I am going to replace my upper & lower intake gaskets. What kind of gaskets are reccomended? Should I stick with ford or go with fel-pro? :confused:

Fel pro.

I'm glad you ask that, I've been meaning to put this up for a while now and just havn't gotten around to it.

Here we have two lower intake gaskets, the one of the left is the Fel-pro and the one on the right is the Ford.

Lower intake gaskets (http://www.4.0performance.com/ohv/gasket1.jpg)

As you can see here compared to the Ford gasket the Fel-pro isn't that great. Now mind you the fel-pro in this picture is used but still. It comes with cork end gaskets which leak, the Ford is a totally rubber-over-metal gasket which is far superior. Not to say that the Fel-pro gasket isn't good but the Ford factory gasket is better in this department. The pricing on both gaskets are anywhere from $30-$50 depending on where you get them from so that really isn't the big issue.

THere are a few gaskets that are about the same, such as the upper intake gasket. They are so close that it doesn't really matter which one on it.

Here are a few more shots of each of the gaskets, you can decide for yourself but for me the lower of choice is the Ford.

Later Doug904.

Fel-pro cork end gaskets (http://www.4.0performance.com/ohv/gasket2.jpg)

Ford rubber end gaskets (http://www.4.0performance.com/ohv/gasket3.jpg)

Like Doug said,, OEM is the way to go!!!!

I agree with doug on the lower, I've put 20k miles on the ford one including over 10psi of boost through it without a problem.

As for the upper, I've used both, didnt have problems with either. The felpro ones aren't sold seperately like the ford ones are, thats the only difference(maybe price don't rememeber)

--mike

Does anyone have any pics of the older gasket setup? Both those look just like my lower intake gasket but I believe the earlier gasket sets are different. Might be a good idea to show both for those with older 4.0L's.

I just put in a set of intake gaskets on mine, I think I stopped taking pictures before i put them in tho.

The older gaskets are 2 pieces. One for each head. Then you run a strip of silicone across the block, between the 2 gaskets.

*edit* Ok, I went through my pic's of my "rebuild". I dont have any pictures of the new gaskets going in, but I have a picture of the old gaskets before i pulled them off the block. Im sorry for the huge pic, Ive never had it resized. You can see how they sit on the heads. You hten run the silicone between them.

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/adamspics/gasket045.JPG

Thanx guys :E Does the lower intake gasket from ford come withe the valve cover gaskets as well? Is there a good place to find them cheaper online?

Try Here (http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=213671). The seem to have good prices but the shipping might make it the same coat as your local Ford part counter. If you oder a few things it might be worth it.

Hey doug I have the rubber and metal gasket, but I don't know if I have the right one. Do you happend to have the part number handy?

hey adam do you have to cut the gasket like that or is that something you felt like doing?

What do you mean? I took that pic, right after removing the lower intake. Thats the gasket that was on it when I bought the engine. When I put the new gasket in palce, it layed down exactly like that, in the picture. It just layed down, no cutting, or antyhing like that.

Originally posted by ricerunner
hey adam do you have to cut the gasket like that or is that something you felt like doing?

hmm maybe im looking at it wrong. To me it looks like there are 2 gaskets when in the other picture of just the gasket alone, it looked like one singe piece.


One Gasket:http://www.4.0performance.com/ohv/gasket1.jpg

Two seperate gasketshttp://www.rangerpowersports.com/adamspics/gasket045.JPG

Although I'm not certain when ford went to the one piece gasket. I am certain that the gaskets Adam is showing are factory ford and not some fabrication. Another way I know this is because I have a '90 Aerostar 4.0L with the same gasket setup.

Its 2 seperate gaskets, one for each head. The earlier 4.0's have this gasket set up.

oh okay. Thanks for letting me know, i was curious.

The lower gasket I removed from my 4.0 was one piece and looks just like the felpro gasket except it had ford printed on and it was blue. I would take a pic, but my camera is getting fixed.

Hey guys, I just changed the intake gaskets my on my '94 and went with the Fel-Pro gaskets ( I have always had very good luck with Fel-Pro). Now my lower gasket looks very similer to the Fel-Pro gasket shown in the opening post, however there was no cork on my gasket. My gasket didn't have any end gaskets at all, instead it came with a tube of high temp. silicone sealent to use on the ends (pretty much what most people do on a SBC engine. I would rather have this method, that way I know the sealent gets into the corners were the head and intake meet and theres less chance of it leaking).

Also: There was a post that ask if valve cover gasket's were included, and the answer is no (unless you buy a head gasket set, which includes all the top end gaskets), but you do have to have a pair. Fel-Pro offers these in cork and rubber, spend the extra money and get the rubber one's.

A note to anyone that has never replaced these gaskets, it can be a little frustating getting the intake off due to all the things in the way. I found it to be pretty easy if you start by removing the upper intake and then disconnect every electrical connection running over the intake, valve covers, or behind the alternator and air cond. compressor and then get that wiring harness out of the way by laying it to the side of the motor (if this doesn't make since now it will when you start removing parts!). Also loosen the mounting bolts on the air cond. compressor and slide it forward, and remove the alternator. After you do all the above it's pretty easy. This is just my 2 cents worth from my experiece.

Hope this helps.:beer:

If the lower gasket doesn't come with high temp silicone what kind should I pick up?

list so far

-upper intake gasket
-lower intake gasket
-fuel rail gasket
-valve cover gaskets

Am I missing anything?
Thanx
:)

If you buy the ford gasket then only put silicon on the 4 corners where the heads, intake and block all meet. I use #2 black silicon because I don't like the looks of blue or red all leaking and gobbing out of my engine. Looks like some redneck chevy owner had been ahold of it.

Later Doug904.