Gasket for Manifold?

[Tom Wells]

Rick,

Here's what the non-reinforced Fel-Pro Print-O-Seal gaskets look like after about 11,000 miles of heat cycles:

http://www.firstcoastcobraclub.com/v...c.php?f=8&t=13

It doesn't seem to matter whether it's a 351, 289, FE or 460. I have matching pictures of all those engines' intake gaskets. If you put enough heat cycles on them, they will do their trick. If you are lucky, the antifreeze will go onto the engine's outside, then onto the ground. If not, it will go into the lifter valley

Retorquing these will not get you any extra heat cycles; in fact, it may hasten their self-destruction. Fel-Pro verified this to me at last years' PRI show. They have gone to a reinforced version with a thin piece of sheet steel between the gasket material layers to prevent this creep. Note this happens at both the intake ports and the water passages.

This won't happen with a low mileage engine, or a racing engine that is opened up frequently, which was the intent of the original gasket.

Either the new reinforced Fel-Pros or the Victor Reinz would make a good long-lasting seal.

Hope this sheds some light,

Tom

[sgianino]

Tom Wells,
Thanks for the Info from the original post of my leaking Manifold to block issue, which now is a small issue compared to todays.
I came home after a ride and visiting a couple friends when on my way home noticed the car was not running 100%. Came home took off the breathers from Valve covers and thats when i noticed water Check the oil dip stick and its the color of a Dunkin Donuts coffee(mind you i changed the oil last week so it was new)
Took off the distributor and we did see a ton of condensation and some corrosion that could of been an older issue.
The big $1,000,000 question is where is this water coming from? The head gasket or Manifold Gasket to the head
Thanks for any input