Discolored FE pushrods

[RICK LAKE]

Ant The only time I had a problem with gaskets was matching aluminum heads to iron blocks. The expansion rates are different. Over a couple of years the seep between head and block. As far as Head gaskets on the same material of either iron or aluminum, I spray them with 2 coats of Hi-tac and have had no leaks. This applys for intake gaskets too, and a thin coat of RTV sealer around the coolant ports both sides of the gasket. I scuff up the gaskets to remove the coating of whatever that is on the gaskets you get to give a better material for the sealer to bond to. The other thing is to make sure that if the block ,heads, or intake where machined to true the surfaces, make sure about clearance and angles between parts. Some machinist IMO take off way too much material to get a true flat surface. Your motor is a living breathing thing and is going to move and adjust over time. Except for a little bleeding of the hi-tac out of the head gaskets, I have no leaks. Ran 8 years on 452 and now 7 years on 482. Same block, heads, intake manifold and water pump. Setup and prep is the most time used when putting a motor togeather. Following sealer time to cure is another thing that is not followed alot of time. I have cheated and warmed a motor to quick cure the RTV but have had small leaks down the road. 24 hours to set means 24, it's that simple. I have an AMC motor with a set of felpros in my jeep that has not been running since 78. Motor was oil fogger and put away. There is no reason that the gaskets should be any problem. After next cobra motor is built, going to install 390 amx motor in CJ-5 or may go with 482 motor. Rick L.