NH gasket sets missing gasket

[Corey Walker]

I noticed the last few sets of NH gaskets I’ve received were missing the spacer that goes between the body and the bowl (left in picture). Today I got a couple more sets in the mail and once again this piece is missing. I wonder was there was a batch of sets put together without them? I’ve been finding some in a bag of loose gaskets I have but they won’t last forever. I’m aware of the fact that you don’t have to put it there but it crushes the bowl in when you tighten it. Curious if anyone else has gotten these sets without the spacer?

[Humblej]

I do not remember ever using two gaskets at the bowl drain. Looking at the Ford Service Manual para 886, fig 438 just shows a gasket on the outside of the bowl.

[Norman Kling]

I agree with Jeff. In fact if you put a gasket between the bowl and the carburetor, you might even have a leak at the top because not enough pressure to seal the gasket at the top of the bowl.

[speedytinc]

The sets I have been using for years dont have that extra gasket.
It isnt needed. Per the manual, as shown.
I have not had an issue with leaks in the scores of carbs I have rebuilt.

[Ed Fuller]

It’s nice to have the extra spacer gasket. Sometimes the bowl has gotten a little bent out of shape over the years. I seem to use them more on side drain bowls.

[RajoRacer]

I make a practice of re-shaping the bowl bottom gasket area with a deep socket to make it flat again.

[speedytinc]

The bows are typically bent in. Thats a thing to address.
The bowl needs that bent in metal around the hole flattened back to its stock position.

[Corey Walker]

I know now why the gasket sets were like that. A lot, probably most, of those bowls are bent in at the bottom but they were originally flat and can be straightened to be flat again. This bowl appears to never have been deformed and as you can see with the bowl gasket installed there is that much space between the carburetor body and the bowl. That little spacer sandwiches between there to keep everything flat, but no, it doesn’t have to be there.

[RajoRacer]

That is interesting Corey - I've also seen the "gaps" on the NH's.

[speedytinc]

Is it perhaps by design there is a gap? A gap creates a tension for the bowl & drain gasket.
I checked a half dozen carbs & bowls. Bowls were all reformed to their original flatness.
There isnt enough room to add a thick washer like the drain washer. A thin piece of bowl gasket would as you show.
There wasnt a gasket between the body & bowl inside. Add the extra hassle to get an internal gasket in place.
I suspect the gasket sets you were getting were a more fitz all set, possibly to work with a kingston or nh bowl.
Anyway, my best guess on the matter.