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Thread: Gaskets and reuse...

  1. #1
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    Gaskets and reuse...

    Obviously some gaskets cannot be reused (head, exhaust,etc.). My question is:
    If the timing cover, valve cover, oil pan, intake and plenum gaskets look good, is it ok to reuse on a rebuild?
    11.931 @ 116.33 (MT ET Streets)
    12.073 @ 118.43 (Nitto 555)

    I love the smell of Nitromethane and rubber in the morning!
    Drag racers prayer:
    As I lay rubber down the street, I pray for traction I can keep, but if I spin and begin to slide, please dear God protect my ride." -Amen

  2. #2
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    Intake and plenum are the only ones I would reuse. The rest of them will likely be damaged because a little dab of silicone is used at the places where they intersect with seams such as timing cover-head, timing cover-oil pan, oil pan-rear seal plate. The silicone usually causes the gaskets to be damaged during disassembly.

    Exhaust gaskets can be reused.
    Thanks to Darrin @ BC Automotive:
    $1800 and it was worse than when he started!

    Brian (FordNut) FPG # 1458 of 7838
    03 MM 300A (Lotsa mods, 130k mi) was 303rwhp/318rwtq N/A
    then 476/410 D1SC ProCharged on stock block
    then 660/555 D1SC PC on 5.3 wet sleeved Teksid alum big bore stroker
    then 365/369 N/A on 5.3 wet sleeved Teksid alum big bore stroker
    Now 751/617 3.4L Whipple on 5.3 Boss5.0 iron big bore stroker

    03 MM 300B Silver (Mostly stock, originally wife's car, 370k mi) FPG # 7053 of 7838 or 49 of 417 SB
    03 MM 300B Silver, Stock, wife's next one, 136k mi FPG # 7134 of 7838 or 89 of 417 SB
    04 MM Silver, Stock, on standby 85k mi, FPG # 1212 of 3214 or 432 of 997 SB
    01 F150 longbed
    01 F150 shortbed
    00 F150 4x4 stepside
    01 F150 4x4 7700
    68 Stang FB (70 351C 4V, 4 wheel discs, project car)

    Mods listed here (some items not current): FordNut's Mods

  3. #3
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    Thanks Brian! Another draining of the wallet! Better to be safe though.
    11.931 @ 116.33 (MT ET Streets)
    12.073 @ 118.43 (Nitto 555)

    I love the smell of Nitromethane and rubber in the morning!
    Drag racers prayer:
    As I lay rubber down the street, I pray for traction I can keep, but if I spin and begin to slide, please dear God protect my ride." -Amen

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by FordNut View Post
    Intake and plenum are the only ones I would reuse. The rest of them will likely be damaged because a little dab of silicone is used at the places where they intersect with seams such as timing cover-head, timing cover-oil pan, oil pan-rear seal plate. The silicone usually causes the gaskets to be damaged during disassembly.

    Exhaust gaskets can be reused.
    Yep....In fact the OEM 'layered' stainless steel exhaust manifold gaskets are much better than most header gaskets out there.
    2020 Ford Ranger STX DFI Turbo 2.3L 10 speed Auto
    2017 Ford Fusion Sport DFI Twin Turbo 2.7L V6 6 speed Auto (14.000 ET bone stock in 82 degree heat)
    1985 Mustang GT 5.0 Hatchback 4bbl 5 speed manual (525 HP 363 Dart block/AFR heads with Magnum 6 speed in the works)
    1984 Mustang GT 2.3 Turbo Convertible FI. 5 speed manual
    1966 427 Cobra (ERA) 468 all Aluminum FE 2x4bbl 5 speed manual

    SOLD : 2003 Mercury Marauder FI. 4 speed Auto
    w/Crower Cams & Springs, +1mm SS valves, mild port job on the cylinder heads.
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  5. #5
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    Ive never bought a timing gasket set or Cam cover set.....all re-useable.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Zack View Post
    Ive never bought a timing gasket set or Cam cover set.....all re-useable.
    It's so funny, I had a feeling that you would pipe in and say that! You have a small carbon footprint when it comes to reuse, but, it probably makes up for the track!
    11.931 @ 116.33 (MT ET Streets)
    12.073 @ 118.43 (Nitto 555)

    I love the smell of Nitromethane and rubber in the morning!
    Drag racers prayer:
    As I lay rubber down the street, I pray for traction I can keep, but if I spin and begin to slide, please dear God protect my ride." -Amen

  7. #7
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    I guess it's all a matter of how risk-averse a person is. Personally I think the cost of the new gaskets is well worth the reduced risk of having to pull it apart again IF it leaks. To me it's sort of like using a torque wrench on spark plugs: cheap insurance.

    I have seen several timing cover, valve cover, and oil pan gaskets that were damaged during disassembly due to the silicone sticking to the bead of the gasket and ripping it apart during disassembly.
    Thanks to Darrin @ BC Automotive:
    $1800 and it was worse than when he started!

    Brian (FordNut) FPG # 1458 of 7838
    03 MM 300A (Lotsa mods, 130k mi) was 303rwhp/318rwtq N/A
    then 476/410 D1SC ProCharged on stock block
    then 660/555 D1SC PC on 5.3 wet sleeved Teksid alum big bore stroker
    then 365/369 N/A on 5.3 wet sleeved Teksid alum big bore stroker
    Now 751/617 3.4L Whipple on 5.3 Boss5.0 iron big bore stroker

    03 MM 300B Silver (Mostly stock, originally wife's car, 370k mi) FPG # 7053 of 7838 or 49 of 417 SB
    03 MM 300B Silver, Stock, wife's next one, 136k mi FPG # 7134 of 7838 or 89 of 417 SB
    04 MM Silver, Stock, on standby 85k mi, FPG # 1212 of 3214 or 432 of 997 SB
    01 F150 longbed
    01 F150 shortbed
    00 F150 4x4 stepside
    01 F150 4x4 7700
    68 Stang FB (70 351C 4V, 4 wheel discs, project car)

    Mods listed here (some items not current): FordNut's Mods

  8. #8
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    If you insist in buying new gaskets NAPA makes nice kits (from Felpro) at much better prices that the dealer.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by FordNut View Post
    Personally I think the cost of the new gaskets is well worth the reduced risk of having to pull it apart again IF it leaks. To me it's sort of like using a torque wrench on spark plugs: cheap insurance.
    I concur. Save for the exhaust, which seem pretty bullet proof, gaskets are cheap insurance for getting ish right the first time.
    300A
    born 08-27-02
    Adjusted air in and air out.
    400+ timeslips.

    When in doubt, GAS IT! This will either fix the problem, or end the suspense.

  10. #10
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    Thank you guys! You too Zack! J/K! I'm pulling my engine and tearing her down over the course of this week. I'm curious to see what bearing(s) are bad, etc. I'll take a few pics for posterity sake. If it's minor and the pistons, wrist pins are ok, then I may just do minimum to get her fixed and get the 5.3 in the end like I wanted. We'll see...
    11.931 @ 116.33 (MT ET Streets)
    12.073 @ 118.43 (Nitto 555)

    I love the smell of Nitromethane and rubber in the morning!
    Drag racers prayer:
    As I lay rubber down the street, I pray for traction I can keep, but if I spin and begin to slide, please dear God protect my ride." -Amen

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