VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1958-1960 Sealants and fillers

Putting re-manufactured heads on a 283. Felpro gasket kit says for those headbolts entering the coolant passages apply a pliable non-hardening sealer to the threads. Recommendations?

Instructions also say to apply a quick drying adhesive to the cylinder heads to hold the intake manifold gasket in place. Recommendations?

Lastly, I have some pitting on the block at the head mounting surface around the coolant passages/water jacket holes. Looking to fill these areas to improve the chances my head gasket will remain sealed. Recommended fillers?

Thanks,

Paul

The shop manual says clean out bolt thread holes and cylinder head bolt threads (a thread chaser works well).
coat all head bolt threads with a special sealing compound such as Permatex #3.
I would use the same product on the pits...a very thin coat.
If it were mine I would use nothing on the intake gaskets, especially the rubber ends as some adhesives cause the rubber end gaskets to squirm out of place. I just position them carefully watch to see that they remain in place.

Chevgene - what are your views on using or not using the rubber end gaskets

I always used them. Put on dry and a small amount of sealant in corners.

I never use a material to hold the end rubbers in place. Even 3M weaterstrip adhesive. While they may hold the rubber in place after the manifold is installed the "glue" allows the rubber to slide out of place. It may hold it from falling off but encourages it to slide.

If judging points are not an issue, I would throw those rubber intake valley gaskets in the garbage and use a good bead of silicone in it's place. I have eliminated the rear one on all of my cars and nobody would know, and just use straight silicone
I have always used silicone (as per the Felpro instructions) on the corners of the rubber gaskets, and never had a problem. I also lay a small ring of silicone around the water ports on the intake to head gaskets