What are the best intake gaskets to use on merlin intake on a 502. Merlin intake was brass lined coolant ports. Thought i read on here that one brand didnt seal good on the merlin intakes, but cant find it.

I would not use the Felpro gasket # recommended by Merlin - the water passage openings are larger than the brass inlay on the intake so the aluminum gets exposed. This isn't a problem for freshwater boaters but I ended up with a waterlogged engine.

Last time I took the manifold to the shop and picked out a Mr Gasket that fit better. I did not look at the Merc gaskets.. If someone else doesn't chime in with a part number I will call the shop here and find out..

Rick

cool, i knew i read something on here about the brass not being covered by gasket but wasn't sure. I just dont want to have to order a bunch of gaskets, on cars i always use a little RTV to make them seal better on the coolant passage ways...is that a good idea on boats too.

The RTV won't hurt but make sure you lay your gasket over the manifold and make sure it fits correctly. If salt gets access to the aluminum your sealing surface will be changing for sure. And yes, I flushed my engine thoroughly after each use but salt eats through cast aluminum like a fork thru melted butter for lobster.

Cant find any info on Mr gasket making marine gaskets for the 502 BBC. Are they just reg auto intake gaskets, i know felpro has the marine line. Went to summitracing....do you have part numbers..

thanks

Mr. Gasket Ultra Seal with the red seal rings are my favorite and they have a fairly small water passage opening. I use RTV around the water ports and even 5200 believe it or not!

My least favorite of intake gaskets are the felpro... I've seen and also had a few squish into the intake ports and one time slipped out of place and filled an engine up with water.

Surface contact area on the Mr. G. is a lot bigger!

So the mr gasket ones are just ultra seal, there not labeled marine use or anything right.....5200 isnt that below whater line sealant

when you go th the mr gasket web sit the only gaskets they list for a 2000 502 is 4672G and so i looked in summitracing and its the ultra seal III will they work just as good. 2.00 x 1.75 thats the large rec. port size right

I wanna say I was using the 5828 but I'm not 100% sure. Mr. G doesn't designate a marine intake gasket that I know of but the nitrile fiber is very good. And yes, 5200, Dean Gellner taught me that trick!

I found one in the garage- Mr Gasket Ultraseal #5828, like the others mentioned it is an automotive part and has the most material around the water port.

Rick