Maybe I`ve just been lucky, but I have been using the much maligned Fel Pro Printo seal intake gaskets on my Fairmonts 428 for quite a few years now, and I have not had the troubles that many other here have had. Now, these are sold as a "race" gasket, which for me is fine, as they are used on my "race" car. I don`t do anything out of the ordinary during installation, just a light smear of RTV around the water passages of the heads, and a few small dabs between the intake ports just to hold the gaskets in place. RTV instead of the cork end gaskets, bolt it down and run it. I normally like to let the RTV cure over night before I put any fluids in the engine, but in a pinch, I have started the engine within 2 hours of installing the intake manifold. It should be noted, that I have both my intakes (Sidewinder and Victor) surfaced to ensure parallel surfaces where the intake meets the heads. The dreaded "Printo leaks" may not be the best choice for a street car that would see the manifold stay on for many years at a time, but I ain`t got no complaints with these gaskets, and I know I`m not the only guy using them on a FE.
428 powered Fairmont drag car, Best ET:10.03@132.11MPH, best 60 ft: 1.29
59 Meteor 2 dr. sedan 332, Ford O Matic
74 F350 ramp truck 390 4speed
