previous owner repairs and maintenance....

[rustyroger]

I bought a '78 Olds Regency with a 455 fitted, when I say fitted I mean the engine mounts were wooden blocks....
I had a mk6 Lincoln that had a leaking heater, when I got it out - not a quick job - I found someone had stuffed bondo round the leak and put it back...

As an MOT examiner (compulsory roadworthiness check for UK cars), I have come across rusted structural steel replaced with plywood, or new metal pop riveted on.
A friend who works for the UK department of transport whose job involves spot checking large trucks has come across air brake lines plugged with wooden dowels.

Roger.

 

[onyxxtreme]

Many engines did not use an exhaust manifold gasket from the factory

+1 Chevy has not used gaskets on exhaust manifolds for a long time, at least on engines with cast iron heads, I think the aluminum headed engines do use gaskets.

i had no idea. I seriously had to google that to see
This is my first iron-headed GM motor that didn't have gaskets, that I've found.
I figured with the build quality GM was putting out back in the Gbody era, there is no way they would attempt to machine the manifold surfaces enough to run them without gaskets
learned something new today

 

[86 Grand prix]

The only ugly fix was a horn button screwed to the lower dash. Funny thing is when I hooked the horns back up to see what was wrong they work fine. Then there was the right rear cover that covers the seat belt area beside the lower rear seat. When I removed it was half full of blow pop sticks. I had bought it from the old ladies son after she passed so I sent him a photo by e-mail. His reply "guilty".

 

[DRIVEN]

Many engines did not use an exhaust manifold gasket from the factory

+1 Chevy has not used gaskets on exhaust manifolds for a long time, at least on engines with cast iron heads, I think the aluminum headed engines do use gaskets.

i had no idea. I seriously had to google that to see
This is my first iron-headed GM motor that didn't have gaskets, that I've found.
I figured with the build quality GM was putting out back in the Gbody era, there is no way they would attempt to machine the manifold surfaces enough to run them without gaskets
learned something new today

😀
Yup. and it seems to work well too. I prefer to do it that way. As long as the manifold is relatively straight you'll never know there's no gaskets. No gasket means no gasket to blow. On headers, I normally use the steel waffle style gaskets that are intended for manifolds. They rarely blow unlike paper header gaskets that seem to always fail.


Most of my cars have been fairly unmolested but my wagon had a pretty good list of stupid choices.

There actually IS an engine in it. There were 2" lowering blocks in the rear and some really tall/stiff springs in the front. Judging by the severe tire wear in the front, a previous owner had been driving it like that too. The front seats were out of a Cavalier I think. They were only mounted at 2 points and had unequal length stands so they were essentially rocking chairs. None of the gauges worked because of a past "thermal event" that was never repaired. Other wiring modifications were done using speaker wire. I bought it knowing that it had a blown head gasket. It had had a larger engine swapped in and there were missing/incorrect bolts all over the place. The air cleaner was hitting the hood. After the swap was done someone had taken gray spray paint and hosed down EVERYTHING under the hood but the engine itself. It came with (and I'm embarrassed to say - still has) 2 right side calipers up front. Most of the tie rods and ball joints were dangerously shot.

 

[spidereyes455]

Yup. and it seems to work well too. I prefer to do it that way. As long as the manifold is relatively straight you'll never know there's no gaskets. No gasket means no gasket to blow. On headers, I normally use the steel waffle style gaskets that are intended for manifolds. They rarely blow unlike paper header gaskets that seem to always fail.

I've been useing manifold gaskets on headers for years and always recommend them to everyone , I've never had one blow out and there usually a hell of a lot cheaper than header gaskets to boot.

 

[MrLightning]

I've been useing manifold gaskets on headers for years and always recommend them to everyone , I've never had one blow out and there usually a hell of a lot cheaper than header gaskets to boot.[/quote]

im running copper header gaskets on my 86 Cutlass..................love 'em!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Summit-Racing-1 ... 6b&vxp=mtr

 

[online170]

Did some work on my car, had to pull the PS exhaust manifold. There was no gasket. Yeah, that sounds legit.
I was shocked cause it didn't have a noticeable leak.
They also used about a whole tube of red RTV to seal the connection from the I-pipe to the cat.
Oil pressure sender was cracked, so they put a ton of silicone on it and wrapped it in tape....that was fun having the car drop about a quart of oil per minute, when that rig-job failed.

Anyone heard of people slapping on manifolds or headers without gaskets??
Just doesn't make any sense

Funny stuff.

Buick 455's didn't use exhaust gaskets, and when reassembling, a lot of guys machine both surfaces and install with no gaskets. Works well.

Sanderson Headers also don't use gaskets, only a thin coat of silicone.

I don't know any examples other than the 2.

 

[onyxxtreme]

seems i learn something new every time i work on it or go on here, concerning this 231
i never knew about the external-ish oil pump on the 231, till this past weekend
one of the older guys at the car-care/self-help shop, knows his sh*t, even he never heard of that. He thought I was bullshitting

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

Many engines did not use an exhaust manifold gasket from the factory

+1 Chevy has not used gaskets on exhaust manifolds for a long time, at least on engines with cast iron heads, I think the aluminum headed engines do use gaskets.

i had no idea. I seriously had to google that to see
This is my first iron-headed GM motor that didn't have gaskets, that I've found.
I figured with the build quality GM was putting out back in the Gbody era, there is no way they would attempt to machine the manifold surfaces enough to run them without gaskets
learned something new today

80s SBCs were built much better than the 70s SBCs, 90s SBCs are even better made blocks.