Timspony

Hi-temp RTV ftw! ...cork = junk!

sschanz

Honestly, I didn't know that you could skip a gasket altogether and just use RTV. Is there anywhere that RTV alone wouldn't be a good idea? Wish this stuff came by the gallon! Any particular recommendation from the group on which RTV to get? I have the blue stuff - will that work?

86HOGT

I use good gaskets and the Right Right Stuff. The Fel Pro ones I believe have lips on them so they straddle the block slide and won't slide.

Portmaster

I like Permatex Ultra Black, Ultra Gray and Ultra High tep red. The only place I use RTV to replace a gasket all together is on the end of intakes, rear dif covers and places where it was OEM used. I use it at the corners of the oil pan gaskets. I don't use it to replace an oil pan gasket, timing cover gasket or even a water pump gasket. I may use a very very light coat on a water pump gasket. There is nothing worse looking than an engine with RTV pouring out around the oil pan, valve covers, timing cover, etc. Not only that but if it's pouring out on the outside it looks just like that on the inside and when it breaks off on the inside from all the hot oil and cold cycles it winds up in the oil pan and will stop up the oil pick-up. It's great stuff but don't try to replace a quality gasket with it. Cork gaskets have no place on the ends of intakes. Before RTV small blocks fords were plaqued with oil leaking at the ends of the intake. It was a rare thing to see a 289/302 or 351W that didn't have a puddle of oil on top of the timing cover.

sschanz

That was a good take on it. Thanks for that. I like your comment on RTV breaking off in the inside as well. Great point.