Indian head shellac

[jhowes]

I have been following tom mendy's tutorial on rebuilding my differential. He says he prefers indian head shellac for the gaskets on the pumpkin. In the hardware store they have two different kinds of shellac but neither is indian head. Is there a difference or is shellac shellac, regardless of the brand name?? If they are different then what is special about indian head?? Jack

[jw hash]

Napa has it. But Lets back up. are you setting up your preload with gaskets ( shims ) ? where are you using the shellac. ? the only place the shellac would by good for is the torque tube. Ford never used a gasket there .

[MickeyT]

Don't believe there is much dfference. Most all comes from India and is made from the female lac bug.

[jhowes]

jw hash; I am setting up my preload with gaskets as Tom suggests. So far so good and when I am satisfied with the results, I will take it apart and use the shellac to seal the pumpkin with the gaskets in place. Jack

[MikeK]

Many auto parts stores have it. Fooles in the hardware store may have it confused with amber and clear shellac in the paint department.

[1931 flamingo]

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I believe the pumpkin gasketts go on DRY, also do not "chase" the threads on the pumpkin. FWIW
Paul in CT

[rotorwrench]

Since the gaskets are also shims, any further thickness can have an affect. The Tech sheet for that stuff is around .010" for a thin coat. On a stack of gaskets, it will add up. It also dries hard. https://441py33rout1ptjxn2lupv31-wpe.../tds/20539.pdf

Some folks apply a thin coat of Lubriplate grease and some use nothing at all but make sure you still have the correct bearing preload no matter what you use. Loose side bearings wouldn't last well.

[Kohnke Rebabbitting]

We have used Indian Head on all gaskets for 55 years, and my father be for me.

If you don't want something to leak, use it.

As far as it getting hard, I find that not the case for me.

The real best on Ford head gaskets.

It has a little round dauber, that spreads the cement, way better then then some that have a cheap little junkie brush.

I never did like the saying about other brands, Just As Good As!

Herm.

[BillLee/Chandler, TX]

AKA "Indian Snot". (Thank you, Ken Parker!)

[rotorwrench]

I use mostly modern sealants in aviation business. 1211 by Threebond is what I use most but there are also some good uses for Loctite 515 anaerobic sealant. That stuff will seal turbine oil inside a gear case that has no gasket at all but I do use a #50 silk thread on the parting surface just like on an aircraft engine case. Some of this new stuff is a lot better than all that old crap.

[Railcarmover]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

I use mostly modern sealants in aviation business. 1211 by Threebond is what I use most but there are also some good uses for Loctite 515 anaerobic sealant. That stuff will seal turbine oil inside a gear case that has no gasket at all but I do use a #50 silk thread on the parting surface just like on an aircraft engine case. Some of this new stuff is a lot better than all that old crap.

I use the modern stuff in the heavy equipment trade and feel the same way..modern sealants are a godsend with old technology.