The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 216 manifold installation

Good morning Bolters. The Old Dominion guys helped me get my 216 running a few months back. I am now looking it over to get ready for a paint job. I noticed when it ran on the test stand there was a "holiday" between several of the exhaust ports and the head. A friend of mine told me I need to break apart the exhaust from the intake, and reinstall the rectangular gasket between them. When I go to final mount against the head he said to keep the two manifolds through bolted but loose. Make the connection at the head per spec and then go back and snug up the 4 bolts between the manifolds at the lower end. This sounds reasonable. Any thoughts ? I'm not too well versed in the engine department. - Thanks Joe

My dearest Joe,
I too had that issue! Just take the complete manifold assembly to your local machine shop and have them mill it so everything is nice and level. Just a couple of bucks!
Your friend!

Good Morning Sunshine.....(53 green 1-ton) I guess thats an option. I measure it and find its 0ver a 1/16th. The machine shop would be taking away a fair amount of parent material to get it milled square.

And.....I'm outright annoyed with my local machine shop after what he did to my rear hubs pressing in those studs.

I do it right, because I do it twice. I do it once and then you or John come over and undo my messes. Shop is open. I found a 5:14 in the yard. Any interest ?

Your friend gave you good advice. That is the way I have done mine for years with no problems. If it works, great, if not off to the machine shop or another manifold set up.

Rick

Thanks Rick - I'm taking it off today and I'll soak the bolts in PB for a few days. After that I'll see if I could separate the two. As a rule I excel at rounding rusted bolts and end up at the machine shop anyway.

If the gasket between the intake and exhaust at the heat box becomes deteriorated, the manifolds can shift out of wack once you remove them from the engine and bang them around. I often kick mine, as they seem to often be under foot in my spacious, yet busy (trashed up, messy) shop.
I would not send it to the machine shop until you replace this gasket and install the manifold assembly to the head with the bolts loose as you have described above. You may not need the machine shop.
Carl

Well gents.......I was able to break apart the intake and exhaust manifolds this morning. Tomorrow I sandblast. I have seen some photos where the intake is a different color than the exhaust. Next I research paints. Thanks for all the comments. Joe

Original intake/exhaust was engine color. Don't expect the exhaust manifold to hold the paint very long.
Carl

There's a product called Calyx, search the internet, that will keep the exhaust manifold looking like cast iron. Use a toothbrush to apply it. A little bit goes a long way. Easy to touch up as needed. I'll never paint mine again.

Rick

Thanks Rick - I just found the product on Eastwood's site.