Im getting close on installing oil pan and timing cover on my FE. I have used Indian Head sealer years ago, but i'm wanting some opinions. Should it be used on both sides of the oil pan and timing chain cork gaskets. Or is there a better way. I also have some permatex sealer that looks about the same, with a brush in the can. Thanks. I did a search, but not quite the answers I was looking for.
I haven't used Indian head on a timming cover or oil pan in a long time, if you want to use something other than silicone I would use permatex non hardening gasket sealer. it comes in a tube if you remember. Oh greg, Indian head works real wll on paper gaskets but not as well on cork
Best thing to use is Gaskacinch. Edelbrock sells it with their own name on it, and NAPA also stocks it. Used it on motorcycle cases (no gaskets) on my '68 Triumph 500 CC twin, used to park it on my red carpet I had where the Porsches drove in. Never a drop! Used it on all the matching surfaces on 911 Porsches, just excellent. It is golden color, is like a rubber cement...it comes off when washed with carburetor cleaner. Excellent sealer. I used Permatex #3 (brush in can) for years...my boss said it took the place of shellack, which they used in the '20s thru '40s. Gaskacinch is much cleaner, and much more professional.
i use the aviation sealer, it is like the permatex stuff, or the indian head. i use it on all gaskets to hold and seal them in place. i would use it on both sides of the gaskets you are doing to prevent leaks. the stuff also works great on any pipe threads in the fuel system.
porknbeaner, Yes, now that you mention it the paper gasket thing rings a bell. Thats why im asking. Its been a while.
i use either 3m black weatherstrip adhesive or blue RTV or non hardening permatex the only time i use indian head is for intake gaskets
That edelbrock stuff ain't the same as the real deal gasgasinch. I bought it and it does not set up right.
For the win, Indianhead! I've stacked shim headgaskets with it fine and use it everywhere. It's messy and a clean-up pain, but it sure works! pdq67
Looks like I might try the Gasgacinch brand. and I just bought some Rightstuff that i used on the rear main that I can use in any corners. Gasgacinch isnt too bad, but rightstuff gave me sticker shock :O
The gasket is supposed to do the sealing. Indian head was more of a contact cement to hold the gasket in place as it was installed than a sealer. I use 3M weather stripping cement. (gorilla snot) I like the black. I do keep some black silicone for certain applications but i never use it on water pumps, valve covers or timing chain covers. The gasket is there to take up the inconsistencies. No sealer is required unless the gasket is ripped To me nothing says half-assed mechanic more than silicone squeezed out of a joint with a gasket. The first silicone was blue and we called it blue goo. Gawd I hated that stuff....if a little is good a lot must be better right?...not so much
Tommy got it right. Gasgachinch was, if you have an old can, a contact cement for shoe makers to glue shoes together. We used it in the 60's on one side of a gasket to hold it in place. Blue goo is right up there with the white tape shit on pipe fittings. Traditional is a little wheel bearing grease on cork gaskets to help them release without breaking when you take the valve covers off.
Mike, Gorilla snot, that's the stuff man. I was getting ready to lap my hawg cases on glass like we used to do with Limey cases. The Ol' man handed me a tube of Gorilla snot and said, "use gorilla snot on it, it will never be a Limey." then he gave me one of these Everyone used to harrass me about being out of oil.
Indian Head and also Aviation Permatex are, along with Marvel Mystery Oil, classic smells of traditional rodding! Use 'em or use something a little more modern, but keep all of them around so your garage smells right!
I also like the Permatex Aviation #3 sealant. Using it on cork valve cover gaskets allows me to remove the valve covers without trashing the cork. For re-installation just re-butter them up.
I'd like to find a dried up glass bottle of the stuff just for the graphics. It's still available in a black and white plastic bottle. If you look up on a shelf in an old garage and see an old glass bottle of this stuff see if the owner wants to talk and pull up a chair if he says yes. It would be prominently displayed in my garage.
You guys are great Thanks for all the advice. I really hate oil leaks, and I know everyone has there own little tricks during assembly. My garage does sometimes have a not so pleasent smell. Thats what the wife tells me anyway.
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