350 TBI intake gasket install?

guinea13 · Sep 19, 2003

I have a question. I rebuilt my 350 TBI came out of 88' pickup and my question is, Didn't the intake gasket kits come with seals for the front and rear of the intake? I though I had done it that way before. But when taking apart my motor I found silicon on the front and rear of the block. I put it back together that way because the intake gasket kit I bought had silicon in it and said to silicon the front and back. Well 3 months later... some of the silicon on the back on the block had fell, broke, or, had just dissappeared off the motor and now I have a leak from hell. I am taking it apart to redue the gasket but am wondering if there is a gasket kit that has seals for the front and back. I have found kits for older 350 motors (non-tbi) that have these seals but not my model?

Anyone know?

BlueJeep · Sep 19, 2003

It's not supposed to have seals, just the silicone. Some people even recommend with the older blocks to throw the seals and use silicone on the ends.

PTSchram · Sep 19, 2003

Admittedly, I am ignorant of the finer points of the injected SBCs, but, I have built and run more SBCs than I can remember and remember when Chevrolet began distributing intake gaskets sans the front and rear seals.

In my experience and opinion, the use of silicone may be acceptable for an engine assembled in the "Clean Rooms" of an engine assembly plant, but may not be advisable in the real world.

I suggest using an aftermarket gasket set for an earlier model of SBC-but again, I am admittedly ignorant of the injected SBCs.

You're right about the leaks though. Back in 1978 when I did my first SBC intake swap, it looked like James Bond was driving my car from the smokescreen!

Grim Reaper · Sep 19, 2003

RTV...good quality. Clean the surfaces with brake cleaner. Spray some on a clean paper town and keep cleaning till the paper towel stays clean. It will stick. Just let it sit up over night before running the motor to make sure it fully cured.

The gaskets SUCK. If any machine work has even been done to the head mating surface it will spit the seal right out.

Grim Reaper · Sep 19, 2003

Btw do you want to buy that mog in your Avitar? I know the owner.

guinea13 · Sep 19, 2003

Thanks all.

And I would love to buy that mog but It listed for $25,000 when I last looked at it.

Grim Reaper · Sep 19, 2003

guinea13 said:
Thanks all.

And I would love to buy that mog but It listed for $25,000 when I last looked at it.

Yeah that with Euro truck brokering it. Without Eruo truck, Greg said he would take $22k for it.

LT's TOY · Sep 19, 2003

I really can't figure out why there's such a gap at the front and rear between manifold and block. I've tried everything to seal it, including some 'special' stuff. Nothing works. I just live with the leaks. I wonder if aftermarket manifolds are the same?

Grim Reaper · Sep 19, 2003

guinea13 said:
Thanks all.

And I would love to buy that mog but It listed for $25,000 when I last looked at it.

Nevermind. It's listed as sold at Euro truck. Should see Greg in a few day's. See what he got for it. Last I talked to him he just picked up another Hummer (why I don't know).

guinea13 · Sep 20, 2003

Well I just put it back together and sealed the front and back. I used a 1/4 inch bead of silicon on front and rear. We will see what happens. If it leaks again I say f&ck it. I will not take it apart again.

But thank for the help.

Also, If I win the lotto I will build a mog that looks like the one in my avistar only better (hopefully).

rob · Sep 20, 2003

I know this might be too late but make sure you let the silicone cure for a little time before you put the manifold back on.If you let it get a bit of resistance to it or a little skin it will stay put and seal.

guinea13 · Sep 20, 2003

Did remember to let it sit. But thank for the info.

KWTMECH · Sep 20, 2003

I assume the silicone you used was oxygen sensor safe also.

RepoMan · Sep 20, 2003

Did you lay a bead of silicone down in each of the cracks verticle to the front and rear beads?

guinea13 · Sep 22, 2003

Yes the silicon is sensor safe and I put a good bead on the cracks. I hope this fixes it.

Grim Reaper · Sep 22, 2003

guinea13 said:
Well I just put it back together and sealed the front and back. I used a 1/4 inch bead of silicon on front and rear. We will see what happens. If it leaks again I say f&ck it. I will not take it apart again.

But thank for the help.

Also, If I win the lotto I will build a mog that looks like the one in my avistar only better (hopefully).

That thing is bad!!! It has a wnich mounted right behind the cab. Has a loop to guide the cable for winching from behind. It also has a loop at the top of the roll bar for side hill winching. Then the big winch on the front. Some really cool stuff on it.

guinea13 · Sep 23, 2003

Why do you think I want it. I have loved mogs for as long as I know, well second to my CJ7 (only because I built it).

350 TBI intake gasket install?

guinea13

BlueJeep

PTSchram

Grim Reaper

Grim Reaper

guinea13

Grim Reaper

LT's TOY

Grim Reaper

guinea13

rob

guinea13

KWTMECH

RepoMan

guinea13

Grim Reaper

guinea13

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