to gasket or not to gasket... ?
 

THAT IS MY QUESTION !!!

Removed my cracked EXHAUST MANIFOLD...
There were no gaskets on ether side (block or pipe).
This is an original factory installed manifold on
a 1987 Econoline E-150, 302 engine

New MANIFOLD did not come with any gaskets but you
can purchase an exhaust manifold gasket kit
(which I did thinking I would need it)

At this point I don't think I need any gaskets.
I'm tempted to put it back together as I
found it (metal on metal).

Anybody out there do an exhaust manifold?
Maybe you can shed some light on this for me.

THANKS!!

RE: to gasket or not to gasket... ?
 

One may wonder if thou manifold crack occurred due to noest gasket. The slings & arrows of saving the cost!;)

RE: to gasket or not to gasket... ?
 

I would use the gaskets.Always have.

RE: to gasket or not to gasket... ?
 

Just as an update here is what I have found out:

I spoke with my local FORD parts department. There is NO gasket used on an '87 Econoline. It is intended to be metal-to-metal. He did say there is nothing wrong with buying an aftermarket gasket set at Napa/Autozone/or wherever but they were not built that way... and hence do not need to be rebuilt that way.

NO the cracking hath nothing to doest with thine "missing" gasket ;-)

I'm not sure if ALL Econolines are metal-to-metal or only certain ones.
But I am certain mine does not have any (as designed by FORD).

Hopefully not a COMEDY OF ERRORS !!

Alas poor Manifold I knew you well...

[IMG]local://upfiles/6822/232B0CC943D84B5391D9BA5F95561C84.jpg[/IMG]

RE: to gasket or not to gasket... ?
 

All's well that exhausts well!:D