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Just Looking
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2005
14:28:01
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 Subject: Do the aluminum belly pans work?
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Ok so i have the intake manifold off my truck again...
The seal lasted an astounding 6 months before going out again.
So do the aluminum belly pans from hughes engines make that much difference? or will i be tearing into it yearly still?
Is there an after market manifold i could install or modify to work. (machining a place for injectors)
Any advice in getting the seal to last long?
Thanks
2002 3.9 v6 4X4 dakota quad
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N56629
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2005
15:40:00
| RE: Do the aluminum belly pans work?
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"Any advice in getting the seal to last long?"
Yes, don't use a seal(gasket). Use "The Right Stuff." I've also used the most current factory gasket with no problems.
The aluminum pan is also a good choice, just not the cheapest.
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Just Looking
Dodge Dakota
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2/08/2005
22:47:20
| RE: Do the aluminum belly pans work?
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Thanks for the info n56629.It helped me look in a different direction.
I tryed to get an aluminum plate welded in and the problem was to much warpage would happen and not enough available material to mill off to have a good seal on the heads.
I tryed getting it o-ringed. It would need to be cnc machined at $100 an hour for what i was told was a 2 hour job.(i can afford a lot of seals for that)
As i talked with the machinest he told me of some sealant thats called "Loctite 518 Gasket Eliminator Flange Sealant". The stuff is ment to be bonded on metal and aluminum. Its an anaerobic, that means it drys with no air or using a primer.
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N56629
Dodge Dakota
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2/09/2005
06:59:55
| RE: Do the aluminum belly pans work?
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I agree with the machinist. Loctite makes a wide range of sealants and 518 sounds like a good option. I just don't know of anyone that has used it for this particular application.
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xmr
GenIII
2/09/2005
13:52:35
| RE: Do the aluminum belly pans work?
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When I ported and polished my manifold last year I installed the Hughes aluminum plate and the mopar manifold that came with it. I don't see how the gasket could blow with this setup and I have had no problems. My original gasket was in good shape when I pulled the manifold out and disasembled it and it had 148,000 miles on it at that point.
'98 cc auto /Home brew cold air with K&N,Dynomax, Superchip Tuner, 1.7 RR,, F&B tb. NAPA cap and rotor, 3923 plugs,tps mod,relocated & switchable iat, 180 t'stat, Crankshaft sensor mod.,PVI,Ported and Polished manifold, bosch injectors,Black Magic Elec Fan, msd wiires
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Just Looking
Dodge Dakota
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2/09/2005
19:04:54
| RE: Do the aluminum belly pans work?
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Ill be using the sealant with the primer and see how it goes...
My gasket comes off in like new condition but it was still leaking.
Oh well it gave me an excuse to grind on the manifold some more and add aluminum plating to reduce plenum area.
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warped
Dodge Dakota
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2/09/2005
23:42:06
| RE: Do the aluminum belly pans work?
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If the gasket is coming off in "like new condition", might want to straitedge the manifold and the belly pan for any warpage. Might be as simple as having the lower portion of the manifold or the belly pan resurfaced flat.
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DeepPurple
*GenIII*
2/10/2005
12:03:12
| RE: Do the aluminum belly pans work?
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I've had an aluminum belly pan on for 3yrs. an have no leaks. If leakage is a problem, get an aluminum pan. Use the new style Dodge gasket of Right Stuff and your problem here will be over for a long, long time.
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Just Looking
Dodge Dakota
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2/10/2005
16:03:15
| RE: Do the aluminum belly pans work?
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I checked for warpage on it and didnt see anything. I can tell where it leaks cause the rtv i put there wasnt sticking and had oil under it. The place it looses its seal is around the bolts.(they are torqued to 15 ftlbs with blue loctite)
My guess is its from the oil seaping under the head of the bolt and into that little area where the seal leaves space for the bolt.When the engine heats up i bet the oil starts to expand and goes anywhere it can. I may also seal the head of the bolt to the pan in hopes that was it.
Thanks for all the info none of what im doing is set in stone yet....
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P2gee
Dodge Dakota
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2/11/2005
10:02:50
|  RE: Do the aluminum belly pans work?
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I have the Hughes plate on mine and used a FelPro gasket. This gasket is a composition/steel reinforced gasket that keeps the gasket from suck in under vacumm loads.
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Just Looking
Dodge Dakota
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2/11/2005
16:00:06
| RE: Do the aluminum belly pans work?
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I guess the stock pan is not reuseable for a 3rd time.I checked the pan this time and its warped a full 1/16". Time to order one from hughes engines and buy a felpro gasket.
Thanks for the info all, having it last at least 3 years is a heck of a lot better then once a year.
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warped
Dodge Dakota
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2/11/2005
21:09:51
| RE: Do the aluminum belly pans work?
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You've found the problem - that's the important thing.
I have not yet had to do mine (95; 140k miles), but if I do I'll be ditching the factory plate; a few of my coworkers with 3.9s have had good success with the Hughes plate.
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N56629
Dodge Dakota
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2/11/2005
21:55:15
| RE: Do the aluminum belly pans work?
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If you can get aluminum plate, they are incredibly easy make. It only takes a few hand tools. If enough people are interested, I'll make one by hand and post some pictures.
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Just Looking
Dodge Dakota
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2/11/2005
22:45:50
| RE: Do the aluminum belly pans work?
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I tryed going that route but i couldnt afford quality aluminum. The recycling centers only had 1/4" mild aluminum and that stuff was easily bent over my knee.
Just out of curiosity what type of aluminum u using?
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N56629
Dodge Dakota
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2/11/2005
23:35:35
| RE: Do the aluminum belly pans work?
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I've used both 2024 and 6061 in T6 with good results. You probably came across some fully annealed aluminum.
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