Do I need to use a intake gasket tray?

Getting ready to mount a Weiand X-celerator intake to my rebuilt 2V cleveland heads and was wondering should I use a gasket valley pan, or should I be OK with only intake gaskets?

Ive heard mixed reviews but fwiw I have the valley pan gasket installed on my edlebrock intake and I figure since it doesnt have coolant running through it, anything to keep the intake cool helps.

Thanks for the help!

Valley pan it is!!

I used the Fel-Pro gaskets on my 400 when I rebuilt it but has a issue with the manifold not sealing properly. I changed over to a "turkey pan" and its been fine since.

The whole purpose of the Valley pan is to keep heat away from the Intake Manifold. Many of the 351C, 429 and 460's from the late 60's used heavy cast iron intakes which hold heat long after the motor has been shut down, the heat from the intake would actually get the carb warm enough to expand the gas in the fuel bowl causing them flood the engine on restart.

You can safely ditch the Valley Pan with an aluminimum intake but it certainly doesnt hurt to keep that air fuel ratio as cool as possible.

Recently when I rebuilt my 351C and added aluminum intake the same question came to mind, so I contacted an instructor friend of mine that teaches the automotive classes (also a former engine analyst for Ford & Gm years before) anyway, he recommended using the valley pan for heat protection/disbursement for the intake. As it is recommended to have the fuel temp kept to a minimum and it is the factory recommendation to avoid unnecessary heat. Your fuel will disperse through the intake more precisely at a cooler temp. He recommended for optimum cooling of the fuel to look into ways of cooling the fuel line as it comes close to the carb. The cooler it enters the system the better. It has been known that a cooling coil that your fuel is run through known as a dry ice system can be advantageous to the cooling of your fuel.