Intake gaskets??

[carvinmark]

I want to change the intake on the 88 5.0, E7 heads (not ported). I am running a carb and aluminum intake allready but want to change it around a bit. Is there something different about the gaskets from earlier 302's other then the plenum gasket? I mean like ports and water passages, are they the same or close enough to seal? I think I used a gasket kit for the 88 5.0 when I put it together. Can't sleep so I was shopping ebay for gaskets and wondering what the diff is. Thanks

[Dave]

Based on my limited experience, don't know of a difference. I'm using the recommended head and intake gaskets that AFR suggested to use. FelPro 1011-2 for heads and 1250 for intake. Think those are used for both the stock heads and aftermarket, either carb intake or the Explorer one.
Dave

[cgrey8]

I believe that's the same head gasket I'm going with. The selling point on that gasket for me was the crush thickness of .039". Most all other head gaskets were thicker than that. I didn't know AFR also recommended it.

I do have 1 dumb question though. All the intake gasket sets come with an O-ring. What does that O-ring go on? It looks like it'd be about the right size for the distributor. But I find it odd that they'd package a distributor O-ring with intake gaskets. Or is it one of those deals they know you have to remove the distributor to get the intake off? So they give you that O-ring too?

[plowboy34]

There is no difference on intake gaskets for any 289/302 ,Ford never changed anything, On the boy's truck we run a 1966 Shelby Cobra intake on a set of GT40P heads. If it's an intake for a 289/302 it will work as long as nothing has been milled.

Chris, yes that "O" ring is for the distributor, they supply it just cause you have to remove distributor. Out of the thousands of intakes I have done I have probably used 10 of them.

[Dave]

Glad Chris asked about the "O" ring. I found one on the floor under the shelf where the opened intake manifold gaskets where. Been getting all the new parts in a central location and really was wondering where it came from.
Dave

[cgrey8]

When I was looking around for different gaskets, I did notice that there does seem to be a difference in intake gaskets between Boss and non-Boss Windsors. I've noticed this about more than just intake gaskets. There's been a number of times where I would look something up on AutoZone and the comment for the part would indicate specifically not for Boss engines OR specifically for Boss engines.

What's really odd is when I'm searching for parts (like the intake gasket) for a 97 Explorer 5.0L, I get both Boss and non-Boss parts listed as though some Explorers came with a Boss and others with non-Boss. I'd be highly surprised if there was 1 Explorer out there with a Boss engine.

[Dave]

Ignore any comment about the Boss motor, been about 40 years since they have been made. Sounds like AutoZone not quite up to date. I just go to Summit or Jegs but think for these last gaskets, just the local NAPA store since I had the right part numbers.
Dave

[cgrey8]

I use AutoZone for as much generic stuff as I can just because they are local and they have a Rewards card. When doing a build like this that takes a good $150 in peripheral parts like gaskets, I strategically buy the parts to get me more purchases on the Rewards card that qualify. I've already gotten $20 back off the card. I'm hoping to have another $20 coming my way in another purchase or two. And there's probably another $50 in parts still left to get (water pump, antifreeze, cheap oil (for breaking in), fresh threadlocker, etc).

[carvinmark]

Thanks guys, sounds like we all picked up something here, especially Dave (O-ring on the floor) LOL.