Still following you Fred. You are doing a very thorough analysis. I hope you get it. Isn't it strange how different the states are about emission testing? I've always been in Michigan and I've never had a emission test. My 71 Olds runs good and doesn't seem to smell rich but I have no idea what emissions it spews.... Well Good luck, I hope that new gasket stuff works longer!

 

Another thought is whether the Remflex can hold up to a backfire.. much more then vacuum pressure 22Hg = 10.8 bs .. Remflex did not want to say a spec on psi when I called them.. Could not find any psi on their website or literature either.. I am guessing they do not want to say as too many variables???..


off the internet I found only one guesstimate of 100 psi for a backfire.

Any ideas about backfire psi???

 

I would imagine the pressure is different depending upon how much restriction there is between the intake valve where the pressure is originating and the opening to the ambient environment (carb throttle bore). The volume of the intake passages, the size of the throttle bores, and the amount the throttle plates are open would all affect the restriction to the exiting gases and therefor the pressure level.

 

So looked on the internet if there was any proof to the Remflex claim that the material fills pits. Surprisingly I could not find any examples, not even from Remflex just their plier crush test.

So did some Pollock Engineering, and since I am a Pollock I'm good with it and I am sorry if I offended any other Pollocks out there..

So I can up with a crush tester.

I put a C clamp in a vise, I found a 3/8 drive socket about the same size as the C Clamp head and used a hose clamp to hold them together, then connected a torque wrench, used some wire to tighten clamp while torquing.,




I put the Remflex between a flat file and a piece of precision ground steel..(to 0.001")




I will be using 20 ft. lbs (240 inch lbs) as this is what I was told by Remflex to torque my manifold to as the test Torque. The goal is to check how well the Remflex fills in the nooks and crannies.

The Remflex crush test file side is obvious, the ground steel has some indentations from grinding. See photos

 

Being Polish, you can say whatever you want about YOUR people. I give the Irish a really hard time, drunken, crazy redhead midgets😁. I am about 1/2 Irish, relatives from the North and South. Anyway it looks worth a shot, I have never seen this issue with a factory iron Olds intake, usually they stay sealed for the life of the motor.

 

OK installed the intake. More Pollock Engineering.. So when I cut the Remflex out, it is a bit jagged. Also my concern about backfire pressure and if Remflex can hold it. So For the intake and Heads I tapped off about an area of 1/8" around each port of them. I sprayed copper spray around each iintake and crossover port and a very thin coat of ultra blue rtv around the coolant ports. I ran a thin bead of Permatex Permashield around the perimeter of the heads and intake to help further seal it. The previous night I sprayed copper spray into a jar and let it thicken up, After I placed the gasket on the heads, I painted with a small brush the inside of the cutout Remflex to help hold any Remflex crumbles and well has help resist backfire pressure. Sealed the ends of the block with Ultra Blue RTV. I like the way the Ultra Blue sticks and as many times I've tried this, I have never had a crankcase leak here. Torqued in small increments, to the final 240inch lbs = 20 lbs. Took about 12 tries over 3 days to get it to settle down to torque specs. . See Photos

 

Engine runs at thermostat temp.. 195F or so but not above.. I did measure the ERG area near #5 and it read 304F why I think it is warping the gasket/manifold over time..

Fred

 

Ok passed smog today, engine has never run better. I mean REALLY better.. Probably had more leaks elsewhere besides #5 cylinder before this latest intake gasket..

Also rebuilt Quadrajet by Greg "Sparky" Kalkhoff made a difference.. So much more responsive..
.

Proof of the Pudding will be 2 years later or more , when I have to smog it again..

Thanks for all advice!

Fred

 

Great news. I hope you are rewarded in 2 years for the meticulous attention and effort.

 

Good to hear. Sparky maybe richened the idle a tiny bit or it could have been an additional vacuum leak at the throttle shafts. Glad it is fixed and finally running right, I have never seen this before on an iron intake.

 

Bravo Fred! Great to hear that all is well with your painstaking repair; hope it stays fixed for the long run. I'm sure more than me will be interested in the long term durability of the Remflex.

 

I have to pass CA smog.

Sparky sent a data sheet back with rebuilt carb. He specified the jet size, rod sizes, float level, etc etc to 100% 1979 Olds bone stock. Flow tested..

Works great. Better then ever!! Amazingly better. Not having correct fuel mixture due to the leak(s) was the real problem.

Fred

 

That's great Fred. Congratulations!!

 

OK update It's been awhile as I have been doing bodywork, etc so finally getting it on the road again.

Passed smog again, easily. Looks like the Remflex is holding up .... so far so good.. First time I've passed without having to do the intake gasket again. Usually leaks near EGR/#5 cylinder.

Runs REALLY good.

I came across some dialog on a Remflex Exhaust Gasket on Amazon on the material used in Remflex. I cannot vouch for the legitimacy but maybe another data point.




Fred