My 67 LeSabre has a carter carb. When rebuilding it I noticed it had a stainless steel gasket. When I finally found a replacement, I was told that it goes on as is without a paper gasket. Anyone with experience on this? Steel on steel seems like it has potential to leak fuel.
Seems that was the way they were. I took my Carter off the 401 in my 65 Wildcat the other day and it only had the Stainless Steel plate with no other gasket. Someone else with more knowledge on the subject may be able to confirm this is corect.
The way I always did it was to use the gasket first, with the steel shim over that, and then the carb. The purpose of the steel shim is to keep the exhaust gasses from the crossover passage away from the carb. :Smarty: I don't know why, but I've never seen anything about this in the factory service manual.
The purpose of the steel plate is to protect the bottom of the carb from corrosion as stated above. When the carb and intake surfaces were new, sealing wasn't an issue. When they have some miles on them, it is another story. I have always put a gasket on the manifold, then the steel plate, then another carb gasket, then the carb. That guarantees no vacuum leak at the carb base. Greg
Thanks, I knew what the steel plate was for, but had never seen metal on metal like that. I'm gonna sandwich it with paper gaskets just to be sure.
Buick uses a steel gasket between the intake mainifold and the head. I have also seen engines that have no exhaust manifold gaskets, just metal to metal. 2 gaskets on the carb is the best way to go. Good luck!
If you will spread a thin film of wheel bearing grease on the gasket surfaces it will keep them from sticking to each other.
