My 1973 400 is equipped with EGR; what is considered acceptable gasket material for the spacer to manifold gasket?

I recently rebuilt my carb and cleaned out the EGR spacer too. I scraped all old gasket material off the EGR spacer and manifold (and carb), and installed a new gasket between the spacer and manifold (and spacer and carb of course). I got a Carquest gasket to go between the spacer and the manifold. It seems to be a paper material. I'm not sure if it's getting a good seal...the parts of the gasket that stick out or aren't covered seem to be stained, as if they're wet. I also had a few light pops out the tailpipe. I feared the gasket was letting air get by...I sprayed all sides of the plate with carb cleaner while idling and the idle never changed, so it doesn't appear to be sucking air. I replaced my points & condensor and reset my timing and the popping hasn't returned. However the stains remain.

I would like to know if that "staining" is normal. If it's not, is it because the gasket isn't acceptable? My mechanic told me that the gaskets he had seen under EGR spacers had steel throughout them and were tougher. But this gasket (cross ref to Fel Pro 60185) seems to be the only style made for this year of 400.

Your thoughts?

 

Your mechanic is right. They were similar to a exhaust manifold gasket because hot ex. gasses pass through the intake & the spacer. I don't know if a paper one will hold up. There are many different egr plates making it difficult to find the right one for your spacer & intake.

 

Here's an update...I ordered an actual Fel-Pro spacer to manifold gasket from the internet and it came today. It's thicker, tougher and seems to have some steel weaving in it. I guess just because a gasket cross-references to the Fel-Pro doesn't mean it's made out of the same material.