So I picked up the Fel-Pro 1250S3 gaskets that Viper recommended.

Comparing them to the set that came in the Fel-Pro MS 95952 they are clearly a higher quality construction.

My question / concern is that the 1250S3 don't have an opening for the heat riser.

So what are the pros and cons of blocking off the heat riser ?

I think those are for the EGR. If you don't use the EGR and allow the hot gasses up to the back of the throttle body its not good. These gaskets stop the hot air from going up the unused EGR ports.

You are removing the EGR right? If not I'd guess you'd have to use the other gaskets. There might be a higher quality set w/the egr cut outs. IDK You can take the 90* elbow off the intake completely & the EGR goes with it. The RJM harness has the EGR eliminator part built in so the computer is OK.

Chad

I am planning to use the EGR

I have been agonizing over this decision.........

So today I looked over all the EGR related parts and found that my Explorer lower intake only has one open EGR runner (driver's side) the other is blocked off before it reaches the EGR passage that goes to the upper intake.

Then I checked out the upper and the 90 degree elbow and discovered that while the upper has an EGR passage going all the way through it.............interestingly enough the 90 degree elbow doesn't so it essentially dead ends at the connection between the upper and the elbow. Kind of like a bridge to nowhere.

The exhaust manifolds only have an EGR return line on the passenger side which feeds into the EGR valve on the elbow.

Essentially the EGR system is only on the passenger side of the motor.

With all of this said I will be using the 1250S3 as is (I was thinking of drilling / cutting EGR openings).

I cut the opening in the gasket. The lower manifold only has 1 port on all manifolds.

Deer is in the freezer. The elk skunked me again.