Hey fellas,

I just fired up my engine for the first time today. It started on the first turn of the key, which was pretty exciting. It was balanced out by the Mahle pistons making a hell of a racket. It seems to have gone away, so I'm hoping it's just piston slap.

Anyway, everything seems great, except for the fact that the water neck on my Miniram is leaking coolant. I've snugged the bolts down a little bit more, but no luck making the leak go away. The MR didn't come with a gasket (or the right waterneck--I had to pay TPIS to send me another one to fix their screwup ), so I ordered MRG-740C from Summit, and when it came trimmed it down to fit.

Since I'm replacing it, probably due to using the wrong gasket originally, I was hoping someone had a part number, or an application (ie '90 TPI Z28) for the Miniram gasket that I could use to order the correct one.

Thanks for any help.

 

I used the stock application gasket.

It is the same basic shape and size. I had to put rtv on both sides of mine to stop it from leaking.

 

Yeah, I called TPIS about 3 hours ago. They said I had the right idea with cutting down a standard SBC water neck gasket, and that there isn't a drop in gasket available. I used the Permatex Water Pump/Neck grey rtv the first time, and am using Ultra Grey this time (I think it's basically the same stuff).

With it apart it looks like I messed installation up a little bit and the thermostat was keeping the gasket from sealing properly. Crossing my fingers that I got it right this time.

Thanks

 

I use the hard plastic reusable one autozone sells.

Minirams have a coolant flow problem that has not really been corrected yet. You'll notice your car runs hot because the thermostat cannot open all the way.
You may need to drill some holes into the thermostat.

-- Joe