I am getting ready to install my six-pack intake manifold on my 440. I have had a couple of old timers in my club tell me to reuse the valley pan gasket. Just pull the old intake, add thin bead of RTV, and instll the new gasket. This seems like it would invite all kinds of vac leaks.

I've done it a number of times with no problems. As have a bunch of other mechanics I know.

If it wasn't for this site I would still be buying a 1214 set each time I had the pan off.

OK, so the 64K question is do I RTV the intake or just leave it dry? I won't be touching the bars on the ends, and it doesn't leak now. I quess I will go pull the torquer II know!

I would take the pan right off and clean it on both sides. Sometimes when you pull an intake off, it can pull the pan away from the heads a little around the intake ports. Not enough to wreck the pan by any means, but sometimes enough that if there's any crud built up behind there, like if you used any adhesion/sealant products last time, it could prevent it from getting a good seal when you put your new intake on. So I'd pull the pan, clean it everywhere along with the mating surface on the heads, give it a fresh coat of permatex copper spray and bolt the new intake on.

RTV in the 4 corners and I run a light bead under where the hold down rails go.Thats all Ive done ever.Been reusing them since the 60s with no problems even with aluminum intakes and now aluminum heads.Rocky

You may not need the paper gasket too....I just run the pan...no gaskets.

When I installed the intake about 8 years ago I only used RTV under the ends where it could leak oil, and the paper would not fit, so I pitched them. Course I installed a new valley pan and threw away the old (and probably good) pan. I will pull it all the way off and clean it up good. Plus it will give me a chance to gasket match it too!