Just got this motor im intending on putting into my car (350). I also have an edelbrock performer intake to go onto this motor. I am curious as to what the appropriate technique for installing an intake manifold is. It seems relatively straightforward, but one person told me i need both blue and red sealant, and one said just blue or red. Which is correct. how much sealant do i use and where does it go? What is the appropriate torque specs or does it matter? Oh, another thing...I have a set of headers to go onto this, and i understand that headers gaskets are a mother to get right so they dont leak. are there any special techniques to keep the bolts tight aside from frequent checks? Thanks
matt

 

if the engine is out of the car i'd use the china wall gaskets and no RTV, only high tack to hold them in place ( you would use RTV on the ends of the china wall gaskets). some people use RTV around the water passages in the long gaskets, but i don't unless there isa lot of pitting and i've never had a problem. if the engine is in the car i use either ultracopper or ultragrey ( the highest grades of RTV) on the china walls. clean with brake clean. put around 1/8 to 3/16 bead on the china wall and let it skin over (about 20-30 minutes) then install the intake (long gaskets in place too). you can find torque specs in your manual, but i hardly ever use a torque wrench on the intake. use liquid tefelon sealer on the intake bolts since some would be open to oiland allow leakage to the intake.

 

Visit www.edelbrock.com. They have an online step by step set of instructions for installing intakes. I prefer the Fel-Pro printoseal gaskets.

 

What are china wall gaskets? The motor is a rebuilt one, and comes with fel-pro gaskets. There is no pitting anywhere, and the heads still have a slight film of oil from the machining. When I put the RTV on, do i put it on the gasket, or the head surface. Do i put it on both sides of the gasket or on both the heads and the intake? Thanks for all the help.
matt

 

The China Wall gaskets run from one side to the other on the front and back of the block. The front and back of the intake rest on them.
They tend to wanna slip out of position when pressure is applied.
I always throw them in the trash and place a thick bead of sealant in their place.
Just make sure the surfaces are clean and completely oil free.
I use 70% alchohol to clean the surfaces. Works well and it's cheap.

For the long gaskets, I smear just enough sealant on the heads to hold the gaskets in place while I install the intake.