Hello, This is more curiosity than anything! but i also have the arduous task or helping a mate of mine put his engine together and i dont want it leaking after i have helped him! as he's a picky git! you know who you are!
Anyway, i usually use a bit of blue hylomar between the box-block and the transfer casing etc but ive heard of poeple just oiling the gasket first then using them that way (less of a ballbreaker if you have to split them again, cleaning up etc) but id be worried it would leak? i also use a bit of rtv round the timing cover. usually (touch wood) i never have a problem but knowing my luck it will leak if i help him!
Does anyone know what they did at the factory, I can't imagine them taking the time to smear gasket goo over all the surfaces. I bet they put them together dry, any thoughts.
I always put a smear of silicone on the gaskets prior to assembly. Never had leaks and it hlods the gaskets in place.
The factory built units have a white silicion round all the gearbox gaskets. I think I remember seeing this from about the late eightys. The gearbox leaks were usualy the oil seals from then on.
I'd never use sealant on the flywheel housing as this would cock up the idler endfloat. When using helical gears that is. No sealant also mean you can reuse the gasket if in racing conditions ie. in a hurry.
Its very interesting to see so many different ideas/thoughts on one subject..
I can see where your coming from regarding the end float but that will be checked and there are so many different thicknesses of gaskets to start off with so its a standard practice pluss its straight cut drops and the side loading isnt a worry.
I also like the idea of thinners with the hylomar which would help stick the gaskets with out the added thinkness issue, but if you torque the casing properly you know you have the spread right, and i know not to go over the top and possibly block the strainer or something.
I have tried the oiling gaskets style but its been a bit hit and miss but under race conditions if theres a weep then the engines out more than often you can cure it but if the owner isnt prepaired for this then it might be a problem.
