OK, I've re-sealed the intake three times now. I may suck at doing it but three times I would have got it. The first leaks was horrendous, and that was poor technique on my part. The second time and the third time the leak is a decent leak but nothing like the first. I've added oil dye and it appears these last two times is the right rear corner. I've uses permitex black, ultra black, and some stuff Ford has us use on the diesel engines which is a really thick gray silicone, probably the same as GM's stuff. It's a accel intake for TPI I got used off eBay.

Last time I did the job, I cleaned the manifold and engine and set the manifold on the engine with no gaskets. It hit in the block first and had a gap about the thickness of the gaskets. I didn't measure it. As it sat on the engine ends I noticed it rocked a bit, like maybe it had a high spot. I was thinking the gaskets on the head would lift it a bit and then the silicone would seal the ends. Obviously I still have a problem.

I'm wondering if I need to use some thicker gaskets. I never got any instructions with the manifold. I'm thinking maybe the manifold is bottoming out and not sealing in the corner, and if I use thicker gaskets it will hold the manifold up a bit and allow the silicone to do it's job. I'm considering using the rubber ends too.

Accel's quality isn't too impressive. I still need to check the distributor hold down bolt and see if it goes all the way through. It's hard to imagine that enough oil could wick up in 120 miles to drip off the starter.

I'm not saying I couldn't have fubared it yet again. I just think there has to be another issue, I've never had a manifold leak after I've sealed it until this one.

I'm very interested in what you guys think. And if you have any ideas. I sure would hate to pull it apart and repair it the same way, and get the same results.

 

Well unfortunatly this is the chance you take buying ebay parts...lol...have you verified it's leaking from between the manifold and block, or if it's isn't a hairline crack in the manifold near distributor that isn't leaking.

 

It's not the distributor gasket. As far as a crack I don't think so the dye appears to be concentrated at the corner of the head and the manifold. But I'll definitely look into the possibility.

Used parts are used parts, I don't think because it came from eBay makes it any more risky. I belive the guy I bought it from was a member here.