New gaskets - cardboard

[Will D]

Hey guys, I got a few new gaskets sets for trans, steering box, Speedo...... They are made in China with what appears to be cardboard/ cereal boxes. I've read on here guys saying to only use gasket sealant if the mating surface has issues or the gasket leaks. With this cardboard, do you think they will seal fine or should gasket sealant/ dressing be used?

[JSeery]

Question, where did the gaskets come from? If not a reliable source I would suggest talking to someone like Mac VanPelt or 3rd Generation and getting better parts. I don't think you are going to like it if you have to pull it and redo it later if there is an issue. The steering box gasket have to be specific sizes to set the bearing loads.

[Will D]

Originally Posted by JSeery

Question, where did the gaskets come from? If not a reliable source I would suggest talking to someone like Mac VanPelt or 3rd Generation and getting better parts. I don't think you are going to like it if you have to pull it and redo it later if there is an issue. The steering box gasket have to be specific sizes to set the bearing loads.

Yes, trying to avoid doing it all again, not that practice isn't good...

Unfortunately Mac auto parts. I tagged them onto an existing order. They had Denise carpenter logo covered up on the packaging.

The steering box top gasket is thick and appears solid but the multiple smaller gaskets to set bearing load are thin brown paper.

At least my banjo gaskets are made by Best gasket.

[Jack E/NJ]

>>>I've read on here guys saying to only use gasket sealant if the mating surface>>>


They look fine. If they were mine, I'd use wheel bearing grease for the sealant. Jack E/NJ

[cmbrucew]

I have made good gaskets from the sleeve Victor head gaskets came in. Good clean mating surfaces is the key.


Bruce

[alanwoodieman]

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the company I used to work for made the paperboard for gaskets. it was heavily calendared and treated with sizing to resist migration of what ever was being sealed. still have several small rolls of this paper that I make gaskets from now. you can make really good gaskets from krispi kreme doughnut boxes!

[cas3]

some folks accuse me of liking beer, but really, i just need the boxes for making patterns and occasionally gaskets.

[J Franklin]

Those look completely legit and usable. If they dyed the stock red or some other color you wouldn't be skeptical.

[fordor41]

we used to use brown paper bags for thin gaskets. never leaked.

[Will D]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

Those look completely legit and usable. If they dyed the stock red or some other color you wouldn't be skeptical.

Haha so true.

[Will D]

So just some grease, no permatex sealant/ dressing or such needed?

[flatford8]

Originally Posted by Will D

So just some grease, no permatex sealant/ dressing or such needed?

For me it would depend on the surfaces........if both sides are smooth and flat, I’d use grease....any rough parts or if I questioned a smooth fit....a LITTLE permatex.....Mark

[Angledrive]

The thin gaskets are for setting the bearing preload. Do not use gasket sealer.

[JSeery]

You need to be careful using gasket sealer on any application where it can be squeezed into places it can do harm!

[cmbrucew]

My auto shop instructor, said 60 years ago. a little permatex on the removable part only, to hold the gasket during assembly. Makes life easier when you next work on it.



Bruce

[tubman]

I have been using cereal boxes for gasket material since at least 1957.

[Will D]

Thank you for all the input.

[GB SISSON]

I save the backing on a yellow legal tablet for gaskets. The shiny side of cereal boxes, like where it says 'wheaties' always seemed like it wouldn't seal as well as the porous side. The legal cardboard IS a bit thick for some applications, so I like the brown paper bag suggestion..

[Tinker]

You can get stock sheets of gasket material from napa, packs with cork and versions sizes and material. It's nice to have on hand if you do a service or want to replace certain little things. It takes a bit of time to cut out with a exacto knife and using a fuel line punch for holes. But not a big deal really. Depending on material a bit of oil or perm spray goes a long way. RTV gooping is overkill. In my thinking.


Looks like a good set of gasket you have. Don't over think it. Use them. Oil will get to them if they need it. Dry install.

[Tinker]

Think you are complaining to just complain. Look like great gaskets to me! Not sure how you set bearing/worm load on a steering box with a gasket?

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by tubman

I have been using cereal boxes for gasket material since at least 1957.

Hell, I used cereal boxes for gaskets on my Captain Midnight pedal car long before that! DD

[Will D]

Originally Posted by Tinker

Think you are complaining to just complain. Look like great gaskets to me! Not sure how you set bearing/worm load on a steering box with a gasket?

Sorry Tinker, didn't mean to come across as just complaining to complain. The first few gaskets I got for the distributor and coil were made from gasket material and cork/rubber. So when i received these it threw me off a bit. I could/would have made them myself out of gasket material if I had known they were cardboard.

[tubman]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

Hell, I used cereal boxes for gaskets on my Captain Midnight pedal car long before that! DD

I would have too, but before 1957, my mother bought our cereal in bulk out of the barrel at the General Store.

[JSeery]

Guess I was spending money needlessly! I always used the gasket material available at auto parts stores.

[J Franklin]

I prefer proper gasket material, and it is cheap. The packaged kits give multiple types, materials, and thicknesses. Handy to get at in the garage.

[35fordtn]

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While I prefer Best gaskets, in the case of the components you are refering to, you will be A-Ok with Carpenter gaskets. I rebuilt both a steering box and a transmission today using carpenter gaskets ( we stock both carpenter and best as we are a stocking dealer for both).

I actually prefer carpenter's trans gaskets, but prefer Best gasket steering gaskets... The issue, is that Carpenter gives a better selection of upper race shim gaskets than best does for the steering gear.

[GB SISSON]

Truth be told, the cereal boxes were a few years ago, and sometimes nowadays in a pinch. I have attended and shown antique machinery for 34 years at Lynden Wa in August. Sandy Olsen, of 'Olsen's Gaskets in Port Orchard Wa has spread out left over stampings and sheets of gaskets and large , reusable sheets, strips and large circles, all his 'waste products' for free to all of us local fixer uppers. I now have sheets of corprene, stainless embedded stuff, squishy stuff, and all manner of scraps to keep me going with all the oddball crap I get involved with. Olsen's gaskets has all the good Best gaskets for us ford guys, but is totally on task if you need a head gasket for a hupmobile or a pan gasket for a nash or a full overhaul set for a chrysler crown marine engine.....

[cas3]

i make gaskets when i need to, gasket material from the parts store, or beer cases, what ever is needed. but... for ford steering boxes, instead of a big stack of paper i like to use real shim stock, available from all the machinist supply houses, keep a variety on hand. when doing the worm setup on early fords, i mock it up with paper, then will make a steel shim to cover most of the thickness, and a few of the thin gaskets for the finish

[Will D]

Originally Posted by cas3

i make gaskets when i need to, gasket material from the parts store, or beer cases, what ever is needed. but... for ford steering boxes, instead of a big stack of paper i like to use real shim stock, available from all the machinist supply houses, keep a variety on hand. when doing the worm setup on early fords, i mock it up with paper, then will make a steel shim to cover most of the thickness, and a few of the thin gaskets for the finish

Good idea for the steering box.

[Tinker]

Ford/merc 32-41 generic service manual.



Adjustment of Steering Gear Worm Bearings.

Loosen four housing end plate screws, approximately 1/8” (refer Figure 35). Use a knife to separate the first shim, passing blade all around between shims, care being taken not to mutilate the remaining shims.

In production, the following size shims are being used in varying amounts .0025”, 005”, .010”, according to the amount of readjustment required.

Remove only one shim at a time between inspections. Care should be taken not to set up stiffness in worm bearings.

Revolve steering wheel to determine if stiffness exist. If stiffness is present, too many. Shims have been removed.


Personally sincerely learned something today.

[GB SISSON]

My 47 tonner steers and returns to normal on a left turn, but on a right turn I have to manualy straighten it back. What gives?

[Tinker]

To think the righting steering wheel was an invention. Before that people had to turn the wheel back. Thanks to steering geometry and linkage and I guess a few shims.

[GB SISSON]

Why do all the directions I read in Ford manuals, Motors manuals etc say to unscrew the 4 cap screws just 1/8" and separate the shims one at a time and remove? Looks like the 'shims' (gaskets) have four bolt holes at the corners. Sounds like a dumb question, but wouldn't I need to completely remove the 4 cap screws to remove a shim or two? I understand the bearing could fall out so wouldn't like that. What step am I missing here? Also, do I back off the adjustment screw on the top before the shimming process?

[rotorwrench]

I generally purchase Fel-Pro or Best gaskets but I have always kept various thicknesses of gasket material around when the gaskets aren't quite the thickness that was needed for thrust or backlash purposes. The composition of gaskets always depends on what is inside that may permeate the gasket. Some fluids or lubricants need more than paper depending on flange fit and scheduled maintenance actions with that particular flange. High temp or exhaust type gaskets are usually specialized types but there are at least three different types available for intake and exhaust type gaskets so it pays to get the one set that works the best.