Intake manifold gasket overlap

[omegatron]

Trying to start p&p my head. I'm using a fel-pro gasket as a template and marking around the gasket on the head to remove material around the intake ports of the head. I have a couple of questions though....

#1- there are a few places where the gasket overlaps into the empty space of the intake ports. What am I supposed to do? Do I need to trim the gasket so it is flush (no overlap) and what is the best method of cutting the gasket? The gasket seems to be made of both a fiber material and metal.

#2- the more I read, gasket matching seems to be a questionable method of port matching, allowing for a bulge at the junction of the intake and head if to much material is removed. Is a better method available from trying to imprint the outline of the intake manifold onto the head and port matching that way? If so, how does one do that? Also, are people just using a exhaust gasket if they are using anaerobic or copper rtv for the intake?

Thanks for the help!

[Jeep4xb4u]

#1- Trim the gasket to fit the ports using a razor blade or something that will leave a clean cut. I would recommend this even if your not porting. Just make sure not to trim the gasket to much. Install the gasket on the head and use the ports as your guide.

#2 - Without getting into to much info because i'm probably one of the least educated people on here in regards to head/intake porting, but i will say what i think i know.

From what i understand, i don't think gasket matching is recommended for multiple reasons. I performed this on my head with no know problems yet, but i'm not sure if i gained anything from it and i wouldn't do it the same way again. Using my gasket as my porting template might have had me cut into portions of my head like the intake floor, that would be defeating the purpose of porting or using a newer casting head with raised intake ports. I think ideally you would want to port your head using accurate measurements or at least some of the pictures that have been taken from other members (YJ and Corey i think) and use them as reference as to where and how much of the head you really want to remove for maximum performance, bla bla bla. From there, match your gasket to the head, then port your intake to that. Relying on your gasket which was intended originally for just that, sealing your intake to your head and nothing more, leaves the gasket manufactures very large tolerances to work with and there for is not a reliable line to cut your head off of.

I do know that porting is more critical than polishing. You can achieve a high flowing finish without busting out any polishing bits just by finishing your porting with a finer grit bit. See my pictures as reference, i used only off the shelf bits found at a local hardware store and for giggles i hit it with some mothers wheel polish on a rag and it lustered up nice. I'm sure it didn't do anything but it made me feel good.

http://i509.photobucket.com/albums/s331 ... age008.jpg

I'm sure others will chime in and give you some info you can rely on.