The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop I screwed up

When I was sandblasting my intake manifold I forgot or let's say I did not know and see that there is a spacer between the manifold and the carb. There was so much mud and dirt cacked on that it was hard to see.
Sand blasting dose not help the shape of this spacer.
It is a 235 with original Rochester carb
My question is.
1) why is this spacer there ?
2) where can I find a spacer or does any body have a old one which he can part with?

I found a supplier in Vancouver BC, but he want's $65.00 Canadian.
I also found a slighly smaler one and was be able to make the bolt holes larger to fit on, but the hight was different and the mounting studs in Header are touching the carb. Can I use in adition two thick gaskets to get the proper height?

I believe it is a heat insulator. Without it the heat from the manifold could heat up the carb and cause a vapor lock. Have you checked Chevy Duty? The whole carb is $100 so I doubt the spacer is more than just a few bucks.

Fritz,you can also order one from LMC.listed at 14.95 on page 56 of catalog. you can order on line for free catalog at www.lmctruck.com.as mentioned by first response it is called a heat insulator. good luck, Joker/Fred in tx

Or post an ad in the swap meet here. I'm sure someone has an extra phenolic spacer laying around for next to nothing. Maybe even free.......

Just be sure you order an insulator for a 235. As you have found out, the insulator for a 216 is different size! Also shop around, LMC at $15 might be a little high. I suggest Chevy Duty at $7 or so.

Did you try your local mom & pop parts store?

I will check with Oly.I brought a manifold for a 235 over there and I do not remember if the spacer is there or not.I may have one at the other place as well(It will be free if I have one )

Yes I keep checking all those Mo and Pa parts stores.
The problem is where I live enithing older than 10 years get's trown out. Even builings older than 40 years get torn down. Calgary is growing so fast that nobody cares about old beautifull things.
Mechainiac that would be great if would check into it. You can contact me privatly.
That spacer is the last thing what keeps me from starting the old engine.

When you put the carb on that manifold watch out for the little vacuum port cutout. It has to line up with the port in the carb base. The PO of my truck had that the wrong way round. So the truck never ran good for him.

Thanks Kedso never thought about it. Shows how much I know.

When I took my truck apart for the first time, I took a close look at that spacer ...Someone had fashioned mine from a piece of oak and painted it black.. Had I not taken the engine apart, I may never have noticed it.

I machined an aluminum insulater plate for my "235" cause my original one fell on the floor and broke in 5 pieces! :mad: Then put 2 gaskets on it, one on the top and one on the bottom bolted it back up and works great! No problems at all. And it also looks great! If anyone is intersted in a aluminum machined one msg me please.

PJ, great idea! And much better than a phenolic (wood resin) spacer.

I know I had an extra one someplace; but I can't seem to locate it .

May have lost it the last time I moved.

If you end up making one, be sure to use a non-flammable material. Last thing you need is to have a backfire, only to learn a few miles down the road that your carb has caught on fire due to a smouldering spacer.

Umm, the whole reason for a phenolic spacer was to keep the heat away from the carb when you shut of the engine- it prevents heat soak. An aluminum spacer is not a good idea. Wood is ok, since you have to get it quite hot to get it lit (hotter than the oil in the engine).

http://www.chevyduty.com/

Part# 81-212

$6.96 before shipping

Fritz,
if you have not bought anything from ChevyDuty before, be warned that they use UPS. When the part gets to the border, Brokers handle it. I ended up paying a fortune in Broker fees on top of GST etc. You can contact UPS and set up a brokerage account but I don't know how that works.

I know we as Canadian get hosed by UPS ( I call them UNITED PROBLEM SERVICE) We had to many problems in our business with UPS. If possible I always ask for
US mail and if the dealer insists in shipping Via UPS he realy does not want do do business with me. It's a great way to loos customers.

Oh, you mean United Package Smashers.