Intake manifold Gasket

[budzinsk]

Hello. I remove the intake manifold to replace the gasket on my 82 Zagato. The original gasket is 1/4 thick and reminds me of the carb spacer plate material in older carb cars. It is like a bakolite material. I assume if I am to reuse it I need to gaskets - one for each side (which is what is on there now. The headset I got has just one gasket, but is thicker than the other 2 (but thinner than the 1/4 spacer).

So, do I replace the 1/4 spacer with this new gasket?

Thanks,
Rob

[Jim Keller]

If it's in real good condition, re-use it, if it's cracked/broken, I would look for a replacement, that is the gasket/spacer so to speak, I would not use standard gaskets on either side of it.

I seem to remember Jon Logan had one or two of the thick ones at Mid West 124, if not Matt and Marn Brannon should at Mid West X1/9, I think the Bayless web site is still working too, re-directing everything to Matt and Marn

[Will]

The phenolic gasket provides a thermal break, whether you seal it with a thin gasket or dressing on one of both sides is immaterial. However, you need to retain the thickness of the phenolic gasket in order to make a correct seal, at least if you are using the bottom bolt on the FI manifold.

[budzinsk]

Great. Thanks guys. Mine is in good condition.

THANKS.
Rob

[SubGothius]

The phenolic gasket provides a thermal break, whether you seal it with a thin gasket or dressing on one of both sides is immaterial. However, you need to retain the thickness of the phenolic gasket in order to make a correct seal, at least if you are using the bottom bolt on the FI manifold.
Also, I seem to recall that without having the spacer installed, it's impossible to remove the starter without removing the manifold/plenum first.

[Jim Keller]

I've never heard of anyone not using the spacer, if it could be done, I would be concerned about what it does to overall performance? and things mounted to and around the intake manifold? it's there for one as a heat spacer to help keep the intake cooler and provides part of the intake flow design, can you even bolt everything back together with it missing, seems to me it would throw off a lot of mounting points and intake air/fuel mixture specs moving the intake a quarter inch closer to the head, changing not only the intake flow channel slightly but more importantly, directly transfering the heat from the engine to the intake making intake air/fuel much hotter and less dense.......I wouldn't try it for my street car