My 1924 Touring/Pickup has developed an exhaust leak. I have one of the reproduction exhaust manifolds and a new set of OEM style gland rings and copper seal rings. I did a trial fit of the gland rings in the exhaust manifold and they are so tight that they would have to be pounded into their sockets.
Is there any harm in trimming the ends of the gland rings slightly so that they are a slip fit? It seems to me that the gland rings are mainly for location of the manifolds, the sealing is done by the copper rings.
Thanks.
Nope - like you said, they're mainly for locating the copper rings as well as locating the manifolds. Won't hurt a thing to make 'em fit.
It is a lot nicer if you don't trim too much - if they just fall out then mounting the manifold can be a lot more of a pain in the neck. If you get them to just press in by hand you should be good.
Trimming is warranted on some of the repros but only trim what it takes to compress the steel to get the copper ring on.
I clamped each ring in the soft jaws of my vice and took a light cut on the split with an abrasive wheel on my Dremel tool. The rings are a nice slip fit now, but still tight enough to stay in place.
Some of the copper rings are a loose fit around the gland rings, I'll probably use a few dabs of high temp RTV to hold them in place when I position the manifolds.
Thanks all!
Mark, you may want to check to make sure they are not cut too long. I had that experience when changing mine and found their depth didn't allow proper sealing.
Good Luck!
Thanks for the tip, Floyd, will do!
What I'll do is trial-install the manifolds without the copper rings, then check each gap to make sure that the resulting gap is thin enough to significantly compress the copper rings.
I cheat occasionally and reuse the copper rings once by coating them with RTV for the second installation. Most recently right before the Texas T Party tour last month when I realized I had no copper rings in my tool box.
Fellows, High temp RTV. How high a temperature does it handle? Or are you using it purely as an adhesive during assembly?
I use a product called Maniseal for this purpose. It is a silica based paste like toothpaste, which is used to seal exhaust systems and make seal repairs to damaged mufflers etc. It makes good seals possible around damaged/eroded ports on T blocks.
Allan from down under.
You don't need high temp RTV. Regular Permatex RTV (any color) or even basin tub and tile RTV work fine. Or you can use old fashioned gasket paste like Permatex #1 or #2.
This isn't a rocket motor.
Just FYI these babies are MONEY: http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/4829
And by money I mean they are worth every penny. I've had my manifolds off and on multiple times with these and they seal perfectly every time. The most I do is a light wire brush to make sure surfaces are clean before re-install. I know I know, not for the purist but they're nice and sturdy and not as fussy as the crush rings can be.
Seth, you beat me to it! I was gonna post the same thing! Yep, worth every damn penny and more! They really work good, don't they?! As for purist, who knows the difference until you (or they) pull the manifold anyway?! Like this little kid on the Hyundai commercial here says.. "they don't cost a lotta money...so buy 'em"!!! LOL
Here's the ordering info. to the down under source of the copper gland rings for less then the U.S. dealers are asking. This card came with the set I ordered off his Ebay auction. I bought 5 sets and the combined shipping was only slightly higher then the cost of shipping one set.
These rings beat the snot out of any of the other manifold gaskets currently being offered and are reuseable without fear of exhaust leaks.
Here's a link to his Ebay auction as well.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/370322172182?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Greg, if you're looking at the forum, I got my two sets of copper rings from you today, they are very beefy and they look great, thanks!
Mark Strange
Hello from Australia,
It's nice to look at this T forum and read happy and positive things, it can be a bit down at times.
Yes the postcard above is mine, showing my Brisbane built 1918 T.
I made these rings about 2005 after fitting several sets of the dealer supplied rings and flanges with no success. A new manifold was fitted with no improvement.
The large dealer in Ohio started importing my gaskets into the US 100 sets at a time for a couple of years but was not happy with the cost of shipping. Ask any Aussie about the cost of shipping T parts!
After some thousands were imported and sold the testing was complete and they are now made elsewhere. Good business.
But as "imitation is the greatest form of flattery" I am both happy and flattered, I still ship enough gaskets to the US to make life interesting.
Supplied from Ohio they have become more and more expensive, I guess this is the sign of a premium product, it comes at a premium price. Mine are the price they were in 2005.
Anyway thanks for the positive feedback, it is nice to have happy customers, even if your gaskets were not supplied by me it was my need that hatched the concept.
Now for some advice on fitting them.
I deliberately leave an open gap in the rings to allow for misalignment when they are fitted. Also don't forget these are solid copper, and to allow them to anneal after running the engine to operating temperature.
I suggest some anti-seize on the studs to prevent damage to the thread, and re-tension the gaskets after maybe 3 trips, at least until they stop moving, that's it enjoy your T. I have never used any sealant with them.
Another point,
This came from the man in his office in Ohio during one of my visits. There can be some variation in new manifolds as well as old blocks and manifolds which can mean some mods are required.
For example, if the block or manifold has been surface ground the depth of the "hole" could be less therefore rings will be too long. You may need to remove some material from the end of the gaskets to be sure the ring crushes as it was designed to do. Easy enough to do.
The other thing I have seen is new manifolds can have the gasket hole undersize, again easy fixed by removing material from the outside diameter of the gasket.
That's all for now and thanks for your attention.
Cheers
Greg www ftrs.com.au
Could those new fancy rings be a modern VW part? I don't believe they are specifically Model T.
Hello Ted, yes you are correct as they also fit 6 cylinder Essex with the log manifold on top of the engine.
Not sure about fancy new rings, they are pieces of 1 1/14 inch copper tube pressed to make a seal for an exhaust manifold.
Cheers
Greg