Hey fellas!

I've been trying to figure out why my truck has been running so terribly poorly the past couple of days. I was not able to get the truck to idle on its own until tonight, so I could finally get up front and take a look at things. When I am running the engine with the dizzy over-ride switch unplugged, and at about 12 degrees so the engine will run ok on it's own, I can hear a very loud hissing noise coming from the back of the intake. So I grabbed my propane torch, turned it on very slightly and put it near the back of the intake, my engine revved up like someone stomped on the gas pedal. I put my hand back there to find the vac leak, and found it is on the four runners at the back of my engine. I can only assume that Napa sent me the wrong gaskets, cause I know that the bolts got torqued down correctly, and I am certain that the base is not cracked or warped (I checked them all with a straight edge after hearing that was a fairly common issue).

Since those gaskets cost me 45 bucks as it is, I am definitely not up to paying that much again. Would I be making more of a mess than fixing stuff if I just used some black RTV on those bottom gaskets to seal them up properly? I think that is the only way I can fix this issue, without spending a crapload more money on more gaskets.

Any comments or suggestions?

 

Well, you can do what I did ..

Im not sure if its the best thing but..
Go to a Pep boys or NAPA, maybe Checker
and buy some Gasket material..only like 10 bucks

They come in sheets, 2 cork sheets, 2 rubber feeling sheets,
and some cardboard looking sheets.

you can cut to shape or tap the material with a
ball-peen hammer against the desired surface to
fabricate the gasket.

again, its probally not the best .. but you dont wanna put
RTV silicone on the runners-to the intake

I misplaced my upper runner to plenum gaskets and opted
to go this route to save time and money.

 

I had pics, but I cant get them to post !!

 

Hold on here... $45 for a TPI gasket set? Screw NAPA - go to any "Advance" or Autozone has them for about $25 in my area. http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBr...%7ENONE%7C%7EB

I would double stack the gaskets long before I ever used silicon. Do you have a factory baseplate or something aftermarket? Facotyr plates normally don't warp that badly; edelbrock's change shape if they are breathed on wrong.

 

All of it is factory. I'm gonna pull the upper plenum tonight and take a better look. I am not so sure why it would be leaking so bad, becuase it was all real good before. I was looking at the gaskets on ebay, and it appears they should all be the same the whole way through the MAF run less the year they switched to no cold start injector.

 

The only gaskets that were different were the 89's (last year for MAF) and up IIRC.

Do you have a cold start manifold with no cold start injector, because that would create a fierce vac leak.

 

Cant use RTV on anything near gasoline. Doesnt do well. The best solution is to take it all apart and make sure all surfaces are clean and true before you reassemble.

 

Good point GOY,

that would create a nasty vac leak alright

$25.00 bucks on plenum gaskets is a nice price!
I woulda paid that price instead of making my own ..

But the gaskets I made are flawless, Im only missing the lil
plastic "studs" that come with the authentic TPI gasket set.

it shouldnt be a big problem

 

Sounds good, I'll stay away from the RTV idea.

It may be that the gaskets are just on the wrong side or something, I'll tear it all apart tonight and take a look. If not, I'll have to look into that do it yourself gasket idea.

 

If you do decide to go the DIY route, here is a link to
Checker Auto thats shows an assortment of different Fel-Pro
gasket material sheets that you could use on many applications..
just make sure you select the proper material to do the job.

Match up the material with the existing gaskets you have on
your truck and you should be rollin' in no time !!

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...artnumber=3060

 

I was buzzing through the site and stumbled on a similar
situation .. pretty ironic

DIY TPI gasket set


Hope that helps