When I finished torquing my intake after swapping gaskets, I realized that I forgot to put some RTV around the coolant holes. I was following Brent Franker's instructions on his web site, but noticed that the Haynes manual recommends some. While I used plenty on the front and aft of the intake, I was wondering if this omission of RTV arounf the small holes would cause a coolant leak. I wasn't aware that coolant actually flowed up into an LT1 intake??? Anyhow, after reading the intake oil leak repair on the Project TransAm site, he recommends RTV around the ports, too, to prevent port-to-port leaking.

What do y'all think?

 

I just used RTV on the front and back when ive done mine, multiple times.

No leaks.

 

There are not any coolant holes in an LT1 intake manifold. I don't use any RTV on anything other than the end rails.

 

Just make sure you don't cross thread the bolts that are in the back. I didn't use any sealant on the water ports, but I got a bad oil leak out the back of the intake and when I looked back there I could see the bolt head with a slight gap under one side of the head. That will ruin your fun.

 

Like shoebox said...there are no water jackets that go from the heads to the intake. There are also no bolt holes that go into water jackets or anywhere with oil. And the advise about not cross threading a bolt is just standard practice.

 

Some bolts do go into the area on the head that is under the valve cover, so there is some oil exposure there. That's why you should use thread sealant on the bolts.

 

Hmm, I always do a light coat of gasket sealant on the intake manifold gaskets and a heavy line on the front and back. Is it ok to use RTV gasket sealant like I do. I didn't put any on my head gasket though as I had a bad feeling about doing so. I don't seem to have any problems besides a high rpm miss but i believe that to be my opti. I don't seem to have any leaks either.