Re: KPack's 1954 Panama

Posted by DavidPackard On 2020/12/17 22:22:03

Kevin, that's a difficult question to answer. I noticed in the 'Coming together' photo the same gasket seems to be 'hanging-out' over its entire outer edge as you said. Perhaps it's nothing more that the manufacturer of the kit made the decision to have a gasket that would be more robust if it shifted a bit. Not only would there still be gasket material available to seal, but a wider gasket would be less likely to shift in the first place. There is no harm with the gasket 'hanging-out' on the outside of the carburetor. If it somehow degrades and starts falling apart no ill effects would arise. So let's talk about the '20201208_071831.jpg' photo . . . that gasket appears to be in the engine's inlet air stream, and as such if degradation occurs a benign situation may not be guaranteed. When I first saw this photo I went out to the garage and unpacked my spare WDO, which is not the same design as yours, but it is a Carter two barrel produced only a few years before. In that carburetor the gasket is not visible, it does not protrude into the air stream. Since my experience with WGD is limited I would ask those with that experience to weigh-in on whether it's normal for the gasket to protrude into the air stream . . . I know the answer for the WDO.

dp