The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Fitting offenhauser intake and fenton headers...

I checked the local engine shop and he just scrapped a bunch about 4 months ago. Anyone have a junk 848 head lying around to fit an offenhauser intake and fenton headers to or have any other ideas on where I might find one? Would prefer not to pull the (848) head off of my 52 while I grind away on the aftermarket intake/exhaust.

jthuma94,

I don't know if this would work, but it might be a solution. As I understand it, the slight interference is between the intake and manifolds, so why can't you just clamp those two to a flat surface using gaskets as the 'faux head'.

Even a flat 2X4 with the gasket outline traced on it would allow you to screw one of the manifolds down while you ground and trial fit the other.

As I understand it, the new Fenton's have a overly thick flange that cocks the hold down clamps. The slick procedure is to have the manifold flanges surfaced...sometimes even at a slight angle. This allows the hold down clamps to sit evenly, and tips the exhaust manifold down and gets rid of the interference.

I haven't done this..just read about it! Maybe it might be worth investigating.

Stuart

jthuma94;
I happen to have an old 848 head that I had bought off Ebay that didn't pass my machinist's magnaflux test. Right now it's sitting on my floor gathering dust. If you are interested in it, PM me and we can discuss it. By the way, I detailed the grinding and machining I had to do to fit my Offy and Fentons up on the Engine Rebuild album on:

http://community.webshots.com/user/geezer

You're on the right track. Using a mock-up head is ESSENTIAL IMO. The flanges on the repro headers are thicker to a different degree on each flange. That's why just milling the flat side won't do. They have to be done individually. I did mine with a mock up head on my bench. I was extremely careful not to overgrind. I'll bet I put them on, measured, removed and grinded about 20 times for each header. I could only imagine the frustration trying that with the head in the truck.

Sent ya an e-mail 49 Geezer about the 848 head... I looked at your webshots and it seems like if you surfaced the header to be equal with the intake flanges, like automarc suggested, instead of milling the top you might not have to grind as much, if any, on the back of the intake.

Anyone in Kansas have a junk head for a 235 laying around? Tried all the junkyards and machine shops in the Emporia area... just realized I hadn't asked the only rod shop in town. Long shot but I am desperate! Shipping one of these things is ridiculous!