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Tech / General EngineIs your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!
Pulled the intake on my son's carbed '86 Firebird because of evidence of coolant leaks at the driver's side front and pass side rear. I was expecting some corrosion but once I got it cleaned up, things look worse than what I was expecting. My gut says to ditch this manifold and source a replacement, but I wanted to get some additional opinions first. I know it can be hard to tell from a picture, but this is the pass side rear...
I was planning to supplement the new gasket with a little RTV, but I think this one is just too far gone...and I don't want to risk having to do this job twice. Thoughts?
That should seal up with RTV. I would use enough that it squeezes out a little when you tighten, then wipe excess off with towel. There are purists on here that despise such things, but I guess they are rich.
IMO: Toss it and buy a new (- or a good / quality used ) intake.
Sure; I’m betting you’ll get it to seal, but when it leaks it will leak there first and the more it runs the sooner it will leak. Coolant in the crankcase is a bitch,…. Why risk it when a cheap replacement intake installed now completely avoids the problem.
It COULD seal if a lot of cleaning is done. It's difficult to determine from the photo, but the depth of the corrosion might even require machining. I've had the same condition on some 60° V-6 engines with aluminum heads and intakes, and managed to make then seal. Some have needed etching, epoxy filler, then machining flat. At that point, a different intake may be more economical.
03-27-2024, 10:04 AM
which engine BTW? 
