Sealant

["KARL MAXON" <KLMAXON@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Alfisti, the Edelbrock Gasgacinch I noted in my last posting is not a
silicone sealant, in case anyone was wondering.  It looks like contact
cement;  very thin, yellow, and is applied with a brush applicator in the
can.  Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo recommended it - I suppose they found it
works fine on the Ferrari's Lotus and Alfa's that come through there for
repair, also a local shop - Small World - recommended it to me - had cans
for sale next to their very expensive German car goodies.  Most
shops/outlets I called when looking for it recommended it as well.  It paid
to call to price compare though, as prices ranged a bit based on whether
the outlet I was calling had their own generic brand of "Gasgacinch" on
hand.  

Also, when performing recent work on the head area of the 164, I did not
use any sealants at all on the valve cover gaskets or intake tubes.  The
official Alfa gasket has a blue "silicone-like" bead impregnated into one
side of the gasket to seal the surface.  Same for my Spider.  This on
recommendation of Ron Tonkin also - apparently the gasket is designed to
work without sealants.  Note that I have not had one seep/leak/wetness at
all from any of these gaskets.  I just installed and torqued to specs.

Perhaps for ease of installation, I might use Gasgacinch on the intake
tubes next time, on one side only to keep them on place on the intake tube
- - as I would hate to see the effects of trying to remove/clean the gasket
material right on top of the intake ports!!! Better to be able to peel them
off the tubes away from the car - note there was no sealants at all when
disassembling the car.

Karl Maxon
'72 Spider
'91 164L

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