Fitting twin 45's to my 2.0L zetec. I have the manifold etc. But need an inlet manifold gasket. I can't remember what was on the big plastic injection manifold that was on the engine when I got it. What have other people used ? Seem to recall that other zetec cars use cast aluminium inlet manifolds so maybe a gasket for one of these would fit ?

You could use one from an ali. manifold car, sure. The plastic manifold 2.0 I have in my garage from when I blew the engine in my Mondeo road car had *nothing* on it. It had this green ring of rubbery goo around the runners which I assume was to seal it to the head (which, incidentally, is nice 'n' big 'n' flat, so you could get away with gasket goop if you *really* needed. No excuse to mind.

I'd still beat you with a big fish if I found out you did though

Thought I hadn't seen a gasket on the big black manifold. Just need to find out which cars had the Aluminium manifolds now ? Escort Fiesta zetec cars spring to mind ?

don't worry I don't intend to use the goo in a tube gasket option

Yep, all pre '97 Escorts/Fiestas with the Zetec-E engine had an ali. manifold

cool , I'll call the motorfactor in the morning, sure Moprod have something in the catalogue. Failing this Ford will have... at a cost.

Gak!

I will goose step my way to my local trade outlet, buy you a gasket, and hand fashion a stamp and envelope to post it to you rarther than you go to Frauds!

The exhaust gasket was less than a quid anyway, so it can't be that bad.

Will only go to Frauds if my friendly motorfactor absolutely cannot get me one, this is very unlikely

Incidently does the gasket go on dry or does it need a smear of silicone or similar ?

If you want I will send you a gasket, I have got a spare one in the garage. Green gasket material stuff.

Dry. It's one of those squashy metal honeycomb jobs.

thanks for the offer Stu, I got one the other day from the motorfactors, which brings me to my next few questions:

Asked for an inlet manifold gasket for an Escort 1.8 zetec on a 1997 plate

1. I paid £7.30 for the gasket below, another motorfactor quoted me £27 surely this can't be for the same item.

2. The gasket I bought was a FAI one, however I got two in the packet ? One definately looks like the one I want the other one ? Presume they are for alloy manifold and plastic one - see pic.

3. Doesn't look like a squashy metal honeycomb material, more like thick paper with a line of some sort of sealant around each inlet opening. Is this right ?

thanks
Rescued attachment gasket.JPG

The big thick ali jobber is usually found on plastic manifold cars. Gasket material is about as diverse as bog roll, and every manufacturer has a take on what they should be made of.

At least FAI means they're pretty decent quality.

FWIW, I've just pulled a plastic manifold off a spare engine, and found another ali. gasket and NO sign of a paper one.