Is it safe to make your own gaskets?
 

I forgot to order my ACV gasket, and I really want to get this car put back together. So I was thinking of just cutting my own gasket. The ACV is kind of a tricky one to cut, but I'm preaty handy with an exacto. Has anyone done this? Did it work out o.k.? Is there any type of gasket material that is better than others?

I really need some rotary music. It's been almost two weeks.

:p:

Yeah i've used cardboard of a cereal box for a water pump gasket and it's been working for about a year now. My friend made his own for an ACV on his 3rd gen. Try some auto motive stores and see if they have gasket material. if not then go for some cereal boxes. Most gaskets are paper anyway.

I was planning on coloring the face of the ACV with something that stays wet, then placing the gasket material on it to transfer the image to the gasket. Then cut it out.

Does anybody know of a good ink or dye that I could use to do the transfer from the ACV to the gasket? It would need to stay wet for at least 2-3 minutes, and then rub away.

Bingo Marker Dye? It comes in a pen shape and shouldn't be too messy.

What about silicon to make the gasket? I've done that before and it worked well for me.

I tried using some silicon gasket maker but the ACV has some really tight spots, and I don't want the silicon to squeeze into the areas I need open.

There are some gaskets you can rig temporarily, but if your like me, id rather just pay mazda 5 or 10 bucks get the real things and not have to worry about it leaking later on.

Yeah, I've used gasket material(and even used gaskets) to make templates before for my BAC, ACV, and SAP. They all worked fine. Just as long as your not trying to make a gasket for your manifolds or anything like that.

I ended up using tracing paper to lay over the ACV and tracing the surface. Then taped the tracing paper onto the rubber gasket material I bought. Cut it out. The finished gasket looks as good as new. I would never try making a manifold gasket, but the ACV is only tranfering air so some simple rubber gasket material should work just fine. I wanted to get the real gasket but I didn't want to wait for delivery (impatient). The good thing about the ACV is its location; if it does leak it's very easy for me to remove it and get the proper gasket. Hope this info helps out anyone thinking of making there own gaskets.

You guys never had a home made thermostat gasket blowing up in your face.... dont be cheap

I made my own thermostat gasket and water pump gasket. Really wanted the real thing but was in a hurry too.

why not on the manifolds?
i have a prob
this one is long so bare with...
I had my injectors cleaned and went to put it all back togethter. guess what intake manifold vac leak.... So i opened it back up, got all traces of the old gasket off and put a brand new one on. Made sure everything is clean and dry. Put it back together. Still a fucing leak there! can't fiugre the Shit out! I have tried using silcione there w/ the gasket nothing will fucking fix it! i know iits there becuz i used a vac hose and listened very loud. The car will start then die..... wtf plz help. u sound lke u know what u are talkin about...

make sure that all the material is off of the block too. just get everything clean with a scraper of some sort. then just put some RTV on your fingers and then put a small coat on. did you use the 3m roloc pads on a 90 degree grinder to clean it? if you did then that is likely your problem. those will leave divets. any ways tell us what you get. also take care in puting the water o rings in. make sure they don't fall out b 4 you put the manifold on.

CJG

ah.... divets what do u mean? i used a scraper with PGR gasket remover... but i did use a dremel for like 30 secs... and did make a little gash.. and water o rings? do u mean the injector o rings? little confuse bud thanks for the help. i just put a fresh coat of rtv below and above the gasket 2 days ago be starting it tommor w and throwing ups some pics, thanks for the help guys..

series 5 motors do not have the o-rings. only on previous models. a small mark on the surface should not effect sealing unless it comes in contact with one of the ports. do you have the new metal gasket or an old foam one?

i used a dremel with a wire brush tip. It worked great once I got all of the heavy material off. It just kinda shined it up a bit.

does anyone know why the metal gasket is in three pieces?

ah..... metal gasket? where can i get one? i have a foam type one. but i did scrape a tiny bit off w/ the dremel on a secondary port. i was going to start my car but guess what battery dead, dammit! i'll just try tommorrow. thxs for help..

my intake manifolds etc etc etc dont have any gaskets, haven't you ever heard of a tube of silicone type sealant?

There is a gasket paper called "garlock", it's good for temps up to 400 degrees and will seal 400 psi with a 1/4 width, its superior to the material most auto gaskets are made of, its about 20 bucks for a 3'x3' sheet from most industrial shops. Its got a green/white marble like look to it, and will seal anything, the best thing is that its generally reusable, it doens't tear and pull apart on removal...Max

Or just slather one side of a regular gasket with Hylomar... comes right off in one piece, goes right back on again too! I did this with the intake manifold on my 429 (what a STUPID way to bolt a manifold on BTW, 16 bolts all in different direction) when I took the manifold back off to look at the cam the gaskets stayed on the manifold because I used gasket sealer on the manifold side and Hylomar on the cyl. head side.

Why oh why didn't I put my 12A together like that? :confused: No, I have to use sealer on BOTH sides, and nobody local will sell me just an intake gasket, I'd have to buy an entire engine gasket kit...

at least you can find gaskets. I have to mail order mine which is why this thread was started in the first place. I would have had to pay more for shipping than the part that was being shipped. Damn gaskets. When will they learn to just laser cut everything and maybe we won't need gaskets anymore.

That's the point... I couldn't find a gasket. The gasket that I installed came with the rest of the gasket kit that I ordered from Mazdatrix. :) I figured it was only going on once... BAD MISTAKE. Nothing ever only goes on once...

I also only used RTV to seal the oil pan... day after I put the engine in i found out the oil pan was rusted through in two spots. :eek: That's where a wire brush, brake cleaner, and JB Weld come in to save the day... (still not leaking, but IS leaking oil from between the housings... not enough Hylomar!)

yea i tried that sveral times it still won't seal, i don;t fuckin understand? i don't get it at all...

OK! i started it and it still die but, there is no vacuum leak coming from the intake manifold now. I used the vac tube to check and i couldn't hear anything so its sealed. But it still won't run, maybe another leak, i check around and couldn't find anything so im going to run out and buy a vacuum gauge. What should my vacuum pressure be at? 88' GTU thxs guys... how do i use one? and where should i hook it up?