360 intake manifold problem?

[OldJoe54]

So I have a 75 Duster, original slant 6. I found a 75 360 c.i. engine, came out of a motor home. I took the intake manilfold off, wanted to clean it up. looked underneath and this tray a bit beat up. Is this normal? Is this something I have to fix? I have no experience on this engine. Thanks in advance.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

That plate comes off . The spiral rivets come out by tapping around under the edge with a small chisel. They spin while coming out like a screw. Clean under it , straighten it and reinstall by tapping them back in. If you block of the exhaust cross over in the intake it is not needed. It is there to keep the oil of the hot exhaust cross over that is used to heat the intake and also operate the choke

 

[cudamark]

Yeah pull the plate and clean out all that burned oil carbon or it might break off and get into your oiling system. It gives you a chance to check for cracks in that area too. I always magnaflux all EGR type intakes.....especially the spread bores. The thin secondary webbing is the most likely trouble spot, with the EGR area second.

 

[TF360]

Or, if you can afford it, pick up a nice clean new one from Eldebrock (made in USA)