I have replaced the intake manifold gasket twice now, first time before I dropped the engine in and the second time was yesterday (about 4 months later). The reason I changed it this time is because the rubber section in the front had extruded out of it's mating surface and was leaking. This happened right after I got it on the road and I lived with it for as long as I could. After replacing it again yesterday and driving it today, low and behold it is doing the same thing. I am wondering if this is a design problem and if so how do I fix it, or could it be because I am using an Edelbrock performer intake manifold and it is too close to the block causing the gasket to get squeezed out?

 

You have to exacuse this question, but I hade a similar problem on a chevy. The rubber gasket in my example got forced out of the crankcase pressure built when the engine was running. I hade no ventilation of the crankcase, because of closed valve covers, and poor ventilation. Is your PVC system working properly?

 

This is a very common problem. The two solutions are to rough up the rails at the front and rear of the block by centerpunching a series of dimples on the rails (for the rubber to "bite" into) or throwing the rubber pieces away and using a bead of RTV instead. I've had good results with the RTV.

 

an excellent use of RTV. I gave up on the rubber end pieces many years ago.

 

I was told by the machine shop that rebuilt the heads on our two seater Chebby (350), NOT to use the rubber end gaskets but to use RTV...

 

Just finished mine for the 3rd time. This time I used the end seals after center punching the end rails and the intake. I also installed the seals to the block with a little RTV the day before to let them set up and not slide. A little RTV on top of the seal.

Used alcohol for my final clean.

300 miles, no leaks.