When deciding how much to mill an intake manifold for “fit”, I use cardboard shims. Most gaskets are .060 compressed, and if the intake fits great with, say, a .020 shim, then a .040 removal is needed. At that point, I also check the ends for fit. Machine once, wash...
This is so simple, but effective. It’s very easy to end up wasting a large portion of a caulking gun tube or even a small tube of gasket maker by losing the cap. I use electrical wire nuts as caps. They come in a variety of sizes, and they screw on very securely. Tom...
COAT-IT HANGER If you coat head gaskets with copper coat spray, using a clothes hanger as a support is a convenient way to keep the spray off of your hands and to keep your gasket from sticking to another surface. Adam Cofer Don Ott Racing Engines York Springs, PA...
OTTER USE THIS SEAL If you are rebuilding Ford V8 marine engines from the 80's and 90's, the marine reverse rotation 1-piece rear main seals can be expensive and almost impossible to find. The late model PTFE rear seals are non-directional and make a great seal to use...
WATCH FOR THE GROUND STRAP This happens far too often. After servicing late Chrysler Hemi heads, they’re back within a day or 2. If the installer is not careful, they get the ground strap between the head and the gasket during installation. Once they are torqued down...
TOUGH ROPE Modern rope seal materials are much tougher than the old asbestos types and are nearly impossible to cut clean. I found that a Dremel tool with a small cutoff wheel will give the best and cleanest cut with the least amount of effort. Gary Hennen Magnum...