Hello On the 430 i am rebuilding the heads have been ported. The runners on the intake side are not flush with the gasket face or surface any more,there is a definite recess and two notches on each,like each runner could vac leak from the other. The heads porter i know says this could be filled and made flush again. I do have another set of spare 430 heads,the runner walls are also slightly recessed but not as bad,almost flush with the gasket surface. This could not be a stock feature is it? How would the devider wall get recessed like this with only gas and air? Thanks for any hints! Randy H. Maple Ridge B.C. 58 Olds J2 72 Cutlass Convert 72 Cutlass(Buick430)
Randy from what i remember, all the early sets of heads i have owned have had a recessed center divider between intake ports. the early steel intake gaskets didnt have a center divider in them either. your heads should be fine.
Randy, that was very common on the early heads, the center wall was so thin, that it would shrink up and cause the condition you are describing. The original factory 67 intake gaskets did not even have anything there in between the ports, so apparently they did not feel it was an issue. It won't cause a vac leak. Buick fixed the problem later in 68 and 69 by making the port smaller and making that center divider wall closer to 1/4 of an inch. Jim Burek
pics of recessed intake devider walls Hello I see the thinner walls compared to the later heads..i saw a pic of 455 heads and the devider walls were much thicker and flush. My ported 67 heads almost look cracked or weakened. http://images.andale.com/f2/115/106/3596099/1101039461263_1107_014.jpg Note the indented/curved devider not flush with face of head... http://images.andale.com/f2/115/106/3596099/1097871949406_1107_015.jpg The spare 67 heads are not as deep... http://images.andale.com/f2/115/106/3596099/1098391764135_1107_013.jpg I am guessing these were flush when stock? I did hear tell of this when making headers for a car once,,,the devider walls were 1/2"recessed into the head from factory. I was thinking of making a devider that fit up inside the head but was told the air follows the tube and its not needed. I am guessing this is the same with intake side of head..air wont travel between ports but finds the easiest path...straight. Thanks again for the help! Randy H. Maple Ridge B.C.
