V8 Composite Valley Gaskets

[adam quantrill]

Any experiences with these?

Presumably you just fit them - no extra sealant needed?

I found a nasty story about one breaking up with suspected oil compatibility issues. The bits caused the oil pump strainer to clog and the cam to wear prematurely. If you run one, which engine oil do you use?

[Wedg1e]

Any old glug never had any problems (in 12 years)...

[The Hatter]

Loads of sealant around the rubber seals at each end, then I put a smidge of sealant around the water passages at each end of the heads - I don't want coolant in the inlet tracts...

They're thicker than tin too; that wasn't a problem on my 350 but it was on the 420; the bolts wouldn't go in on the 420 so I had to go back to tin.

[Hamish400]

Some of the rubber seals I have had have been quite square at the end - ie giving a bit of a "step" in the joint. I ground the ends to a taper then used "hylomar" to make a good seal.
Rgds
Hamish

[wooly350i]

The Hatter said:

Loads of sealant around the rubber seals at each end, then I put a smidge of sealant around the water passages at each end of the heads - I don't want coolant in the inlet tracts...

They're thicker than tin too; that wasn't a problem on my 350 but it was on the 420; the bolts wouldn't go in on the 420 so I had to go back to tin.

Ditto.

[adam quantrill]

Thanks it's on and that's pretty much what I did so fingers crossed for no leaks....