Plastic intake gaskets?

While scraping old intake gaskets off today with a razor blade I thought there had to be a better way. Looked around this evening and found some gaskets machined from a polymer plastic material. Supposed to be reusable. If they work, it seems like a good idea.

Has anyone every tried something like these?

The owner of the company that makes them was actually at the last BBF Bash. He also makes many of the parts for American Racecars dragsters like mine and Phillip Oakley's. Dash, blowshield, scoop tray, etc. He came over and talked to me for a while about my car. Seemed to be a pretty sharp guy. He was in the area and had heard about the Bash and came over.

The Ford gaskets:
http://www.nowearracing.com/intakegaskets.html

Other gaskets:
http://nagyperformancesystems.com/Gaskets_GXVB.html

dragster parts:
http://nagyperformancesystems.com/Components.html

All the gaskets on the mod motors, 6.0/6.4 diesel etc are as you describe with a rubber/silicon seal impregnated, they are reusable as well.

Those look really cool! Do you use silicone on them first? You sure would have to make sure your heads/intake are parallel.

If you had your intake off two or three times, you'd cover the cost!!

Bill

All the gaskets on the "other guys"Gen III LS1 engines are steel or plastic carrier with a silicone rubber sealing bead. They work perfect and last forever.

Nice stuff, I remember talking with him at the bash also, nice guy.

ive also noticed alot of these guys are getting an o-ring groove machined in the heads and installing a rubber o-ring to fit in the groove . or atleast thats what i think i saw .......

Back in my ole FE days,I used steel gaskets on my MR 427 and used them over and over
Why is this not done today? or is it?

Those plastic intakes sound like the way to go to me. I didnt see the gasket for the china wall though.

Don't need gaskets on the china walls, use silicon.

The plastic also help isolate some heat, not alot but some

I decided to give em a try. Guess I'll be the guinnea pig. LOL

They went on with no problem. I did have to open them up a little. My heads have been prted and were slightly larger than the openign in the gaskets. A few minutes with a die grinder and sanding roll took care of it. No leaks or anything. It will be interesting when the intake comes off again. (hopefully not for a long time). I did a spot test. I put a dab of silicone on a gasket and let it cure overnight. The silicone just peeled off.

They look great David!!

Did you run silicon around the ports then put on the gaskets? If so, do you have silicon on both sides of the gasket?

Those valley breather tubes are pretty trick looking too!!

Bill

billandlori wrote:They look great David!!

Did you run silicon around the ports then put on the gaskets? If so, do you have silicon on both sides of the gasket?

Those valley breather tubes are pretty trick looking too!!

Bill

I used just a litle silicone around each port. Just a little on the tip of my finger and smeared it on. I let it almost cure before I put the gaskets on. It was not sticky to the touch, but still soft. It's on both sides of the gasket. It should come off pretty easily the next time the intake is off. The ease of removal is part of why I used these gaskets. The other is fuel resistance. The fiber type gaskets tend to delaminate and start to come apart when using methanol. The plastic won't do that.

The valley tubes are nice. David Willingham made them for me. Tape the holes in the block for 1" npt. An A460 block doesn't even have to be drilled out. The holes are close enough. Not sure about a stock block. The stands are just a 3 1/2" long aluminum pipe nipple with threads on both ends. Cut it in half. David used his lathe, but you could use a chop saw or utility cutoff. Cut some slots in the top to be able to tighten it with a screwdriver. Finally, test fit it and cut off any extra threads that hang below the hole so it doesn't get hit by the cam.

Here is the pipe nipple I used:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#44665k146/=3k00sq

David Cole wrote:

billandlori wrote:They look great David!!

Did you run silicon around the ports then put on the gaskets? If so, do you have silicon on both sides of the gasket?

Those valley breather tubes are pretty trick looking too!!

Bill

I used just a litle silicone around each port. Just a little on the tip of my finger and smeared it on. I let it almost cure before I put the gaskets on. It was not sticky to the touch, but still soft. It's on both sides of the gasket. It should come off pretty easily the next time the intake is off. The ease of removal is part of why I used these gaskets. The other is fuel resistance. The fiber type gaskets tend to delaminate and start to come apart when using methanol. The plastic won't do that.

The valley tubes are nice. David Willingham made them for me. Tape the holes in the block for 1" npt. An A460 block doesn't even have to be drilled out. The holes are close enough. Not sure about a stock block. The stands are just a 3 1/2" long aluminum pipe nipple with threads on both ends. Cut it in half. David used his lathe, but you could use a chop saw or utility cutoff. Cut some slots in the top to be able to tighten it with a screwdriver. Finally, test fit it and cut off any extra threads that hang below the hole so it doesn't get hit by the cam.

Here is the pipe nipple I used:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#44665k146/=3k00sq

Thanks for the info David!!

I think those new gaskets would be less prone to getting sucked intot he port like the Fel-Pro ones do. I have tried FP ones and they seems to have a vac leak, then I switched to Mr Gasket and they leak coolant a little bit. I think I might be buying a set of plastic ones soon!!

Bill

Hey guys just wanted to let you all know about these gaskets.... we've been using them for 4 years now on our pulling tractor, truck and the tire burning Torino... for your own peace of mind we used the spray gasket, silicon, and no gaskets with mainly the same results...no leaks... in reality these gaskets do not need silicon around the intake ports and from our prior experiences the fuel (vp late model plus) attacked the silicon and made it a doey mess that actually got in the intake track and onto the valve seat. As long as your heads and intake are machined correctly (parallel) to each other these things will seal. The only place we used rtv is on the china walls and on the water ports. You guys will not be disappointed with these gaskets they don’t rip, tear, push out or get ate away from salt water or alky, and as a bonus we've seen 20-30 degree difference from head to intake right after a pull. I guess if you guys want some here’s a link to his site. http://nagyperformancesystems.com/

I hope this sheds some light on this newer product
Keep posting the q's and I’ll try to answer them.
Later Josh