Intake gasket questions

[Sonny]

I'm finishing my 1978 360 and installing my aluminum intake. Should I use the cork end gaskets or a thick bead of rtv? What are the little metal tangs in the corners for? Looks like they bend over the cork gaskets? Use them or cut them off?
Thanks
Sonny

 

[65-440]

Take the metal tabs off and use I big bead of rtv on the front and rear ... That's what I had to do with an aluminium intake on my 340. The cork wouldn't fill the gap.

 

[493 Mike]

Sonny,
The tangs fit into holes in the end gaskets to anchor them in place and I've never had a problem with using them. I always apply a small bead of silicone at the junctions between sides and ends. You can also glue the cork end gaskets to the block.
Mike

 

[69Bee]

Don't use the cork valley rails. The possibility of them holding up the intake, and creating a water leak is great. I have had a few customers say their oil pan is filling up with coolant, and can't figure it out. When I ask them if they used the cork end rails, they say yes. I tell them to remove them, and reseal the intake; problem solved. Just put a large bead of "Ultra Grey" Permatex across them, and all will be good. You can also just clip off the 8 tabs that keep the cork ends in place.

 

[65-440]

You need to dry fit the intake and check the gaps. That'll tell you if you can use the cork or just lay a bead of rtv.

 

[451Mopar]

Either way, I would remove the center pin from the end seal, if it is still in the block. Many intakes don't have the recess that matches up to the pin.
I use the end seals on engines that are mostly stock (unmilled heads and block.)
My 360 had both the block and heads milled, and the intake sat so low that there was almost no gap, so I used RTV.
No problems with either.