The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 216 - Rings between intake manifold and head

My ODSS brothers, Mike B, Chris and 53-green 1-ton helped me get my 216 started last year. I was never able to seat my intake/exhaust manifolds seated sqaurely against the head. I tried everything - even a different manifold set. Then it hit......I looked closer at the rings that go between the intake and head. They look to be home-made and of different depth. And too deep. I bet they are made from old exhaust pipe stock. I have 2 questions: 1) For test stand purposes can I run the motor without them, 2) are after market replacements available. If not I guess I will grind these down an 1/16" or so to get them to seat without creating a holiday between the manifold and the head. Thanks - Joe PS: Mike B - I had that Zenith carb rebuilt, what a difference !

It's a pretty simple task to narrow your home-brewed rings a little, but yes, replacements are available. There's even a set of stepped rings for fitting a 216 manifold to a 235 head, which has different manifold and head hole diameters. I'd use my lathe for fitting purposes, but a vise and a file will also work if you support the rings with a piece of dowel rod or something similar to keep from collapsing it while you file or grind the thickness down a little. Try some of the antique parts vendors who advertise here.
Jerry

I have decreased the depth of the rings by carefully using a belt sander.

http://www.classicparts.com/1934-53...216-235/productinfo/89-305/#.VrdfYpMrKdE (for 216s and pre-1954 235s)

http://www.classicparts.com/1954-62...Sleeves/productinfo/89-306/#.Vrdf75MrKdE (for 1954-1953 235s/261s)

Larrow & Sons use to make sell those port-size-adapters (but their web catalog is not working). Jim Carter used to sell them, but they do not seem be listed now.
If you find them listed on-line, please post links

You do not need the alignment rings to make a good seal, but is very hard to correctly align the manifolds assembly to the head without the rings.

Jim Carter engine intake rings

http://www.oldchevytrucks.com/cart/index.asp?sdes=me236

http://www.oldchevytrucks.com/cart/index.asp?sdes=me237

Patricks has the stepped adapter rings in his catalog.

I made some for my 302, just get some tubing that is too big, cut a piece out 'til the correct dia., then weld if you wish.

Ed

I see where this is going, I will work with the rings I have by sanding/grinding them until I get a flush fit. Thanks for all the suggestions Bolters.