The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Intake alignment sleeves

I have a 1953 factory replacement 235 in my truck. the alignment sleeves are missing, thus bad vacuum leaks. Does anyone know 1) where to get them, or 2) what the dimensions are so I can make a set out of locally obtained tubing?
Thanks in advance.
Ed

Google Chevy 235 intake/exhaust alignment sleeves. Several of the usual venders sell them. 🛠

Use pieces of exhaust pipe with a slice cut out and trim the length to fit the hole. It takes a little cutting and trying, but the sleeves don't seal vacuum. They only align the manifold so the gasket can do its job properly.
Jerry

Ed,
I actually just installed my intake and had the same issue as you. I was able to use a or I believe it was a 1” copper coupling cut to the correct length. As Jerry mentioned, there for alignment purposes only. You mentioned vacuum leaks. Make sure the intake/exhaust manifold are not warped. Hopefully just a thicker gasket will solve your issues.
Good luck,
Jim

I got a set at Classic parts a few months ago.

George

The alignment rings can be obtained for $10 bucks and shipping.

https://www.ecklersearlychevy.com/c...216-and-235-ci-6-cylinder-1949-1953.html

Bad vacuum leak, try a rim flex gasket. They work really well. Really the best gasket I have ever used with my Clifford headers.

http://catalog.remflex.com/CHEVROLET_GM_CHEVY_Header_Exhaust_Manifold_Gasket_p/2027.htm

Just use a spring steel piece from a wooden crate strap. It is likely already the right width and once you get it cut it will stay in the hole without any work...remember it wants to be straight and flat.

Here's what I used

https://i.postimg.cc/6QJs184n/Manifold-Seals-GM-NOS.jpg

Go to ebay & type in the part # in the search box


George
'54 3600

Hmmm . . . . [five ? rings - listed as “seals” ?]

Ask the eBay seller about the number of rings, before you buy.

Right on the GM package it says , seal .

https://i.postimg.cc/SNVCt2Z5/235-Manifold-steel-ring-seals.jpg

Take it up with GM........I had nothing to do with it .

GM decided to package them ( 5 ) to a package ........why ?



George
'54 3600

The Master Parts Catalog lists that part number as having 3 sleeves per pack.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/1929_57chevyparts/57cmpc0268.htm

Some reproduction parts vendors sell them in sets of 3 and others in sets of six? [thanks, Jerry]

Since a stovebolt engine only has three intake ports to deal with, why do the resto-ripoff guys sell the sleeves six at a time? Price gouging, or just ignorance?
Jerry

I have a 263 straight eight in my 37 Buick and it cracked two exhaust manifolds which are getting hard to find. A friend that ran a small block Chrysler in his circle track car which isn't an engine that every FLAPS carries header gaskets for clued me in on red high temp silicone. I then used neither alignment rings or gaskets which I figured might let the manifold "creep" between hot and cold. That was twenty years ago and still holding with no leaks--exhaust or vacuum. The manifold and head MUST be surgically clean before applying sealant.

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/Rq34bd8V/Pont-heater-Buick-sealant-003.jpg[/img]

Dang, Evan. Now I'm not saying that you are crazy, but it is crazy to me that the high temp silicone would withstand the exhaust heat. But then, since there is no gasket there, the silicone got squished pretty thin so it can't really get blown out.
It reminds me of how anaerobic sealant works on sealing the 2 halves of 2-cycle outboard case. It must be squished very thin to work. It also has to withstand some high heat conditions.

There are GM NOS ( 3 ) intake manifold sleeves on ebay right now
@
$12.00..........they are in excellent near mint condition .

Fits 1950 to 1962 ALL ( ex.216 )

Go to ebay & in the search box.......type........3835506

PIC

https://i.postimg.cc/bvhKcZLf/3835506aa.jpg

They have the correct factory specs - correct thickness - the correct spring action & the correct depth & the correct I.D. & O.D. when closed

and are made in the U.S. A.

Certainly better then out of spec homemade .

So , why buy made in china fake repro's .

Here's a GM NOS set that sold on ebay last month for $7.00 .

PIC

https://i.postimg.cc/j5br9XmN/3835506e.jpg

GM NOS for less then chinese fake junk .


George
'54 3600

I put 23K trouble free miles on a 216 sans those rings..... When I R&R'ed the head the originals were toasted beyond reuse so I installed the manifolds without them as I really wanted to see if the engine would run. It did and the need never arrose (?) for said rings.....

I did install those rings on my 235, haven't put any miles on it yet but it's getting oh so close...

I don't believe those rings will stem an intake or exhaust leak, IMHO they are to keep the gaskets inline whilst installing the manifolds, IMHO ofcourse LOL...

Getting an assembly as heavy as the intake/exhaust manifolds perfectly aligned so the gasket seals correctly is a matter of being lucky, not necessarily good, in most situations. It's a lot more likely to happen with those three little pieces of tubing in place. The suggestion about using a piece of steel crate banding strap is one I'm definitely going to remember! There's also a set of dual-diameter rings available to make a 216 manifold fit a 235 head, or the other way around.
Jerry

Yeah, Jerry, I'm not good, lucky, or smart so Buick did me a favor and used dowl pins at the front and rear of the exhaust manifold rather than bolts---kind of makes alignment dummy proof.

Like Jerry said, getting the gaskets in place without the sleeves is quite a task. I have had issues with it in the past and want to get this thing running properly. Thanks for all the suggestions. I may try the banding iron method if I can get my hands on a piece.
Ed

Why make them when all the vendors sell them...

https://www.classicparts.com/1934-5...6wJC4oy4N3sCscuUSb6Ke_7epU4aAnEgEALw_wcB

Mike B