This is the only gasket in my 2 kits. Look right?

Edited July 2, 201511 yr by madkaw

My Top Line kit doesn't have one at all. Your better off than me.

Don't ever remember using a gasket there before. Last rebuild I didn't use one. The ' how to rebuild' book says don't forget it!

It is 2 machined surfaces so it probably seals okay without it.

This gasket I have seems incomplete, so I don't want to use it.

Dilemma!

I've taken 4 stock motors apart in the past few years and don't remember any of them having one. 

If you have a set of punches, they can easily be fabricated from gasket paper. I did this during my overhaul when the one included in my gasket set was damaged.

I don't have 'em in any of my motors. No problem. Like you say..........the two machined surfaces seal tight. I certainly wouldn't use that gasket....... Doesn't look like it would seal.

I've been looking around and none of the kits show one, but the "how to rebuild" says it plain as day.  I missed that on the last motor. 

  

I think I'll use a light film of this;

I'm not going to sweat it. No gasket. I definetly don't want to use this half gasket in the kit. Don't know if it was meant to be that way or defective.

Thanks for the input guys

It reminds me of when I rebuilt my 1980 Kawasaki 1000 motor. No gaskets between the casing halves. When I asked Schnitz Racing about it, the mechanic said he uses nail polish sometimes. I just kind of looked dumb at him. He said it's Japanese precision, doesn't need gaskets. They might put a thin layer of that stuff you have Cliff, and that's it.

The motorcycle engine does not use a gasket becasue it will affect the bearing clearance and is not predictable enough to include in such a critical location.

 

The Nissan service manual shows a gasket, so it should have one. Leaving it out probably won't cause any problem but if the fit-up is not very good the oil leak could degrade the tensioner performacne somewhat. I would make a gasket myself from a sheet of gasket paper as suggested by DJ. If you don't use a gasket at least make sure there are no burrs or gouges on the mating surfaces.

I don't remember ever using a gasket there and I've never had a problem.