I'm curious to know how critical the seal is against the heads to intake in what i think is the heat crossover in the intake manifold. (center most port) I picked up a cast iron intake and one side was rusted so bad and/or poorly cast and there is no longer a smooth surface in what would be that center port of the intake and center port of the heads. It is about 1/32" lower just near that center port in the surface. opposite the indendation for the choke thermostat. if this is a critical spot how critical is it? I'm thinking brazing a bead along that edge and grinding it flat although I'm not sure how the head would take to getting red hot in that location. also what is a good way to remove the rust from the inside of the intake manifold I thought about sand blasting the innards but I don't think that would remove enough. Nate
I bet you could take it to a machine shop and they could dip it to get rid of the rust. On the other note about the pitted seal...I don't think it's critical for a perfectly smooth surface, as you'll be using black or blue TRV in this area to seal it anyway. OR, you could have the machine shop mill the intake smooth, but if they take any real amount off, you;ll have to mill the head surface that meets the intake to get them to mate equally. But again, I don't think that's necessary to mill anything.
I don't have any personal experience replacing an intake, but I'd guess that the pits or casting imperfections aren't that big of a deal. Reguarding the rust, see if you can find a shop that can shot blast the intake. It's a lot like sand blasting, but the media is steel shot
sigh. Its flippen cracked around both corners of the heat cross over where the edge is turned in. SON OF A BI*** guess I'm waiting even longer to get it running.. how critical is it to seal that location? I have nothing else to loose so I'm going to try brazing that area. there was JB weld on it and that's since burned off. I should try to find another intake though there are no buick's of this age range near me that have 4bbls in them. shoulda just bought the ta intake..... Nate
I dont know what engine you have but I have a 4bbl intake for a ~71? 350 ready to go. Let me know if interested.
while we're looking around for intakes, how about a 73, 74 and a 75 Buick intake for a 4bbl. I'm in need of one each. They can't have been ported. Thanks.
