Big Block intake swapping..

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mopower440

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When swapping big block intakes, do you guys re-use the valley trays or use new everytime?
ALSO, do you use sealant between the intake and heads OR gaskets?
 
The "valley tray" is the gasket-replace it. A little gasket sealer around ports and china walls is good, with a small dab of silicone at the 4 corners. Use fiber gaskets in addition if you are using an aluminum manifold.
 
Murray said:
The "valley tray" is the gasket-replace it. A little gasket sealer around ports and china walls is good, with a small dab of silicone at the 4 corners. Use fiber gaskets in addition if you are using an aluminum manifold.
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The last time i did it, which was 16 years ago, all i used is the tray and sealant. Still like this right now. I will be switching over to an aluminum intake this weekend and wanted to know if everyone else did or did not use gaskets. I was always told to only use sealant because if you use gaskets on both sides of the valley tray that it throws the geometry off and would end up stripping bolts out trying to get them in..
 
The purpose of the additional fiber gasket is to prevent wear on the soft aluminum.
 
I always use new valley pan. Have had trouble trying to use the extra gaskets because of milled heads, I suppose. I just use hy-tack on both sides of pan.
 
Do not use a gasket on "both sides of the tray", only to be used on the side that would contact the Aluminum intake when an Aluminum intake is going to be used! And yes, check for fit, It is deceiving as to the alignment of the bolt in the bolt holes until things are tightened. The raised ribs of the tray will have a tendency to hold the manifold up too high until things get torqued down. Start at the front on one side and start at the back on the other side and slowly work forward/ rearward till it snugs down. If this is imposable, due to shaved this and shaved that, Stop, and re-evaluate the need for the Aluminum intake needing to be shaved also.
 
Max1196 said:
Do not use a gasket on "both sides of the tray", only to be used on the side that would contact the Aluminum intake when an Aluminum intake is going to be used! And yes, check for fit, It is deceiving as to the alignment of the bolt in the bolt holes until things are tightened. The raised ribs of the tray will have a tendency to hold the manifold up too high until things get torqued down. Start at the front on one side and start at the back on the other side and slowly work forward/ rearward till it snugs down. If this is imposable, due to shaved this and shaved that, Stop, and re-evaluate the need for the Aluminum intake needing to be shaved also.
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Wrong torque sequence---------
 
Sometimes intakes will bolt right up correctly and sometimes they don't. Before bolting up a 'new to you' big block manifold, set the intake on the heads with no gaskets and check that the intake surface is parallel with the head surface. If not, mill the intake appropriately until it is. Then note the alignment of the bolt holes and the ports and use gasket thickness combinations to give you the proper fitment. Try to be smarter than your intake manifold.
 
IQ52 said:
Sometimes intakes will bolt right up correctly and sometimes they don't. Before bolting up a 'new to you' big block manifold, set the intake on the heads with no gaskets and check that the intake surface is parallel with the head surface. If not, mill the intake appropriately until it is. Then note the alignment of the bolt holes and the ports and use gasket thickness combinations to give you the proper fitment. Try to be smarter than your intake manifold.
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I check the bolt holes, but more interested in the port alignment, the bolt holes can be manipulated same as the ports to a certain extent
I have not had a mopar intake that was ever off very far. SBC/ DIFF STORY. Both the 426 hemi`s I had were spot on perfect !
 
I’ve reused the valley pan on a few engines with no trouble.
 
famous bob said:
I check the bolt holes, but more interested in the port alignment, the bolt holes can be manipulated same as the ports to a certain extent
I have not had a mopar intake that was ever off very far. SBC/ DIFF STORY. Both the 426 hemi`s I had were spot on perfect !
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Famous Guy I bet you do the same as I. Before I install the heads I ensure that the bolt holes and the ports in the head are aligned properly. Then before I install the intake I ensure that the bolt holes and ports in the intake are aligned properly. That is why God made porting tools, gaskets, felt pens and awls. I have personally never moved the bolt holes. If the bolt holes are so far off you cannot correct the ports, then the intake manufacture screwed up and you send the intake back and get a good one.

As this is about reusing the valley pan gasket, the only time I reuse the valley pan is when I'm testing 5 or 6 intakes during dyno runs. Yes I check the fitment and parallel before the tests.
 
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IQ52 said:
Famous Guy I bet you do the same as I. Before I install the heads I ensure that the bolt holes and the ports in the head are aligned properly. Then before I install the intake I ensure that the bolt holes and ports in the intake are aligned properly. That is why God made porting tools, gaskets, felt pens and awls. I have personally never moved the bolt holes. If the bolt holes are so far off you cannot correct the ports, then the intake manufacture screwed up and you send the intake back and get a good one.
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AGREE , I screwed up on a torquer 2 before this intake, I guess I let the gasket slip when laying out the ports. Runs much better w/ the warmed over victor now----------
 
I am so mad at myself i could bite a 440 in half right now! This whole intake deal, as i said, i really wanted a performer RPM but it would be too tall to fit under my flat hood and i didnt want to cut my hood. The hood WAS perfect, until today. I ended up getting the street dominator. I installed it today and i set the carb on top of the intake to make sure it would clear the hood. I lowered the hood and it hit the air cleaner stud and it put a dent in the damn hood! The dent sticks up about the size of that stud and of course it cracked the paint. Seems like every time i work on this car i screw something up. Just makes me sick!
 
383Scampman said:
Don't feel bad . I did the exact same thing . Have to do everything 3 times to get it right .
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Same here, but usually mess things up also, like this hood. Gotten hard to deal with. sometimes i think i should sell the car so i dont mess it up anymore..
 
mopower440 said:
I am so mad at myself i could bite a 440 in half right now! This whole intake deal, as i said, i really wanted a performer RPM but it would be too tall to fit under my flat hood and i didnt want to cut my hood. The hood WAS perfect, until today. I ended up getting the street dominator. I installed it today and i set the carb on top of the intake to make sure it would clear the hood. I lowered the hood and it hit the air cleaner stud and it put a dent in the damn hood! The dent sticks up about the size of that stud and of course it cracked the paint. Seems like every time i work on this car i screw something up. Just makes me sick!
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I did that on one of my hemi cars, ended p w/ a scoop anyway.
 
famous bob said:
I did that on one of my hemi cars, ended p w/ a scoop anyway.
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Now that the hood is dimpled, i wouldnt mind cutting the dang hole and adding a scoop, BUT, i sure as hell aint going to be the one to do it because im sure i would totally ruin it! If i knew someone that could do it right, i would go ahead and do it and i guess sell the street dominator and get the RPM. I dont know, i havent even drove it yet with the SD.
 
mopower440 said:
Now that the hood is dimpled, i wouldnt mind cutting the dang hole and adding a scoop, BUT, i sure as hell aint going to be the one to do it because im sure i would totally ruin it! If i knew someone that could do it right, i would go ahead and do it and i guess sell the street dominator and get the RPM. I dont know, i havent even drove it yet with the SD.
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with the dimple already there , it would be easy to figure out where to put it ---------
 
But if nuthin ever went wrong, you'd have nuthin to do. lol


Sorry, I do feel your pain. Happens to me all the time. You just keep on keepin on.
 
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