Jeez. Don't ever do this.. Some of the advice on this board just goes beyond any rhyme or reason.

 

My old gasket was replaced at the dealer, they used some kind of black RTV and it leaked so I did not use it when I fixed the leak. There are indeed crappy RTV's of all colors. Permatx Ultra copper hasn't hosed me yet though. All IMO of course

 

Sometimes there are bad batches of any sealant.. I remember we got a shipment of Grey GM sealant and it was partially cured or looked like it had frozen at one point.. Very hard to dispense..

Sometimes we ran out of GM sealant and used other brands.. So I can technicaly see even that you had a leak after a GM dealer worked on it, it does not mean their sealant does not work if it is used properly.. Example.. I worked at a GM dealer for over 7 years... I did at least 50-60 of those LT1 intakes during that time. Not a single one ever came back leaking when I used the GM grey sealant.. Sometimes black. I am pretty confident that the GM sealants work exremely well.

 

Aight thanks for all your responses..I might start it on thursday if I get the chance. Anyways, the RTV I got is MEGA Copper 888 by VersaChem. Its the "best" kind at discount auto. Temp range up to 700 degrees. I should be fine if I use this, along with some blue locktite on the bolts...and either dimple or cut in some groves?
I have a dremel, you think that will be enough power to cut in a trench? If not ill just sand it down to make it rough and dimple it.

 

You got what? Versa Who? Get a real name brand sealant not Versa-Chem or Valco. You can't go wrong with Permatex sealant. No wonder you guys are having problems, you are using sealants that someone is selling out of the trunk of their car.

Don't dig a trench. Just get a sharp center punch and a hammer and make a line of dents about 1/8" apart along the whole wall in front and back and on the bottom of the manifold on the machined ends. Don't do anything to the side faces of the manifold.

 

..and don't use loctite. Use thread sealant. Most of the bolts go through into the head (valve cover area) where they are exposed to oil.

 

just marking this for when i do mine

 

Guess what we do when we don't have a certain gasket? We make one. And cereal box works damn well.

 

Well I didnt think discount auto would carry no name brands. Where do I find this Permatex stuff since the stuff I got is soo bad.
Also where do I find thread sealant?

 

thanks for chimming in there, I wasn't to sure about using loctite on my header bolts, what if you had to take off your headres? I had use some peratex heat & antivibration for threads, so far they haven't losen up.

strange thing is that it was the same 2 or 3 bolts that losen. passenger side the back 2 or 3 bolts.
zoso

 

Well, if you insist on quoting experience, I guess you COULD be right

(no mas, no mas!!!!)

 

Please tell me you are jokin. A cereal box IS NOT a gasket in anyone's world.

 

Though a regular gasket or even gasket paper is the preferred choice, Tony the Tiger has been known to provide his packaging from time to time in the shade tree mechanic world. (no, it's not the best choice)

 

When I took mine in under warrantee, the mechanic there himself said my car was done but it needed to sit for 24 hours. I think he'd be telling the true seeing as how it being on their lot costs money.

I also dremeled the block, put a grove in it so the RTV can grab. Some guys actually crosshatch it.

 

Yea but where do I find permatex and thread sealant?