"Real Gaskets Tennessee" (RGT) oil pan gasket


http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/Topic165810.aspx
Print Topic | Close Window

By Ted - 10 Months Ago
Because the previous conversation regarding this oil pan gasket was started in the middle of another thread or posts, I am making a new thread specific to this gasket.  This thread is a continuation of that older thread.  Here’s the link to that previous thread.
PARTS - Oil pan gasket and throw out brg (y-blocksforever.com)

FORD DEARBORN (Jeff) sent to me one of the new silicone oil pan gaskets made specifically for the Ford Y.  This gasket is being manufactured by Real Gaskets Tennessee (RGT) and is new to the market.  I initially trial fitted it to a Y block oil pan and it was a perfect match to the holes.  The gasket also has plenty of material around the rear seal retainer area which is a plus as that tends to be a problem area when it comes to oil leakage.

Next was to actually install the new RGT gasket on an engine.  The engine selected for this is the 312 dyno mule which had been recently loaned out and was in a ’32 Ford making a couple of trips across the country.  Those trips put over 12,000 miles on the engine and prior to that, it had over 1050 dyno pulls on it.  The next issue of the Y-Block Magazine (#173) will have an article about that particular road trip with the dyno mule.  Upon receiving the engine back, it had some road grime on it but absolutely no oil leaks from the oil pan gasket or rear main seal area.  The oil pan gasket on the engine for those cross-country trips was the Best Gasket brand (black) with a rubberized compound combined with the fibrous material.  For the ’32 Ford, the oil pan had been switched from a factory baffled front sump oil pan to the HD Truck 7qt oil pan which was also factory baffled.  The Best Gasket oil pan gasket had been previously installed with white lithium grease on both sides for sealing purposes which facilitated its removal for this new test.  For the RGT oil pan gasket test, the HD pan would be retained.

With the dyno mule on an engine stand and upside down, the new gasket is laid in place on the pan rail of the block.  The rear main seal retainer does have the factory studs in it and that eliminates another potential oil leak that can occur on the Ford Y.  If the studs are missing and replaced with bolts similar to the remainder of the bolts being used to attach the oil pan to the engine, then oil can seep past those threads in the oil seal retainer and make it appear that the rear main seal is the source of the leak.  The new RGT oil pan gasket is a perfect fit on the block and the oil pan is subsequently laid on top of the gasket.

This is where the instructions supplied with the gasket comes into play.  And the instructions are very good and specific.  Absolutely no sealer of any kind is to be used and the bolt torque should be limited to 20-25 in-lbs.  While I had four different in-lb torque wrenches on hand, I had only one that would go down low enough to match the required torque value.  With the oil pan properly tightened, the inlet oil tube gland nut and oil pan tube retaining nut were appropriately tightened.  At this point the engine is mounted to a dyno cart with seven quarts of oil and a new filter being installed.

As soon as the schedule permits it, the engine will be mounted to the dyno and run.  With some header and intake manifold testing that needs to be performed, this will be a good opportunity to also test the RGT oil pan gasket and check for any potential oil leaks from that area.  I expect to have a dyno opening mid-February for the dyno mule so more word on that when it occurs.
By Ted - 10 Months Ago
Here are some pics to go along with the previous text.
http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/uploads/images/922ba424-500b-4ac1-9159-d3b9.jpg 

http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/uploads/images/ad80c0ca-c61b-4c0e-994f-e73e.jpg 

http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/uploads/images/b5b6cb5d-49dc-4201-adec-61e0.jpg 

http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/uploads/images/b52daf76-8cd0-416e-8561-0aed.jpg 
By Lord Gaga - 10 Months Ago
It looks like you have a silent timing chain on the Mule, why not a roller chain? 
And also what type of dipstick tube is that if you don't mind me asking.
And thanks for that informative post
By FORD DEARBORN - 10 Months Ago
Thank you Ted..............hopefully the prototype gasket from RGT will perform as good as it looks and will share this information with RGT.
By 2721955meteor - 10 Months Ago
the gaskets I have(2 left) are just as good,probly  better, my kit has a plate that helps the pan at the rear  near the rear crank seal, the plate after the 5/16 flat washers touches the raised pan rails.my truck has 5years since asembled  and used a lot in good weather. the gaskets wher made by vancouver gasket  cut   the plates watter jets. cut and fit perfect. no leaks. I had a total of 6sets made, all but 1 wher sold. I keep the last 1. for my use.  the fact this kit  was designed by a engineer,for plate sizes to match the reader on watter cutter, along with a excellent gasket, by vancouver gasket co..I had no complaints with all that I sold. no longer make the kit,more work than worth the effort 
but we in canada west no longer leave our mark  of the drip of oil to match a older Harley.
By Ted - 10 Months Ago
Lord Gaga (1/29/2024)
It looks like you have a silent timing chain on the Mule, why not a roller chain? 
And also what type of dipstick tube is that if you don't mind me asking.
And thanks for that informative post

The 312 dyno mule originally came into the shop as a core engine that was provided as an exchange for a replacement engine built for Bob Martin’s ’56 Mercury.  Upon deciding to use it as a dyno mule for general testing purposes, it was simply rebuilt using the original used but serviceable 0.060” oversize cast pistons and the Crower Monarch camshaft that was in it.  A new timing chain set replaced the original and it was simply a stock replacement.  When that engine was built, I did not have an inventory of roller timing chain sets so a stock replacement type of chain was used.  Keep in mind that this engine has been doing testing duty since 2008.

The dipstick for the oil level is a Canton P/N 20-850 universal dipstick.  The hole in the block for the dipstick is tapped to ¼” NPT and by using the appropriate brass fittings, the universal dipstick screws right in place.  Those universal dipsticks work appropriately for both the rear and front sump oil pans.
By Lord Gaga - 10 Months Ago
Thanks for the info. I had a feeling that a stock timing set would be better than a roller chain when I built my 312. Being a motorcycle rider I know how much even the best roller chains stretch and require constant adjustment. I was able to degree my cam with an offset woodruff key. I feel that I made the right decision.
By KULTULZ - 9 Months Ago
2721955meteor

"... the gaskets I have(2 left) are just as good,probly  better, my kit has a plate that helps the pan at the rear  near the rear crank seal, the plate after the 5/16 flat washers touches the raised pan rails.my truck"

Is it possible to view a photo/description of your kit?
By Ted - 9 Months Ago
KULTULZ (2/11/2024)
2721955meteor
"... the gaskets I have (2 left) are just as good, probably better, my kit has a plate that helps the pan at the rear near the rear crank seal, the plate after the 5/16 flat washers touches the raised pan rails.my truck"

Is it possible to view a photo/description of your kit?

Here’s the link to an older post which includes some pictures.
http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/FindPost157556.aspx


By KULTULZ - 9 Months Ago
THANX! Cool
By Ted - 5 Months Ago
Looks like we have a winner.  The new ‘Real Gaskets Tennessee’ oil pan gasket as installed on the 312 dyno mule has been run repeatedly on the dyno while testing some new Y-Block headers and the Mummert single plane intake manifold.  Zero leaks from the oil pan gasket.  It was installed with no sealer and torqued as per the instructions. Here are a couple of pictures of the installed gasket after a couple of dozen dyno pulls.
http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/uploads/images/dbfcf228-3769-4e17-a188-f7ca.jpg  

http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/uploads/images/aaab5c7b-17e4-4ed0-9a66-d60c.jpg  
By FORD DEARBORN - 5 Months Ago
This is good news, thankyou Ted for all the time and effort you put into this evaluation. I'll contact the folks at RGT with this information and find out where they may want to go from here. I for sure want one of these silicone gaskets to put on my problematic oil pan. I will post information as soon as I can....
By 58F600 - 5 Months Ago
These style gaskets are great. I've used a similar design on trans oil pans and many other engines. I've found they are reusuable as well. 

Does the RGT have a steel core or limiting spacers around the bolt holes?

Thanks for the update!
By FORD DEARBORN - 5 Months Ago
Ted's 2nd picture in this thread shows the gasket. There is not a steel core or spacers. That's more than likely why the manufacturer publishes a specific torque. If you go to their (Real Gasket Tennessee) web site they have for quite some time offered a silicone gasket for the FE engine which is very similar in appearance and design as the Ford Y-block oil pan.  My personal experience with this type gasket was during my aviation days. RGT offers silicone gaskets for rocker covers that performed excellent, no leaks, the bolts held torque and we reused them over and over. These aviation rocker cover gaskets didn't have a steel core or limiting spacers either. My oil pan has been abused and over torqued through the decades a million times so it should be a good candidate, I believe, for such a gasket.
By Daniel Jessup - 5 Months Ago
How long do you think it will be before this enters production? I would like to buy a few for my builds.
By FORD DEARBORN - 5 Months Ago
I'll pass on all information as soon as it becomes available. 
By 55blacktie - 5 Months Ago
You might as well suggest that they make Y-block valve-cover gaskets as well. 
By FORD DEARBORN - 5 Months Ago
Yes, rocker cover gaskets and/or valley cover gaskets could come from the center section of the oil pan gasket? I have no idea of how their manufacturing process is done but this would be worth mentioning.
By FORD DEARBORN - 4 Months Ago
Communicated with the folks at Real Gasket Tennessee today. They informed me the pan gasket should be  on their web site by the end of next week and ready for sale by the end of the month. They are willing to produce other gaskets such as rocker cover gaskets and silicone gaskets for other possible applications on our Y-block engines. 
By Daniel Jessup - 4 Months Ago
I got on their website and registered - looking forward to making this order as soon as they are available.

Thank you for your work in all of this!
By FORD DEARBORN - 4 Months Ago
Let us know how it goes - 
By FORD DEARBORN - 4 Months Ago
I will send RGT a rocker cover gasket to be used as a pattern. I also want to mention that Ted did evaluate the silicone gasket and gave it a thumbs up. This helped provide confidence to move forward with this project. 
By Daniel Jessup - 4 Months Ago
Does RTG have an email address? I have been on their website to order and cannot find the listing, but could also not find an email address for their company.

I will try calling them tomorrow as well.
By FORD DEARBORN - 4 Months Ago
parts-sales@realgaskets.com     has worked for me. I'll try contacting them too and thanks for the information....
By FORD DEARBORN - 4 Months Ago
The very first email address in my last post is correct. I don't know why a variation of the address appears after that. I tried to edit it out 4 times unsuccessfully.?  Let us know weather or not this works for you. I too would like to purchase a coupole of them. 
By Daniel Jessup - 4 Months Ago
No problem at all - thank you

By 58F600 - Last Month
Anyone get one yet?

There is no add to cart option on the website. I called and left a message, but they are located right where Helene just hit, and the phone line sounded like it. Hopefully they weren't effected.

By 58F600 - Last Month
Got ahold of someone. They made it through the storm. They didn't know about the website but you can order through eBay in the mean time.
By 55blacktie - Last Month
I found them on eBay last night. The gasket cost $45 plus $11+ for shipping. 
By lazylnm - 2 Weeks Ago
Ted - When you did the install, did you do anything at the joints between the block and the rear seal retainer or the timing cover?  A smear of RTV?
Thanks for all your effort
Mike Anderson
'55 Glasstop
By Ted - 2 Weeks Ago
lazylnm (11/4/2024)
Ted - When you did the install, did you do anything at the joints between the block and the rear seal retainer or the timing cover?  A smear of RTV?

Where I would normally use white grease and/or a light smear of RTV on an oil pan gasket, no sealers were used with the RGT oil pan gasket installation.  It was installed dry and as per their instructions. The sealing rail on the oil pan was scrutinized prior to installation to ensure it was truly straight and not going to be a problem in that area.  I consider the torque values for the oil pan bolts to be critical with this particular gasket as over tightening could potentially bring oil seepage back to the forefront.  I feel confident that I could remove this RGT oil pan gasket and reuse it due to not using any sealer in the original installation.