Plastic rings on the FelPro intake gaskets

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Reuhkapelti

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Hello everybody! This is my very first post to this forum as a new Pontiac-owner from Finland.

I'm installing a new intake manifold for my 350 engine ('70 LeMans). New gaskets are on the table including those orange-coloured plastic rings to go with.

What am I supposed to do with those rings? I know what holes they are meant to be put into (by looking those old gaskets), but the rings are slightly over-sized to get smoothly into those holes in the new gaskets... What should I do with them?

And should I put any silicone or some other stuff around the water holes?

Thanks for reading, hopefully someone understood my english...
 
they are used to prevent the gasket from moving but if you use some silicone to place the gasket and let it set a few minutes you could skip using the rings. You can use silicone around the water passages. Make sure you snug up the front bolt that attaches to the water pump before tightening the rest of the bolts.
 
Thank you very much. This cleared it perfectly. I'll be back later with something else on my mind.
 
Oh well everything went smoothly until I poured the coolant liquid to the cooler. Some dripping from the front end of heads, right side mainly. Also my heater hose leaks where it's connected to the block. May need a bit smaller diameter hose.
Ok everything off again. Atleast now it doesn't take too much time, everything is clean and clear to take apart... I didn't put any silicone around the water ports.
The thin bolt in front was hard to get in place, so maybe thats what causing the leak. Edelbrock Performer is the intake manifold I'm putting in. Is it possible to use double intake gaskets, that way the manifold would sit better on the engine?
Now it seemed like the thin bolt somehow carries the manifold a little bit off the engine, IF you know what I mean?
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You do not use two gaskets, have the heads been milled/machined? If they had a lot of material removed the intake has to be milled/machined also. You put all bolts in their holes without tightening and then tighten front thin bolt followed by the others starting with the center bolts on each side and working your way to the ends. Instructions with manifold should explain this. Are you using the recommended intake gaskets? Did you see the comment about shortening the thin front bolt?

http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new/misc/tech_center/install/2000/2156.pdf
 
Hey thanks for the instruction sheet, didnt have one. The cylinder heads are stock. Perhaps the water pump bolt needs to be shortened. I ordered also new bolts for the manifold, they propably will sit better on their holes. How about the exhaust ports under the carburetor? Any + horsepower if shutted?

I also bought new intake gaskets, Fel-pro 1233 0.60 thick. NOW I wonder which side faces upwards, they have thin blue rubber-like rings around each port.

The right stiffening of the manifold bolts is quite difficult to measure, because some of them cant be torgued with a proper socket...
Well two weeks until the bolts arrive, so I can meanwhile dye some interior parts etc.
 
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1. I believe you have the EGR version of the Performer. You can block those ports if you are not using the EGR. You do have the exhaust crossover passage on the intake manifold. The 1233 gasket set looks like it comes with block off plates for these passages. If you are not going to drive in very cold weather install the plates.
2. Assuming the seal around the ports of the gasket line up correctly with the ports on the intake manifold install them with the seal up.
3. Typical torque is 25 ft/lbs so you can practice what that feels like, probably you dont use your full arm strength should just feel it in your forearm. The problem bolts are probably in the center so they should be snug, make sure you follow the sequence in the instructions.
 
OK she's alive :-D No coolant dripping and idle is fine. Thanks for the help, I could have been in trouble without the info.
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great to hear, good luck
 
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