Quadratrac question

[Horsman]

Reinstalling my transfer case to the Turbo 400 in my 79 Wagoneer. Was curious if any sealant is recommended or is the gasket installed dry? When I disassembled it, it appears that someone had used a whole tube of orange sealant on it before, what a mess.

[Stuka]

For those paper gaskets I typically use high tack. Its a far superior sealant to RTV.

[1978J10REDWHITE]

So what is the reality about this sealant?
once it dries? Is it a permanent etched hardened substrate that needs chiseling off to remove it from surfaces once solidified?
I've been pretty much fine with basic silicone sealant black, for many times and years on everything, especially with a thin amount on gasket in place..

[fulsizjeep]

Use a thin smear of RTV. Do not plug up the seep hole. Many years ago I found the paper gasket between the QT and tranny adapter really is too thin for my liking (re: return leaks) and started cutting my own from thicker material.

[fulsizjeep]

Followup... You can get a roll of this 1/32" paper at NAPA and probably other parts stores. There is enough on the roll to make 3 gaskets. I use the one that comes with the gasket kit as a template. Thicker gasket is on the QT. The one from the kit shown to the right.

[tgreese]

So what is the reality about this sealant?
once it dries? Is it a permanent etched hardened substrate that needs chiseling off to remove it from surfaces once solidified?
I've been pretty much fine with basic silicone sealant black, for many times and years on everything, especially with a thin amount on gasket in place..

High Tack is a rubber cement, AFAIK. Should come off with a hot solvent like lacquer thinner or brake cleaner. I would be inclined to use CopperCoat with Flint's thicker gasket. Or thin smear of silicone (RTV).

https://www.amazon.com/401612-Copper-Co ... f=pd_lpo_1

[Yeller]

For RTV I always use permatex Rite Stuff. Ready for service almost immediately and have yet to have a failure.

[Horsman]

Followup... You can get a roll of this 1/32" paper at NAPA and probably other parts stores. There is enough on the roll to make 3 gaskets. I use the one that comes with the gasket kit as a template. Thicker gasket is on the QT. The one from the kit shown to the right.

Would you still smear a thin coat of RTV with the thicker gasket? Both sides of the gasket for the RTV placement?

Thanks for the help.

[fulsizjeep]

Yes. Always a thin smear of RTV on both sides for me. After 40 something years, there is a chance for imperfections in the mating surfaces.

[Stuka]

So what is the reality about this sealant?
once it dries? Is it a permanent etched hardened substrate that needs chiseling off to remove it from surfaces once solidified?
I've been pretty much fine with basic silicone sealant black, for many times and years on everything, especially with a thin amount on gasket in place..

Permatex High Tack never hardens, and does not cure to be solid like RTV. It is both oil and coolant resistant, so is safe to use for water jackets (like water pumps) or gaskets that are up against motor oil, gear lube, or ATF. Because it never hardens, its highly vibration resistant, and can "self heal" to an extent.

Its worth noting that standard Permatex Black is NOT rated for oil, and should not be used in an engine application. Permatex Ultra Black and Optimum Black are safe for oil. Then there is the 'Right Stuff" which has a faster cure time.

Going off what Flint said above, I can see how RTV may be a better option if there is any warpage going on with the case halves, as RTV is better at filling large gaps than High Tack.

[Horsman]

Thanks for all the great replies guys. Much appreciated.

[Horsman]

Got my new thick gasket made, got some right stuff RTV and made some guide pins to make the installation easier, on my way. What is the safest lubrication to smear on the output shaft of the Turbo 400 to prevent the transfer case seals from being damaged. My fear is mixing the wrong type of grease with the transfer case fluids and causing issues.

[Yeller]

Vaseline, it will melt and not cause issues.

[tgreese]

The Quadratrac juice is based on 30W non-detergent motor oil, plus a friction additive. I'd think anything petroleum-based would be ok, like Vaseline. I'd use ND motor oil, but I'd also mix my own fluid. There is a recipe in the earliest TSMs ('73? '74?)
https://www.amazon.com/Valvoline-SAE-No ... ref=sr_1_4

If I were going to use the pre-mixed fluid, like TCL-1, I'd use that for assembly.

There are assembly lubes that are tacky and miscible with transmission fluid. https://www.amazon.com/Lubegard-19250-T ... B000B8UPCY Should be fine too.

[Horsman]

Thanks for the grease info. Just noticed another thread where there is talk of an oring that seals the QuadraTrac to the back of the transmission on 1979 year models. Here is a pic of mine, is there a oring that’s needed along with the paper gasket? I hate leaks.
Thanks for the great information.

[Maladroit]

Horsman, yes that groove is for a square or rectangle profile o-ring but I have only seen it in pictures so no idea what size it is. You could try measuring the groove but that doesn't tell you how much the o-ring should protrude to make a good seal.

This is only my opinion, but I would not use both the o-ring and the gasket. One or the other should seal. Also, with both installed the gasket contacts only part of the o-ring which creates a step for the o-ring to seal. Not good imo.

I recently installed my QT with the recommended thick gasket with Gasgacinch on all 4 mating surfaces and there are no leaks after the first few hundred miles.

[OldFarmTruck22]

You need that O-ring

[Horsman]

Horsman, yes that groove is for a square or rectangle profile o-ring but I have only seen it in pictures so no idea what size it is. You could try measuring the groove but that doesn't tell you how much the o-ring should protrude to make a good seal.

This is only my opinion, but I would not use both the o-ring and the gasket. One or the other should seal. Also, with both installed the gasket contacts only part of the o-ring which creates a step for the o-ring to seal. Not good imo.

I recently installed my QT with the recommended thick gasket with Gasgacinch on all 4 mating surfaces and there are no leaks after the first few hundred miles.

Was the QT you just sealed the same style with the large oring groove like mine?

[Horsman]

You need that O-ring

I’m not totally sure, hopefully the thick gasket will work. Anyone else run across this?

[OldFarmTruck22]

The O-ring comes in the gasket kit, if you get the kit from a good vendor.