Manifold Question

I have a 225 oddfire. The metal piece came with the engine and a set of gaskets. If I use the metal piece it has no gasket material on either side. How does it seal? Or is it not used on an oddfire and just something extra they threw in the box. Thanks

 

the metal valley pan is a gasket as well no need for gaskets with it. a little permatex perhaps...

 

Those raised ridges around the ports compress when you torque the manifold down. Been around a long time on multiple engines, I've never had a problem with them. Can't really say one is better than the other.

 

Some of the Buick engines had a raised intake manifold with an air gap under the intake. These valley pans sealed the lifter area, and that raised bead crushes to make the seal. I use Permatex copper spray gasket with these metal type pans. Other applications used this piece as a heat shield for the intake. These were usually from the early 1960's.
I would probably use the blue type, provided you also have the front and rear valley gaskets too.
-Donny

 

I don't need the valley Pan? I do have the front and rear rubber gaskets.

 

You should either use the valley pan style, or use the more conventional blue gaskets. What did your engine originally have when you pulled it down?
If it were me, I would used the blue gaskets with the rubber end pieces. I think these will seal the intake/waterjacket better.
-Donny

 

That's the problem, I never pulled it apart. It came rebuilt when I took over someone else's project. I will just use the blue gaskets. I'm not sure why the valley pan is needed. I've used them in small block Chevys before but they only fit in the lifter area. Never where the gaskets were.
Thanks for the input all.

 

If you use the pan style gasket, always put some sealer around the coolant ports, otherwise dry. If you use the blue Fel-Pro style gaskets make sure you put sealer in the corners of the rubber seals where they heads, block, and I take meet or you are likely to have a leak there.
We always threw away the end seals and used a thick bead of sealer to eliminate leaks and seeps. Works well. We did this on most engines that used those rubber end gaskets.

 

I always use the rubber intake to block rubber pieces. I use a dab of RTV under and over the top of the corners. I can just getaway with RTV and no rubber pieces??

 

I agree. Same thing I never use the rubber end pieces. A nice bead of silicone on clean surfaces and you are good to go. The end pieces squeeze out especially if the heads or block have been worked.