so i've been driving with a manifold to head leak for awhile. finally today i took it apart to find no gaskets at all. i've got an 82 pick up with a 22r. so the biggest question i've got is why the heck didn't the previous owners have a gasket in there. k so i picked up a gasket anyway and tried putting it in today. so im wondering, since there was no gaskets before, which side of the back side heat shield do i put the gasket?? i thought i'd just leave the heat shield off but then my egr holes would be wide open. i'd think u should have gaskets on both sides no??

According to the 85 FSM, I have it goes, gasket against head, heat shield against gasket, and manifold against heat shield. One gasket.

ok that sounds good. then i don't have to get another gasket then. just gotta hope it'll seal. thanks alot for the info.

I had the same problem. I dremeled out the heat shield so that it does not go between the sealing surfaces of the ports. I would have eliminated it altogether except that I'd fail the visual inspection part of the CA emissions test. I've fixed my air diverter valve to the open position already but they still want to see the heat stove and connector pipe as it would be stock.

well i don't have to worry about all that sh$%. i don't even have insurance or registration on my truck. basically stricktly hill climber and mudder. noo need to insure it. whAT ever dammage occurs on it i can easily fix. but yea i put that gasket in and all's good. sealed up good. the last owner was a fool to not have any gasket in there anyway. dumb reets!!!!!