When I put my motor together I don't use any type of liquid sealer on the head or manifold gaskets but I would like to use something on the oil pan, water pump, and valve covers. Or am I crazy to think that these get sealer?

In the past I had used form-a-gasket for the oil pump and valve covers but that is too hard to get off.

 

I usually just let them seal themselves...

Unless its something like the gasket between the intakes that need some extra tackiness to stay in place, I just stick to only using rtv at the manifold end gaskets.

 

+1^^ There are very few spots to use a sealer in addition to the gasket. The corners where the rubber seal meets the gasket on intakes and pans is a common area. I will use a spray tack to merly hold the gasket in place during assembly on water pumps and such. A factory sealed motor will never be dripping in RTV..... I'm just sayin.

 

"Indian Head" gasket schalack
Or
Permatex "super 300 forma gasket"

Awesome stuff. Nessisary stuff when building a flathead engine. I use it when using thin paper gaskets.
On intake and oilpan though, use the black silicone around water ports and corners of pan gasket.

 

It depends on the gasket

A rubber gasket needs NOTHING, except in the corners. IE a rubber pan gasket needs a dab of RTV in the corners where the front and rear main meet the block. I would use NOTHING BUT a factory rubber gasket on the pan.


Timing cover to block and water pump is usually a paper gasket. I use a light coat of Spray HI-TACK just to hold it in place. or a coating of anti-seeze



Head gaskets. NOTHING

Intake gasket to head, NOTHING. and throw those stupid rubber pieces away that seal the intake to the front and rear of the block. A 1/4" bead of RTV seals WAY better.

Valve cover gaskets.. Cork, no way but if you insist, a light coat of Spray Hi-TACK to hold them while being installed.
But Rubber is a superior choice and goes on dry