Advice for Smog Removal Components

Hope not to be a bother....newbie here asking a ton of questions. Know that I do appreciate your input, though.

The guy at Oreilly's tried to sell me an intake manifold gasket set with a valley pan gasket. It's been a long time, but I don't recall my truck having such a thing. I do recall installing them on some old 351 Cleveland's years ago, but not a Windsor. Anyway, I declined the pan and went with Felpro MS90361. I understand the purpose of that valley pan and wondering now if I should have gone with it?

That aside, I've attached a couple of photos below. There is a dead end hole drilled in both heads above the EGR ports. I stuck a screw driver in there and it goes nowhere. What is the purpose of these? Also, I doubt it is an issue but note how it is opened up above my intake gasket.  

Thanks!

I don't know the purpose of that hole.  And I've not seen a Windsor with a valley pan.  M-Block and 460 yes, but not Windsor.  Maybe I've missed them?

As for thermostat temp, the listing from the Master Parts Catalog are on this page: Documentation/Cooling Systems/Thermostats.  Out of twenty one listings there are two 197's and one 195, with all the rest being 192.  

The 351w does not have a valley pan gasket, just the 351C/M and the 400 and 460. You got the correct gaskets. As for those holes, I have no clue ether.

Do your self a favor, put a dab or small bead of silicone in the corners where the rubber gaskets accrost the top of the block meet the gaskets on the head.

Yep but I would recommend using some black RTV as it is made for oil.  I have a tube of black RTV I will be using for mine, will run a bead along the front and back of the block and a spot in the corners where the intake gasket meets.

I would throw the China wall gaskets right in the trash and run a high bead of 'The Right Stuff' across the front and back of the valley.
Let it tack up a bit before torquing the intake down.

Thats what I will be doing.  At work boss wants us to sit the intake down while its still wet and let it ooze out.  What I want to do is the way you are supposed to.  I want to run a bead and softly sit the intake down and start the bolts then let it cure over night then torque it in place this way it actually will work like a gasket.

That’s the way I do it. I use studs to make sure the intake goes down straight, start all the bolts and snug them down.  Come back the next and torque them down.

ArdWrknTrk wrote

I would throw the China wall gaskets right in the trash and run a high bead of 'The Right Stuff' across the front and back of the valley.
Let it tack up a bit before torquing the intake down.

Intake kit came with cork gaskets, which will not be used. I learned my lesson on that a long time ago!  

Cork?

I don't think I've seen that in forever.

What gasket set did you get????

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Cork?

I don't think I've seen that in forever.

What gasket set did you get????

Yeah, I know. Gasket set is Felpro MS90361. But, I'm not even a fan of the rubber gaskets.

Which is why I use "the right stuff"