PUT TOGETHER A NEW 355 W/ VOTEC HEADS AND PERFORMER RPM INTAKE AND HAD INTAKE SEALING PROBLEM, USED FELPRO GASKETS FOR A 96-99 CHEV TRUCK(OEM VORTEC HEADS) HEADS WERE FROM TRI-STATE
APPEARED TO BE LEAKING ON 3 CYLINDERS(BOTTOM OF PORTS)AND SUCKING OIL, COULD NOT SEE ANY REASON WHY. ANY BODY RUN INTO THIS ? THANKS ROB...

Yep,,,you have to order a thick paper gasket, you can get the part number from scoggin-dickeys website....We tried putting the stock plastic and rubber gasket on two different times...no luck...leaked both times...gotta use the paper gasket...Oreilly auto parts had to order one in for us.

Stock plastic and rubber Vortec gaskets will work fine, I have installed literally hundreds, but DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN THEM!!! The spec is only about 11 lb/ft. It doesn't seem like much but it is enough and they are easy to crush, leading to the problems that you experienced. Also, the correct bolts are the exact lenght and have a ball on the end. Hardware store stuff might work but you are taking a chance. Get the right ones from the dealer and use the stock intake gaskets correctly torqued and it will work.

Dave,,,We've tried the plastic and rubber twice after the intial paper gasket gave way,,,overtorqued...I have since had to order the thick paper gasket to use with the Performer and Performer Air Gap type intakes...Yes its 11 ft.lbs and paper works best.

Didn't know that there was a paper one out there. I have a stock one on the Performer on my 350/330 crate engine, no road miles yet but been run plenty ;) If it fails I'd be open to trying the paper one.

Had no trouble with the stockers. You must tighten in correct order and use the correct torque wrench. Your 1/2 drive wrench that goes to 120lbs will not work. I got an inch pound one that went to 240 inch pounds and use it. No problems but to your feel the bolts seem way too loose.

I re-used the stock ones over a half-dozen times. They work really well.

I have used the stock gm ones with the correct bolts at least 6 -7 times changing intakes on the dyno before, no probles at all.
Far as I know there are at least a few 96up GM trucks using these gaskets with 100k plus & still going.
Excellent gaskets.
As Mike Feudo said, the common problem is leaning on the bolts & destroying the gasket.
The stock bolts have a tip on them that makes this harder to do.