vortec intake is leaking..

[sbcCuttY]

hello i have a 85 cutlass supreme with a sbc 350..its a 79 block and i have a vortec top end..i have gm vortec heads made for 86 and prior blocks..and a weiand vortec intake and a 650 edelbrock carb..
this would be the second time i have to change out the gasket for the intake/head.it leaks ..i do torque it down to the specified amount..and retorque after the car has been running for a while..i cant seem to find what im doing wrong..if anyone here could give me some tips on this issue i would appreciate it alot. thanks.

 

[pontiacgp]

I would think that there is a problem between the heads and intake if you have torqued the intake bolts properly. I have a Performer Air Gap and torqued my bolts to 12 lbs and have no issues. I used Felpro intake gaskets. For the front and back your not using the rubber gaskets that some kits provide are you? If so use silicone in those areas and put some on the ends of the intake gaskets where they meet the edge of the engine

 

[stomis]

Are the heads decked?

 

[sbcCuttY]

no nothing has been machined..is that bad? and i am using silicone in the front and rear...i also asked a summit racing tech. and he suggested i put silicone around the coolant ports ...eventhough the instructions say not too..would that be a good idea?

 

[olds307 and 403]

What is it leaking? Oil, antifreeze or vacuum? Put a bead of RTV on both sides of the gaskets around the water ports. Gaskasinch or similar can be used around the intake ports too. The bead of RTV is the way to go on both end rails.

 

[Phoenyx]

IMO the only place on an engine that should have silicone is for the front and back of the intake (and throw those rubber gaskets away).

But yes, we need to now where it's leaking from, and what's leaking.

Also, I could be wrong, but aren't there special gaskets for putting an aluminum intake on steel heads. Just a thought. Unless the intake may be warped a bit?

 

[sbcCuttY]

ok it is leaking coolant..its not pouring out violently but seeps out ..no im not using rubber in front or back just blue rtv silicone..heads and intake were bought brand new they shouldnt be warpped unless they came defective..

 

[olds307 and 403]

Make sure BOTH sides of the gaskets have RTV around the water ports.