The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Intake manifold question

I'm upgrading my Intake Manifold and carb on my small block 283. Does it matter if I'm fitting an aluminium Intake to cast cylinder heads? Cheers.

Stooby,

Just my $.02 worth but I have been running an aluminum intake on a '66 327 since 1985.

You shouldn't have any issues if mating surfaces are all good.

Dan

Stooby Where aluminum intakes suffer is when they set for months not being used. They will get bad corrosion like cavities in human teeth. A friend with a 454 3x2 intake had to have extensive heli-arc welding to save his. You can use Dex-Cool anti-freeze and service it to help.

Be sure to check the torque on the manifold to head bolts frequently, and use hardened steel "SAE" flat washers between the bolt heads and the manifold. Anti seize compound on the bolt threads is also a good idea. The different expansion rates between the aluminum manifold and the steel bolts has a tendency to compress the gaskets and create vacuum leaks.
Jerry

I have aluminum intakes on ALL of my carbureted engines and, knock on wood, have never had an issue. One went 360,000 miles after I bought the truck and installed the aluminum intake.

I did have the issue Jerry mentioned, but with an aluminum cylinder head (about 4 inches thick, rather than the 1/2~3/4 inch thickness of the intake mounting flange).

The different expansion rates not only compressed the gasket, but stretched the head bolts.

Jon

I holed a piston on a 460 cubic inch Dodge 440 truck pull engine during a dyno run one night, because a couple of intake bolts loosened up and created a lean condition on one cylinder. Of course, that was at 6500 RPM and 700+ HP on one (Quadrajet) carburetor and gasoline!