Thinking about getting this 97

[CDsDontBurn]

On the Dorman intake, what is this gasket for? I imagine it's important...?

Like,.I know where it goes and how it sits, but is it important? And if so, how important is it?

 

[theterminator93]

Looks like it's for the thermostat housing. On the OEM intakes it's just a rubber O-ring that sits on the top of the thermostat after you put it into the intake, before you bolt the outlet adapter on. I assume on the Dormans they want to you omit the OEM rubber gasket and use that instead.

 

[MadMikeyL]

It looks like the shape of the thermostat, however at least on our cars, that seals with an O-ring. Maybe on some other applications, they use a gasket, but if the O-ring seals, use that instead of the gasket.

 

[dDUBb]

That looks metal .. its not a gasket.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

That looks metal .. its not a gasket.

Maybe some sort of spacer?

 

[XR7-4.6]

That looks metal .. its not a gasket.

It almost looks more like a graphite exhaust gasket, but it's definitely thermostat housing shaped. Could it be a spacer?

 

[Zep5.0]

It almost looks more like a graphite exhaust gasket, but it's definitely thermostat housing shaped. Could it be a spacer?

I thought it was graphite immediately, but unsure why

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Maybe it is a thermostat spacer .

The kit also came with an O-Ring for the thermostat as well. If it is a spacer, what or why are reasons for me to want to use it?

 

[Zep5.0]

Maybe it is a thermostat spacer .

The kit also came with an O-Ring for the thermostat as well. If it is a spacer, what or why are reasons for me to want to use it?

I wouldn't use it. Seems to add another fail point

 

[theterminator93]

Yeah... unless the new Dorman casting is sufficiently different compared to the OEM intakes (which I can't vouch for), I can't think of a reason to use it especially if they include the O-ring.