Exhaust Manifold gaskets

[tdeming]

This seems like a newbie question, but I can't find a picture or description for how they are installed. Can someone tell me which way the exhaust manifold gaskets are installed? Does the metal side face the exhaust manifold or the heads?

Thanks,
Terry

[tommyduncan]

I can't remember which way they go.
People think I'm crazy but I don't use them. Smear some clear silicone on them and bolt them down. Buick didn't use exhaust gaskets in the 50s and neither did the high end race shop I used to work at. Some old timers will tell you that exhaust gaskets cause cracks.

[gmc1963]

red rtv silicone and no gasket

[66birdman]

If I can remember right the ones I bought have are aluminium stuff. Perforated on one side and solid on the other. Put the perforated side towards the manifold.

[Quigley]

Surface the manifolds and do not use a gasket.

[FetchMeAPepsi]

Cool pup Quigley :thumbsup:

The gaskets go metal side facing manifolds. But this isn't the first time I've heard of people that don't use gaskets. Lots of racing shops use that red RTV that gmc1963 and Tommy said. Permatex makes a Copper RTV Silicone (http://www.amazon.com/Permatex-81878-Maximum-Temperature-Silicone/dp/B0002UEOPA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393858784&sr=8-1&keywords=copper+rtv) now that they recommend for manifolds now.

Its 6 bucks a tube at Amazon :goodluck: