Intake gasket help 318 Performer RPM

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macdrew77

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So i have a 1970 318 with 302 heads and a Edelbrock Performer RPM intake. I was swapping out the valvetrain and decided to pick up the Mopar Intake Gasket Set with the block off plates included. Great. Or so i thought. upon assembly, coolant pours out of the back left side between the head and intake where the coolant passages in the gasket are way oversized (probably should have checked the fit first...) Now this is confusing because all gasket are labeled as 318/340/360. Or is the problem my intake? Can anybody recommend a good gasket they've used with their Edelbrock Performer RPM, maybe also with 302 heads?
 
So i have a 1970 318 with 302 heads and a Edelbrock Performer RPM intake. I was swapping out the valvetrain and decided to pick up the Mopar Intake Gasket Set with the block off plates included. Great. Or so i thought. upon assembly, coolant pours out of the back left side between the head and intake where the coolant passages in the gasket are way oversized (probably should have checked the fit first...) Now this is confusing because all gasket are labeled as 318/340/360. Or is the problem my intake? Can anybody recommend a good gasket they've used with their Edelbrock Performer RPM, maybe also with 302 heads?

Sounds like you probably have the Edelbrock #7276 Intake Manifold Gaskets with
the 1.17" x 2.30" Port Size.

Go with the Fel-Pro #1243, which have the 1.05" x 2.08" Port Size.

The Fel-Pro units are designed for the smaller port Cylinder Heads, and have a
better coolant port gasket-match.

http://dragpartsusa.com/i-13414750-fel-pro-sb-chrysler-intake-gaskets-318-w-2-bbl-head-67-86.html
 
Go with the Fel-Pro #1243, which have the 1.05" x 2.08" Port Size.
Correct, I would use permatex 99MA "high tack" the thin red spray on glue/cement around the intake ports & something thicker around the water ports like permatex #1 or #2 in the toothpaste like tube (no RTV) and I use a dab of superglue the size of your pinkie finger in two spots on each side gasket to hold it in place to the head ~ 1/3 and 2/3 along the length for support just not close to the intake ports. I would NOT use the front/rear cork gaskets as most are too thick & can hold the intake up a hair just enough for those water ports to leak on down the line & visually the intake "looks" like it is seated/fitted perfect. NOT. "the right stuff" cement is good for that (work fast/dont get any on you or anywhere you dont want it on/difficult to remove)
 
Make sure the roll pins aren't causing an issue if still there also....
 
the smaller ports in the heads go better with an intake with smaller ports, or have the heads ports enlarged
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. My heads have been ported some by the previous owner, look to be matched to the intake port size. Are there any gaskets with the larger 340/360 ports but smaller coolant passages? Will running the smaller FP 1243 gasket affect airflow significantly on my setup?
 

Make sure the roll pins aren't causing an issue if still there also....
^^^ This is important. OP, make sure you understand this issue and examine it. We just test fitted a new Performer RPM Intake on a 340, and the roll pins in the ends of the block interfered with the new intake seating down.. We had to drill some relief holes in the end rails of the new intake. We will probably also lower the roll pin heights too.
 

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