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When installing new rubber carb holders (on an 82 maxim 550) I was wondering if it's possible to use high-temperature silicone instead of specfically cut gaskets?

Does it get too hot, or should I be ok? Thanks.

Possible... yes. Advisable.... no. Gasoline will deteriorate silicon in short order, causeing leaks, peeling silicon to be injested by your engine and other generally P.I.T.A. problems. Use a stock replacement gasket or cut your own from sheetstock material. You'll have much better results.

permatex makes some stuff called Hylomar HPF gasket dressing and flange sealant that gas will not eat up.the part number is 25249.i got it at auto zone.you can use it in place of the carburetor float bowl gaskets too.this is not hearsay i have used it many times without any problems.

That's good to know Dr. Bob. I've always gone to great lengths to find gaskets. I've never trusted any of the 'gasket in a tube' products. Old bike carb gaskets are a bear sometimes - I got some (float bowl) gaskets in a kit for my cb360 - they simply wouldn't fit no matter what I did. I ended up putting them on warm in the oven for a few minutes and they popped right in. Still in there now and I've had no leaks.

the permatex stuff works great--i have 2 v4 hondas and the carbs mount in a position where the bowl is tilted so the fuel level is above the center line where it bolts to the carb body--i have used the permatex stuff and filled the carbs with gas and froze them for 2 days in a freezer and no leaks.

The only thing about extrudable gasket material that I don't like is cleaning the parts next time it comes apart. But baked gaskets can be a PIA too, so.....

cleaning the stuff off is sometimes bad but not as bad as wiping the tears from your eyes when you go to the dealer to get float bowl gaskets and they only sell the whole carb kit for $32.50 X 4.