Intake manifold n heads questions

[Ibach73dart]

Hello guys,
I just removed my valve covers n Weiand intake manifold from my 318. After I removed the manifold I notice that the middle port was block off with something, see picture. Should that we open? Before I put it back together this weekend I need some advice first n what manifold gasket should I use.

Thanks
Bach

 

[RustyRatRod]

Yes it should be open.

 

[ocdart]

Hey Bach -
That 'middle port' is to provide heat to the area underneath the carburetor. It was blocked to keep that area cooler in order to provide a denser air/fuel charge through the valves. Some intake manifold gasket sets even provide a thin piece of metal to use to block the heat riser area. Blocking it or leaving it open is dependent on what type of driving you do.
I would leave it blocked unless you're either experiencing a longer-than-normal warm up in the mornings or you're planning to drive your Mopar during cold winter weather there in NorCal - something we here in SoCal don't need to worry about.

 

[67Dart273]

It might not have been blocked "by man" but rather from carbon. The larger "half moon" part does nothing, and is exposed with some manifolds. It is simply a casting cavity

I'm with leave it blocked if you are not experiencing cold weather problems.

 

[Ibach73dart]

Thanks Guys! I do want the heat, I just put on a new heater core. So the "half moon" does nothing? Because it will expose with the Weiand manifold. I'm going to drive the car more so I should leave it open? Below are the two gasket I found, one is open and the other is close for my manifold.

 

[C130 Chief]

The half moon keeps the floor of the rocker chamber cooler so oil doesn't coke up there. For street use, especially if you intend to drive it to work in the morning, I'd run the lower gasket

 

[Ibach73dart]

The half moon keeps the floor of the rocker chamber cooler so oil doesn't coke up there. For street use, especially if you intend to drive it to work in the morning, I'd run the lower gasket

Thanks, yeah I plan to drive it to work in the morning, but won't the oil come out of the half moon??? See pic

 

[pishta]

half moon is blind, there is nothing down there. Fill it with water and watch it boil out. That carbon in the passage needs to come out, just chip it out with a screwdriver. Itll eventually make its way out the tailpipe. The half moon is there to isolate the straight exhaust heat from the heads, any air pocket will insulate. The sealing on the stamped steel gasket is just the outline of the passage, see it?

 

[Ibach73dart]

half moon is blind, there is nothing down there. Fill it with water and watch it boil out. That carbon in the passage needs to come out, just chip it out with a screwdriver. Itll eventually make its way out the tailpipe. The half moon is there to isolate the straight exhaust heat from the heads, any air pocket will insulate. The sealing on the stamped steel gasket is just the outline of the passage, see it?

Thanks, I didn't know that there is nothing down the half moon blind. I put a screw driver in there and oil came out of it. I clean up the carbon and going to clean some more later. So it is fine if the half moon expose after I put the intake manifold back on? Here are some more pictures and I guess the previous own put something to cover the half moon.

 

[OldmanRick]

The half moon keeps the floor of the rocker chamber cooler so oil doesn't coke up there. For street use, especially if you intend to drive it to work in the morning, I'd run the lower gasket

Clean out what you can from both ports & run the open gasket like the "Chief" said. Unless you have a cracked head.....not likely.....the half moon is irrelevant. Any oil you found in that passage is just some old residual junk, more then likely. Once you install the new intake properly, you should be good.

 

[Daves69]

Clean out the half moon.

The other hole is the heat crossover. Allows heated exhaust (not coolant) to warm the manifold. Your post #5, to me, seems to imply coolant.

 

[Ibach73dart]

I will clean out the half moon and maybe use a suction to get some oil out and I will use the open gasket and hopefully I don't have a cracked head. Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[Ibach73dart]

Everything are cleaned n ready to be put back together. I even painted the manifold, valve covers and carb. Now I'm on a missin to find the 1/2" heater hose nipple! I going to try some hardware stores and get a brass fitting. If you guys know where to get one please let me know.
Thanks

 

[txstang84]

If you have a NAPA nearby, they're the place to go--there's probably someone behind the counter that knows a precise part number or at least knows how to look it up in their old school books (sometimes the best way). 1/2 NPTx1/2" heater hose...they should be able to hook you up quick.

 

[Ibach73dart]

If you have a NAPA nearby, they're the place to go--there's probably someone behind the counter that knows a precise part number or at least knows how to look it up in their old school books (sometimes the best way). 1/2 NPTx1/2" heater hose...they should be able to hook you up quick.

Thanks, I'm gonna go there after work and hopefully they have one.

 

[Daves69]

I think Vans sells them...............

http://vansauto.com/enginebrackets.html

 

[Ibach73dart]

I went to Napa and the lady there have no clue what I was looking for and she try to sell me a female connector to an air tool. I ended up at Ace Hardware got this one and it fit!!! Hope it will work for now.

 

[Ibach73dart]

Completed! Thanks for everyone help!