Help need advice on intake manifold not fitting

[64SF]

As part of the machine work on my 440 the machine shop decked the heads to true them up but, unfortunately they did't record how much was taken off. I seemed to recall (it's been months ago) when the called to let me know they needed to be decked I asked them if the intake needed to be done at the same time and they told me they didn't think so. Well I went to install intake (Edlebrock Performer) and as you would guess it doesn't fit. To get an idea on the difference I installed the bolts on one side and it looks to be about an eighth of an inch from lining up with the holes on the opposite side. The eighth is on the top of the bolt holes.

I've tried it with the paper gaskets on both sides of the valley pan, one paper gasket, and no gaskets all fits about the same.

THe machine shop guys are not giving me a hard time, a little embarrassed about the recording mistake and one fellow suggested I elongate the bolt holes in the intake (which in looking at it would probably work) but before I do that I thought I'd post up and see what your thoughts are. I'm sure they'd cut the manifold for me if I asked them but what would you suggest be cut from each side?

Thanks

 

[RustyRatRod]

You might could get a ballpark idea by measuring the combustion chambers, but at this point it sounds like the heads are bolted on. I've milled as much as .030 off heads and not had trouble. I would think your heads were milled pretty heavily.

 

[67 coronet]

the why my guy suggested is to center the manifold as close as possible.then you get a feeler guage on the bottom edges to give you a mesurement of the gap.with those #'s the machine shop should be able to cut your manifold to fit you valley.have done it on a couple of eng.

 

[64SF]

Yea the heads are on.

 

[Cranky]

Never did like to machine the intake to fit because after you do, it'll only fit that engine.....and if later you want to swap the intake, you usually have to do it all over again. If you just put the engine together, pull the heads off and machine the intake side. The gaskets should be ok to go back again if they haven't been on long and are not stuck. Also, your priority is the ports. Make sure they align and then 'adjust' the bolt holes.

 

[tpodwdog]

when you deck the heads or the block, you COMPLETELY change the ENTIRE geometry. and thats why nothing fits well after doing so.

 

[daredevil]

I,d have then take 0.010 at a time till they fit nice

 

[68 HEMI GTS]

i agree with rusty that its got to be cut pretty heavy if the intake doesn't line up. either that or its the intake. might just set a stock one on there to see how it lines up. usually edelbock stuff is pretty good but you do get the occasional messed up part. its gonna take some trial and error to get the intake cut down, then its usless on any thing else and your stuck running it. id consider pulling the heads back off and milling the intake face on them. you can also get a CC on them and see how much was cut so you can take the right amount off the intake face the first time and be done with it. IMO

 

[wedge5]

X2 that seems to be easiest way to fix this. Yes that intake will only work with that engine(heads)but how many times are you going to change intakes on that engine?

 

[68 HEMI GTS]

X2 that seems to be easiest way to fix this. Yes that intake will only work with that engine(heads)but how many times are you going to change intakes on that engine?

if your like me you throw everything on it you come across just to experiment... lol

 

[Jeremiah]

I have had to deal with this several times. It is usually easiest to leave the intake gasket/valley pan off and use a feeler gauge to "map" the intake manifold. I usually have the machine shop make the cut .004 extra on the top of the intake manifold ports to make sure the bottom of the intake ports really "dig in" to the gasket. Doing so seems to help avoid sucking oil from the valley past the gasket into the intake port. The only drawback to this scenario is the cost. Fixing an intake can cost $100 or more.

How is the port alignment? If it looks good you can always use thick Superformance intake gaskets and enlarge the bolt holes.

 

[64SF]

Set the stock intake on same thing. Thanks for all the suggestions going to talk yo the machine shop guys to see what we can work out.

 

[IQ52]

Just making sure here. If you bolt one side down, the bolt holes on the other side of the manifold are 1/8" too high?

 

[64SF]

That's correct. Bolting one side down the alignment of the holes are about an eighth of an inch off on the other side. It's been suggested that I elongate or enlarge the holes on both sides would avoid the necessity of having the intake (or the intake side of the heads) machined. It appears that there is sufficient coverage of the runners that doing this may work. Always something.

 

[arizona satellite]

as was stated before you MUST check the alignment of the intake to the runners if you "adjust" the bolt holes without checking the runners you could have an obstruction in the overlap. you may find the need to port match after you "adjust the manifold" Just saying IMHO

 

[64SF]

Hopefully corrected the problem by enlarging the bolt holes and using the gaskets on both sides of the metal valley pan gasket. It appears to have seated and has enough coverage around the runners. Hope to start the engine within the next week or so. Will report the outcome b

 

[RustyRatRod]

No, that didnt correct it, but the intake will probably go on down.

 

[Supershafts]

What kind of machine shop did you use that doesn't do the intake side of the head after doing the chamber side ?

I would take the heads off and let them do it right.

 

[67 coronet]

the alignment he states is when you deck the block one time and the heads have been cut about two times or more.fairly common on well used cores.most machine shops dont think about trimming the intake side,since they dont know what has been done to the heads before.much less the block.

 

[Supershafts]

I understand that, but a skim doesn't make a intake misaligned, and if you deck the block and then skim or cut the head at this point you know you have a problem at the intake and then the intake side of the head should be done accordingly.

He has said it's off like an eight and not 64th or 32nd, which at that point im sure the port alignment is not right either