Which exhaust manifold gaskets are best?

[sadil340]

Need your opinion on which manifold gaskets are best - and by best I mean work well and look like the originals. Thanks for any input!

[Chryco Psycho]

the factory never used a gasket between the manifold & thehead , I just use a thin film of high heat silicone

[burdar]

 

Put a straight edge accross the manifold flanges.  If there is any warping(or pitting), have the manifolds resurfaced.  You shouldn't need a gasket but a thin layer of silicone would be a good insurance policy.

If you want to use gaskets, I would trim them to closely match the profile of the manifold to hide them as much as possible.

[sadil340]

That answers the question as to why I couldn't find a gasket set that looked factory - because there were none!

Thanks for the answers, have a great week (you in your new digs yet Neil?)

[Chryco Psycho]

YEAH WE ARE HERE TRYing to get things set up !!
 the 71-0-71 340 had a left side gasket to protect the spark plug wires from burning , it is reproduced & you can get it from Dave @ Roseville butyou better be sitting down as it is around $300 for a piece of tin