What is this Hole in my Head?

MoparGuy68 · Jan 19, 2020

While working on my 383, with Holley 4160 750 CFM carb, I was trying to remove a nut off a bolt on the throttle arm. I think I heard and saw a washer fall off the bolt and vanish somewhere between the intake manifold and the engine head. After researching the intake manifold to find out what kind it is, it appears to be a Mopar Performance M1 Dual Plane Aluminum intake that has been painted orange.

There is a U-shaped opening in the head directly beneath the edge of the intake manifold. The opening looks like the bottom of the letter U. I think perhaps the metal washer fell down inside this U-shaped cavity. What is this opening for? If something falls down inside there, could it somehow find its way inside the engine and cause DAMAGE?

I started messing around with the throttle because I had the return spring fly off the throttle arm and shoot across the engine compartment. Was then trying to determine why it flew off, when I found some poorly done work on securing the linkages, including the use of a rusty bent nail (instead of a cotter pin) to hold the throttle linkage to the arm.

BeepBeepRR · Jan 19, 2020

Its the place where you lose a 10mm socket.. Its a heat crossover its supposed to be there.

bm02tj · Jan 19, 2020

If you are sure it went into there not to worry will not get inside

rumblefish360 · Jan 19, 2020

The heat crossover port is right under that open area. It is a heat sink, that “U” shape area. It is normal, no need to panic.

33 IMP · Jan 19, 2020

Its just an empty cavity, connected to nothing. As others have said, absolutely normal, no worries.

493 Mike · Jan 19, 2020

I think it would behoove you to cover the top of your carb with a rag while you are working on top of the engine.
Mike

91r/t · Jan 19, 2020

If you are super worried, try a little flexible magnet and see if you can fish it out. It won’t go anywhere, but if it bugs you then give it a whirl.

Ironbuilt · Jan 19, 2020

I agree with @91r/t Get yourself a flexible magnetic pickup tool and go fishing. And as Mike said, cover that carb.

https://www.amazon.com/SUPERYO-Flexible-Magnetic-Bendable-Retrieve/dp/B07VDR5BFB/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3CYOZ1XJA3YN4&keywords=flexible+magnetic+pickup+tool&qid=1579440123&sprefix=flexible+magnetetic+pi,aps,178&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyOTE4U0NWTzZPWjlOJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjUwNDk3M1BJWDIySjRZMjdKRyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzkzNzA5MlNDMEZDTlY0Q0E0VCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Lefty71 · Jan 19, 2020

493 Mike said:
I think it would behoove you to cover the top of your carb with a rag while you are working on top of the engine.

I like to cover that eternal abyss with a rag too, so I don't have to go shopping for new circlips, Jesus clips, small washers, etc. whenever I'm working on the throttle/kickdown linkage as well.

Daves69 · Jan 19, 2020

You could try a cleaned out Shop Vac and a stiff wire when/if all else fails.

moparsaver · Jan 19, 2020

When cars get left unattended...

WileERobby · Jan 19, 2020

The hole in my head is where all my marbles fell out many years ago.

MoparGuy68 · Jan 20, 2020

Thanks for the responses guys. I knew the hole was factory, just didn't know what its purpose was. After shining a light down in there I could see what looked like bug turds inside there. I ended up vacuuming out both holes in each head. Heard some **** getting sucked out of there, maybe my missing washer was among the debris..

Who paints an aluminum intake manifold?? I thought my manifold was a stock cast iron piece, until I took a close look at it and saw the raised Pentastar and MOPAR logo on it. I guess they wanted the M1 manifold to look kinda stock so they painted it orange.

Replaced the lost washer with a brass lock washer. Got rid of the bent rusty nail, and replaced it with a high performance mini hood pin (looks like a miniature hood pin, don't remember what these are called). And replaced whatever they bent around the shaft to hold the kick down linkage on, with a proper C-clip with an extra washer. And lastly refabricated the end of the return spring, so that it is a closed loop around the shaft. They had just put a dog leg bend on the end of it, which is why it flew off when I fully opened the throttle. The throttle linkage is all ready for action now! Too bad I still can't drive the car..

Kern Dog · Jan 20, 2020

Who paints an aluminum intake? Plenty of people....Mainly because the bare aluminum is porous and susceptible to stains. Also, others may like to hide the modifications to maintain a stock appearance.

Photon440 · Jan 20, 2020

Ma Mopar painted aluminum intakes. Why let them corrode?
Well, ok...my neon intake wasn't painted. But it corroded.

493 Mike · Jan 20, 2020

Photon440 said:
Ma Mopar painted aluminum intakes. Why let them corrode?
Well, ok...my neon intake wasn't painted. But it corroded.

As did my V-10. A trip to my blast cabinet fixed that.
Mike

RPMagoo · Jan 20, 2020

I thought that You were talking about Your personal head. -- All of Us "Car Guys" have one of those. --

--

moparcuda · Jan 20, 2020

BeepBeepRR said:
Its the place where you lose a 10mm socket.. Its a heat crossover its supposed to be there.

anyway you dont need a 10mm socket on a big block mopar,,,lol

BeepBeepRR · Jan 20, 2020

moparcuda said:
anyway you dont need a 10mm socket on a big block mopar,,,lol

Yea I know but somehow they will end up in there.. Kinda like socks in a washer.... They just go somewhere...

waedison · Jan 22, 2020

MoparGuy68 said:
While working on my 383, with Holley 4160 750 CFM carb, I was trying to remove a nut off a bolt on the throttle arm. I think I heard and saw a washer fall off the bolt and vanish somewhere between the intake manifold and the engine head. After researching the intake manifold to find out what kind it is, it appears to be a Mopar Performance M1 Dual Plane Aluminum intake that has been painted orange.

There is a U-shaped opening in the head directly beneath the edge of the intake manifold. The opening looks like the bottom of the letter U. I think perhaps the metal washer fell down inside this U-shaped cavity. What is this opening for? If something falls down inside there, could it somehow find its way inside the engine and cause DAMAGE?

I started messing around with the throttle because I had the return spring fly off the throttle arm and shoot across the engine compartment. Was then trying to determine why it flew off, when I found some poorly done work on securing the linkages, including the use of a rusty bent nail (instead of a cotter pin) to hold the throttle linkage to the arm.

View attachment 896872 View attachment 896873 View attachment 896874 View attachment 896875 View attachment 896876

Not associated to the issue, but thanks for the linkage pictures. I have a 383 with a goobered up kickdown linkage. These pictures help. Also, I'd suggest putting a second spring on the throttle return. Mine broke and it's pretty exciting to go to maximum RPMs in a heartbeat.

What is this Hole in my Head?

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

FBBO Gold Member

FBBO Gold Member

FBBO Gold Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

FBBO Gold Member

FBBO Gold Member

Well-Known Member

Life is full of turns. Build your car to handle.

FBBO Gold Member

FBBO Gold Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Similar threads