I am going to use felpro gaskets on the intake. Chiltons says to use rtv around water jackets, front/back of block and permatex 2 on bolt threads, torque to 35 lbs. Sound right?
I think more than two bolt threads need sealer. Look at which bolts go into the "oil" area of the heads. I use permatex around the water ports, not rtv. I do use rtv across the front and back of the manifold to block.
It’s been a while, but the last SBC intake I installed,I used RTV at the front and back, and nothing special elsewhere. Torque sounds about right.
There are at least a half dozen different style , same with gasket material , same with sizes , lots depends on what , specifically you are working on , there are similarities n& differences , how hard can it be .....
IIRC I installed felpro blue intake gaskets on my sm blk chevys plain, no rtv around water jackets. Dab of rtv in the 4 corners , glued the cork or rubber end gaskets to the block with yellow weather strip adhesive so they dont squeeze/slip out. Installed intake.
I've lost track of how many intakes I've installed on SBC engines, but I always use a thin coat of RTV around the water passages front and back. Never have used anything on intake bolts and never had any coolant leaks around those bolts.
they don't leak coolant around the intake bolts unless the heads or intake are corroded pretty badly. But they will seep oil around the bolt heads if you don't seal the threads.
I use just a bit of Permatex Right Stuff around the water ports especially if its a old intake with some pitting . I Right for the China walls and do not use the rubber or cork ends . I have in the past used a center punch to dimple up the ends of the block ot keep the sealant and or end pieces from blowing out but that was in the pre silicone days when we used 3m weather stripping adhesive to hold the ends in . I use the same sealant I use on head bolts on the treads on the intake or some 3m white paste tread sealant made for tapered pipe fittings . About 25 pounds of torque starting form the middle outwards . I seldom use a torque wrench and it might not even fit on some manifolds . I often use Allen bolts or 12 point head ( yea not traditional ) header type bolts in tight spots and on aluminum intakes I always use a washer under the bolt head even if I have to fit it to get it to lay flat . I might use some high tac in the middle near the heat cross over just to hold it in place but not around the ports. Be usre to usea gasket that fits the ports on your intake there are a lot of choices as well as thickness to choose form these days .
I called felpro just to make sure because the manual says to put rtv around water ports but they say on the blue gaskets put nothing.
It doesn't matter what gaskets and sealant you choose, I built my SBC, put heat into her, drove it awhile. Just for fun I put a torque wrench on all the easy bolts to get, intake, pan, timing cover, etc. They all were low, retorqued everything, got rid of all small leaks. Dried her right up, did the clutch, bell housing, and my super t10. Seems they settle a little. I will check them every once in awhile, just for fun!!
I had a SBC intake leak around the intake ports once (vac leak). When I redid the gaskets using the same intake, I used Gasgacinch around the intake ports on the new gaskets and problem was solved/never returned. I typically use Felpro but the leakers may have been from one of those "every gasket needed in a box" kit bought from a flea market as I do remember having a few of those kits around at one time. No idea why it leaked in the first place as I had never had that happen before but Gasgacinch around the ports worked for me/made sure it didn't happen a second time.
One thing that some forget is that you can find a torque pattern for most every intake manifold at least for overhead valve intake manifolds. I've been around too many guys who tighten the 4 corners down because they are afraid of water leaks and have a fit when you tell them that they need to follow the torque pattern even if they aren't using a torque wrench. Also making more rounds with smaller increments on heads or intakes has become a habit with me rather than the normal three rounds on heads and what ever on intakes but even with 35 lbs on an aluminum intake I wouldn't go straight to the 35 lbs.
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