Intake Manifold

[Mike Wattam <MikeWattam@domain.elided>]

Hi Joe

Everything you have done is dead right.

As the gaskets are pulled down by the bolts, the manifold should settle
down in the 'V', thus giving a good gas seal.

This is why the gaskets should be greased before fitting, to enable it all
to slide into place - well that is the theory anyway.  It seems wierd
putting grease on the gaskets, but this does actually cause the gaskets to
seal.  Never use a setting compound, it took me about a day once to remove
a manifold that had been fitted with Loctite liquid gasket. 

Head gaskets should be treated the same, with grease for similar reasons.

There are many other sources of air leaks in the induction system.  The
least obvious but most common is the joint between the carburettor adaptor
and the manifold itself.  The centre stud tends to pull the aluminium
thread upwards out of the manifold so it bears on the hole in the upper
casting which then does not seat properly on the manifold - the tighter you
get it, the worse the foul.

Hope this helps

IMHO - Mike Wattam
Chairman - Triumph Stag Register