351M Intake installation help

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Nov 12, 2009 | 09:26 PM

virgojeep

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351M Intake installation help

Hi All

I am a bit worried about installing this intake manifold because the gasket is just metal and is supposedly installed dry except for around the coolant ports. I however decided to buy some spray on copper gasket maker just in case but do not want to use it if the copper will not help. What is the best way to ensure I don't get any vacuum leaks?

Nov 13, 2009 | 02:26 AM

johnboy427

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From: The Vieux Ford, Kansas

There are no coolant passages on a 351M so you lucked out there. I always run Fel Pro #1240 intake gaskets they are the normal kind no the turkey pan, they are also cheaper. Use a bead of silicone instead of the rubber end seals.
-Johnboy

Nov 14, 2009 | 04:06 PM

79FordBlake

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From: Wingo, Ky

I've always heard you should use the valley pan instead. I have installed intakes on a few 351m/400 engines before, they don't really give any problems with installation. I would however throw out the s shaped rubber seals that go on the ends and use just RTV.

Nov 14, 2009 | 04:09 PM

jecsd1

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you got it. I always use the valley pan dry and use RTV for the end seals. Never a leak

Nov 14, 2009 | 07:11 PM

fmc400

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From: Austin, TX

RTV for the ends only, as the others have said. You don't want to put any sealer around an intake runner (on the sides); it's too high vacuum.

Nov 15, 2009 | 11:34 AM

virgojeep

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I read in a ford engine rebuild book that the water ports on the ends should have RTV to seal off any water leaks. They are small holes about .500" in diameter that allow water to flow between the heads at the front of the engine. The ones at the back of the engine get capped off by the intake. I put a light circle of RTV around the water cross overs and sprayed the pan with copper gasket maker on both sides. It seemed to work well. I didn't notice any irregularities in the installation. I torqued the 12 bolts in sequence starting with 10 ftlbs - 15 - 25. As far as I can see the gap between the intake and heads is even all the way around.

Nov 15, 2009 | 11:44 AM

virgojeep

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http://books.google.com/books?id=teV...nifold&f=false This is where I got the information about sealing the water passages on the ends of the pan gasket.