[Ken/Alabama]

I always soak the rope seals. On the cork I clean the groove with some laquer thinner and put a bead of RTV in there . Once I put the cork in I put the pan on without the side gaskets and make sure its lined up on the cork strip by installing a couple of pan bolts and leave it to let the RTV set up,this helps hold the cork in place. Once it sets up remove the pan then install the ropes and the rest of the pan gaskets. Before you install the pan I put a fat bead of RTV across the face of the cork strip where the pan seals against it and in the corners of the main cap and the side pan gaskets. This has always worked for me with good results. One other thing I do is put a small bead of RTV on the pot metal rope holders where they fit in the block and cap.