Hey there, my 84 camaro has had the intake replaced before I bought it.
I was taking the carb off the other day and also found a plastic spacer between the carb and the manifold. To my suprise, there was NO gasket at all on either side of this plastic spacer. Since the q-jet is a vacumm dependant device, shouldn't there be gaskets here to prevent vac leaks??.

Maybe something with this spacer(plastic bout .25 thick) doesn't need a gasket??

Should I put some in when I put it back together?? I don't think it would hurt anything, but I've been wrong before.

 

It sounds like you are describing the typical q-jet insulating gasket. Although, every one I've seen was a 1/4" thick pressed paper (gasket material) with plastic bushings in the bolt holes.

If you could post a pic of this spacer you have, it may help us determine if that's what you've got.

 

or maybe it really is an aftermerket phenoly spacer,

hard ot say without being able to see it

is it really plastic ? for sure ? definitely ?



the stock replacement insulating gasket are usually black, and are about 1/4" thick yes

also has round plastic grommet insert holes in it where the four mounting bolts to go through it

 

sorry, no way to take a pic.

Very sure it is a polymer of some sort(plastic)

Yes it's very black, and very flat.
I will look for those inserts next time I'm home. My memory tells me they aren't there, but i'm not 100%.

If I were to place gaskets here anyway, do you think it would harm anything?
If it would help, the manifold has "edelbrock" cast on it. It is a dual plane design.

If they came stock in some applications(mine is 84 L69 camaro), I would bet it probably is a stock unit. I bought this car 99% stock except the intake manifold. The only unknown.

I appreciate your replies.

 

i dont think putting gaskets in just in case would hurt anything.

 

okay, gaskets it is.

 

Sounds like a carb spacer to me.. Also they sell adapters for qjets on those eldebrock manifolds if the person you bought the car from didnt by the manifold for a qjet, they may of just bought the adapter and put it on. Using gaskets shouldnt hurt anything, so id say try and see.