Gaskets and reuse...

[RacerX]

Obviously some gaskets cannot be reused (head, exhaust,etc.). My question is:
If the timing cover, valve cover, oil pan, intake and plenum gaskets look good, is it ok to reuse on a rebuild?

[FordNut]

Intake and plenum are the only ones I would reuse. The rest of them will likely be damaged because a little dab of silicone is used at the places where they intersect with seams such as timing cover-head, timing cover-oil pan, oil pan-rear seal plate. The silicone usually causes the gaskets to be damaged during disassembly.

Exhaust gaskets can be reused.

[RacerX]

Thanks Brian! Another draining of the wallet! Better to be safe though.

[Joe Walsh]

Intake and plenum are the only ones I would reuse. The rest of them will likely be damaged because a little dab of silicone is used at the places where they intersect with seams such as timing cover-head, timing cover-oil pan, oil pan-rear seal plate. The silicone usually causes the gaskets to be damaged during disassembly.

Exhaust gaskets can be reused.

Yep....In fact the OEM 'layered' stainless steel exhaust manifold gaskets are much better than most header gaskets out there.

[Zack]

Ive never bought a timing gasket set or Cam cover set.....all re-useable.

[RacerX]

Ive never bought a timing gasket set or Cam cover set.....all re-useable.
It's so funny, I had a feeling that you would pipe in and say that! :D You have a small carbon footprint when it comes to reuse, but, it probably makes up for the track!

[FordNut]

I guess it's all a matter of how risk-averse a person is. Personally I think the cost of the new gaskets is well worth the reduced risk of having to pull it apart again IF it leaks. To me it's sort of like using a torque wrench on spark plugs: cheap insurance.

I have seen several timing cover, valve cover, and oil pan gaskets that were damaged during disassembly due to the silicone sticking to the bead of the gasket and ripping it apart during disassembly.

[Zack]

If you insist in buying new gaskets NAPA makes nice kits (from Felpro) at much better prices that the dealer.

[Paul T. Casey]

Personally I think the cost of the new gaskets is well worth the reduced risk of having to pull it apart again IF it leaks. To me it's sort of like using a torque wrench on spark plugs: cheap insurance.


I concur. Save for the exhaust, which seem pretty bullet proof, gaskets are cheap insurance for getting ish right the first time.

[RacerX]

Thank you guys! You too Zack! :D J/K! I'm pulling my engine and tearing her down over the course of this week. I'm curious to see what bearing(s) are bad, etc. I'll take a few pics for posterity sake. If it's minor and the pistons, wrist pins are ok, then I may just do minimum to get her fixed and get the 5.3 in the end like I wanted. We'll see...:beer: