Exhaust manifolds: goop gaskets or dry?

[76zimmer]

I've done a few dozen SBC's with exhaust man...and always used the fiber/metal perforated type with NO problems...never tried it without a gasket in there.

 

[ryoken]

I've never seen ANY factory manifold without one.... my 77, 87 and 89 chevy rigs have all had original, untouched manifolds, all had gaskets.. throw in the dozens of Chevelles and Mopars I built in my younger days too..

 

[Stomis]

I've done a few dozen SBC's with exhaust man...and always used the fiber/metal perforated type with NO problems...never tried it without a gasket in there.

Its not to say the gaskets wont work but theres no need for them.

I have no idea when or what year they started or if they didnt use gaskets on the manifolds. All I know is Ive put together more small blocks and big blocks back to factory original for restorations in mid year corvettes than I can count and Ive never used a single gasket...

O and it says right in the NCRS factory restoration guide "Exhaust manifolds had no gaskets from the factory, big or small block"

I mean whats the chances that any vehicle you've ever owned were never serviced? Id think its a rare thing to own a vehicle thats never gotten an exhaust on it. Then again maybe its just a vette thing but the manifolds werent any different on other cars.

 

[4xcrazy]

Spit on 'em, slap 'em stick 'em on..

 

[dremu]

The Dorman manifolds came with gaskets, but also came with a paper saying in giant oversized bold all capitals:

FOR OPTIMUM SEALING, THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS NOT USING A HEAD-TO-MANIFOLD GASKET FOR THIS APPLICATION.

And since they're brand new, they passed the flat test just fine and didn't require the spreader.

-- A