oil pan gasket

[Fishermark]

I'm working on another project... (gotta do something to keep busy and out of trouble. )

Anyway, it is a Mercruiser 1978 165 - straight six. I am waiting for the block to come back from the machine shop. I have a new gasket set and I wonder about the oil pan gasket. I love the new one piece gaskets available for the small block Chevy, but this is the old cork gasket with rubber end seals.

Questions: Does anyone know of a source for one piece gasket for these old straight six engines? (Probably not, but it doesn't hurt to ask).

Secondly - on the cork gasket. How do you recommend installing those? I have done it several ways myself over the years and I am never sure which way is best. I know to use some RTV at the corners where the rubber meets the cork - but the cork gasket itself?
Install dry?
Use a light coat of RTV?
Use a light coat of Permatex #2?
Use nothing?
Use a light coat of grease?

What do you guys who do this for a living use?
(I'll even open it up to those who do it for fun like me! )

 

[Bondo]

Re: oil pan gasket

What do you guys who do this for a living use?

Ayuh,... What I think I've learned over the years about Cork Gaskets is,...
They go on Dry,...
They relie on sucking up a small amount of oil to swell up...
If you coat it with sillycone or something else,.. It just Won't swell,+ do it's job...
And,...
Reusing 'em is almost Always Unsuccessful...

 

[meesh]

Re: oil pan gasket

I use a weather strip adhesive on the block side. It's basically the same as bellows adhesive, and the cork will never slide out on you. I then put a thin layer of RTV on the pan side, and for me that has been a very good combination through the years. I never have pan leaks doing it that way.