The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Off the wall -- can the casting plug location be used 4 offenhauser heat?

I did my due diligence using google to search here. I read all the treads on offy-Fenton combinations as well as treads on manifold heat.

Background:
Stock 235 recently rebuilt with Fenton headers, stock intake, and Rochester 1bbl in a 1954 3100. - currently no heat to intake

Bought a t5 and Tom Langdon dual 2bbl 32 Weber carb setup.

I plan on buying an offenhauser dual intake. I have not seen this setup first hand, however, the spacing looks tight (especially at rear plug)

Questions:
1. rather than welding the casting plugs, has anybody opened them up for fittings to heat the manifold with water (of course with a base plate covering the normal location?

2. Is there clearance on the back plug location? Front plug?

3. Does the water jacket (for lack of a better term) connect to them? They must since there is a concern of leaking.

4. is this a silly question?

If I thought of this, surely someone else has.Inquiring minds want to know if this is possible

People have reported leaking at these plugs. I do not know how they sealed the leaks (high heat JB Weld?).

I have used both coolant and exhaust gas with your same set-up.

I prefer to use the correct 2-pipe-hole intake-base-plate that seals through the middle of the plate (with either coolant or exhaust gas/heat). The single pipe/hose plate does not take advantage of the end-to-end (in-and-out) flow that the Offenhuser instake provides.

I have used both coolant and exhaust gas.
I prefer exhaust gas because it heats up the intake more quickly than the coolant does.
I prefer exhaust gas, because the coolant "allows a disaster" if/when a hose breaks/leaks.

The best way to deal with the casting plug is have them welded shut (Heli-Arc? or something like that) using an aluminum plug.

It seems that the three big things I need to do to use an Offy header is: Grinding to fit w/ Fenton, Heat Plate, and Welding the Casting Plugs.

So, the brain says - I wonder if they could weld a fitting were the casting plug is and just use a plain plate for the middle for heating. I guess I better get my order in for the intake manifold and find out.

I don't know if it is hair brain or not -- I starting to think hair-brain as I doubt I can improve on Offy's method and the clearance room looks really tight.

Why water over exhaust for me: The toy will not come out in winter, so quick heating is not a necessity. Also, the argument that the hot water can perhaps lower the temp of the manifold on those dreadfully hot humid Iowa Summer Days - Whether it is true or not, I am not sure.

The counter point of using heat from the exhaust manifolds, which would eliminates a potential messy accident also weighs on me. It is a winter projects, so I have months to waffle back and forth!!!

This is one of the benefits of owning, I get to research, tinker, and start over if I do not like the results

I've proposed my own ideas about providing manifold heat that is absolutely goof-proof, but nobody was interested, so I quit suggesting it.
Jerry

What Tim said .