew oil everywhere today.

Make yourself some 1/4 thick spacers and screw them down to the block... of course using a small bead of silicone to seal it before screwing it down... then you'll get a gap that is reasonable to seal with silicone. Not saying 3/8 is too much gap for silicone... but sure looks like ass and has a better chance of making a mess. Kinda like using a std deck intake with spacers on a tall deck block... no big deal.

Sounds like both the heads and block may have been surfaced. Like six-oh-nine said, you can make some alum spacers to help fill the gap. If your not feeling up to that, the infamous Permatex Right Stuff will fill that up.

The right stuff is killer! my buddy didnt have any gaskets for his intake on his hotrod and I told him it would seal great with just a bead of it around the ports,etc.....of course he hated me after he found it was almost impossible to get the manifold back off ...woops!
As far as the end seals,I like to use a peice of masking tape along the bottom of the manifold on the outside surface and also on the block. after I plant the manifold in the sealer,I tool it with my finger or a bondo spreader to make it look nice,then pull off the tape.turns out clean looking.