Inlet manifold gasket?

ian.stewart · Post by **ian.stewart** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:43 pm

I think I know the awswer allready,
Just been tinkering with my heads and found a HUGE mismatch between the inlets and the heads of around 4mm, I knew there was a bit but not that much, so as I use split downdraft manifolds, I have pinned and port matched the heads to the manifolds, Now I see that the inlet manifold gasket is going to be a problem as it has to be ported as well, I have done it in the past but it was a real PIA as there is not a lot of metal left to work with, So the idea is I do away with the inlet gasket, and using a gasket in a tube, there will be no problem with bolting down, as they are split, but I will have to make a valley plate out of 4mm ally, seal the edges with a bead of RTV and I think this will work, the plate has the added advantage of having a solid base for the NOS kit to mount off,
Any thoughts chaps??

dnb · Post by **dnb** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 11:04 pm

Make a good job of it so that it can be produced in batches and sell them on here!

I like the idea a lot - I've found the valley gaskets to be a right pain over the years.

CastleMGBV8 · Post by **CastleMGBV8** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:31 am

Ian,

Are you talking about the comp gasket as the ports on those are usually much larger than the rover inlet ports and actually match the ports on the Buick 300 heads I'm using and are 44mm. high by 25mm wide.

The method your suggesting is similar to what Wildcat do, but their heads have a flat face below the port area to which they seal a shortened valley gaskt by using a bolt on plate on both sides. Unfortunately the Rover heads have nowhere to seal the shortened gasket to so not sure how you can do it.

Kevin.

ian.stewart · Post by **ian.stewart** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:32 am

CastleMGBV8 wrote:Ian,

Are you talking about the comp gasket as the ports on those are usually much larger than the rover inlet ports and actually match the ports on the Buick 300 heads I'm using and are 44mm. high by 25mm wide.

Kevin.

46 x 26 ports on 4.6 heads,

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:18 pm

Sounds to me like a very good plan, just need to make sure the relevent faces are good and flat (but you know that). Should be a loverly job.
Mike

ian.stewart · Post by **ian.stewart** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:19 pm

I think I have worked out how to do it as well!!
I have some large sheets of soft 2mm plasticard, cut the sheet to managable size, and bolt to the block with heads in situ, now dress the edges with a ball pien hammer as if you were making a gasket so you can get a releif and template of the area you need to make the cover, including the inside edge where the bolts wiould fit, The idea is the plate will fit flush into the valley, Probably get the plate cut out up the local Lazer cutters, to retain the plate 2 strips of 3mm Ally to replicate the steel ends, but about 20-25mm wide, the ends will bolt to the original position and the plate bolted to the underside of the strips, obviously the plate will need to be bent to follow the contour of the valley, and a bead of RTV run around the edge of the plate/heads, with a bit of luck, thats all I will need