A couple weeks ago I bought a new edelbrock performer intake and 1409 carb. Swapped them out, rtv around water ports and front/back. Ran it in the driveway to warm it up and retorqued the bolts.
Took it out and it was sucking water in pretty good. So thinking it was my work, I'm no mechanic, I took it to a shop and had them swap it again. Thicker gasket this time around as the machine shop said one side was warped .015". Same result, water in the oil. Swapped back to original intake and all is well again. Ideas? I'd like to stick with the performer and 1409 carb as it runs way better.
Thanks.
Edit. This is an 85 merc 260hp 350.