Do you need the heat?

I don't think so, but will the water try to push around the seal if there water in the center head passage and there's also a passage in the intake manifold?

460 has an exhaust crossover in the center. (to heat the plenum under the carb)

Water at each end.

So can you block off the exhaust port in the center with a gasket? Is it a good idea?

If you don't live in an area where it is often sub-zero...
The truck may take a minute longer to warm up, but the cooler charge is denser.
It's only there to help atomize fuel on cold starts.

The gasket will burn out anyhow, unless it has a stainless insert.

So what would be your best advice on what gasket to use?

Also, what should I use to seal it up and how should I go about it (sealer, adhesive, etc...).

Back in the day we would just cut a little piece of shim stock and glue it in place on the head before setting the gaskets.
It works fine like that.

There are "racing" gaskets available.

I don't think I mind those ports being open.

Could you point me towards what you call "racing gaskets"?

Also, what should I use around the water ports (and possibly exhaust and intake ports) to seal them up well?

Thanks for helping me. I'm trying to learn, and I really do appreciate it.

You have 'print-o-seal' gaskets, they shouldn't need any sealant.
If you're REALLY worried about coolant leaks you might smear a THIN film of Ultra Black or some other kind of silicone around the water ports on both the head and intake.
The most important thing is to torque in steps following the recommended pattern.
Leaks are caused by uneven tightening.

Okay, thanks for the info! Some people have told me to put silicone around every port and all kind of stuff. Just seems like a hack to me... I would like to put a little bit of stuff around the water ports. Is Permatex #2 good for that?

I just got the torque pattern for my Stealth intake off of Summit's site, so I should be good to go there.

I don't know anything about #2 except it is non-hardening and resistant to oil & gas.
When I'm trying to seal water or coolant I use silicone.

Okay, silicone is fine with me. You mentioned black RTV, is this the one you're referring to, ?

Thanks

Ultra anything (I used Ultra Gray on my timing case yesterday) , or "The Right Stuff".

Hey Collin. It looks like everything is coming along well. I'm glad to see that your getting some help and making some good progress. I can't wait to see it all together and finished, should be sweet.:-jammin

Yeah, it's coming along okay, but I've run into a lot of issues... It'll all get together though.

Yeah I've noticed that, but you seem to be working through those issues pretty well. So I'm sure you'll get it all figured out and good to go.:-X22

I wunna know what kinda mpg you get. I want to put a cummins or 7.3 in my but the power,sound, and cheapness(compared to a diesel) is awesome. That and I'm sure it won't break as many zf's...

Well, MPGs are going to suck with mine. The engine I'm working with is a 460 bored .030 over with a huge cam and ported D0VE heads. Plus the compression it's got will require high test gasoline. With the other 460 (1973) that I had in the truck with an RV cam and Stealth intake I could get up to 12 MPG on the dual lane @55-60 MPH with my C6, 4.56 gears, and 37s.

Yeah, I'll get it there. All timeframes and budget were thrown out the window a while ago, haha...

With everything I've run into is just feels like I'm always getting knocked into the ditch every time I start making progress. Just how it goes.

Hopefully after I replace this intake manifold gasket and set the timing (again...) I'll be good to go.

Tat 12 mpg is pretty dang impressive with a 460 and of all trans a C6. My friend has(had?) a 97 CCLB f350 4x4 with 35s and a 2"ish lift with an e4od and I think 4.10s, he said it gets 9mpg when he drives it good, 9 mpg when his girlfriend drives, and 9mpg when he floors it. Of course it has like 228,000 miles?

Yeah, pretty typical.

I'm betting on like 7-8 mpg with this engine I'm working with now. I'll tell you after I get it up and going.

A performance 460 that's running with no overdrive (as a c6) with 37s and is carbeurated is not going to get good gas mileage lol. I hope my truck gets atleast 12 with 4.10s, efi and a just rebuilt tranny.

Yeah, mpg will be bad. I like the C6 though because its strong and I don't mind not having OD. I can do 55 mph around 2100 rpm and thats a fairly good place for a 460. I used to run 33s and 4.56 gears and 55 mph was like 2550 RPMs. Was fast as all get out, but highway RPMs sucked. MPG was about 10

I'll probably buy a ranger or an f150 with a 300/stick/3.08s for MPG fairly soon. The 460 will be purely for play and maybe a heavy load here and there.

I want to buy a nice running rcsb 300/5speed 4x4 for mileage after I'm out of school or if I start all the sudden actually making money(known as a JOB[which I don't have a real one yet]). I also want a set of 37" militaries for mine and eventually the 38" XMLs.

What else do you have planned for your beast?

Sounds like a plan.

Not sure what I've got planned for it in the future. Have a few things in my head, but I really am just consumed by my engine swap right now.

Got my intake gasket and other stuff ordered. Should get to work on it Sunday or Monday.

Got the new intake gaskets in on Sunday afternoon. Ended up going with Victor Reinz gaskets. Used studs to line up the gaskets, and used Edelbrock Gasgacinch to help seal the gaskets. I also used Permatex #3 aviation sealer around the water ports and a thick bead of Permatex #2 instead of the cork front and rear gaskets. Torqued the intake bolts down in the correct pattern to 10 lb/feet and let the gaskets/sealers set up until Tuesday morning. Then I torqued all of the intake bolts to 15 pounds then 25 pounds, again in the correct order. Got the distributor back in and fired it up. Adjusted the timing and carb enough that it would idle down okay. Started driving it just to find out that the parts store had given me the wrong size U-joint that I put in. Got the right one in now. Took it to someone with a timing light and got them to set the timing up right. The timing must be a little too far advanced because I was getting some spark knock when I drove it earlier today.

well looks like you got a bit of timing to fix and then you owe us some burnout vids lol

Yeah, haha. Not sure I'll be burning these new tires yet.

Slap on some old rubber and smoke em!!!

Some updates:

Got a new fuel pump on the engine because the old one wasn't working well and I was having to run my electric pump.

Got the chrome valve covers on the engine finally. Looks good. I'll try to remember to snap some pics. Had to use a different breather with the new valve covers.

Fuel and voltmeter stopped working on me the other day. Scared me for a minute, but turned out it was just a blown fuse. The PO stuck a wire right into the fuse plug for the dash so that the electric carb choke could have power. I'd seen it before, but didn't know that was to the dash gauges or I would have moved it.

Dealt with spark knock issues with my "new" engine for a few days, but I think I've got it set up pretty decent now. A little bit difficult getting timing just right on this 10.5:1 beast so that it'll run well on 93 octane pump gas. Drove it 160 miles today. About 82°-85° during the drive and the engine water temp stayed between 180°-195° on the highway stretches @55-65 MPH and up and down some hills. Crept as far up as 240° sitting at long stoplights. Need to get the fan shroud on the radiator so it'll draw air through the radiator better while sitting still. I was just running straight water in it today, so temps may be a little lower when I put a coolant mix into it. Overall I'm finally feeling pretty good about how everything's going.

Still have to wire in my new gauge lights and my new voltmeter and tie up the wiring. Hopefully I'll get to that soon, but I'm pretty busy.

Well, I just read all 8 pages of the build and it seems like it's coming along nicely, even with the minor speed bumps you've encountered. Great looking truck.

Thanks man! Glad it was interesting enough to read through it all! I've definitely run into some issues along the way, but it seems to have finally all paid off.

Ok, I've got a couple questions. Is the first picture of the truck at factory ride height? I got a deal on some 36"s, but need to get some clearance before I can roll'em. Second, where did you get the sweet ass lights you put in your grille, and the push bar? Third, a little stalkerish, where do you live in NoVa, I'm in the eastern panhandle, about 30 or so miles from leesburg

PM'ed you. Check your inbox

Hey Collin how've you been lately? Glad to hear that you got the engine in and seem to have everything good to go for the most part now. It sounds like you've pretty much got it figured out know.

I bet those chrome valve covers look sweet on there. Got any pictures of it? I would love to see those.

So how'd it drive with the new engine in it? Much of a difference from the old one?

I'll snap an engine pic tomorrow for you.

The old engine pushed the truck a bit slower when I switched to running 37s with my 4.56 gears. With the new engine it's about as fast as the old one with the 33s and 4.56 gearing. Definitely more powerful. Spins the 37s effortlessly.

Ok, can't wait to see it.

Yeah that's what I figured. You said the new engine was a little more built than the old one right? I bet its even more fun to drive now. And I'm sure you've tested out spinning those 37s haven't you?:-roll :-X04

Went to start the truck this morning and the battery was down fairly low. I left the key in it and I'm hoping it was just that I'd left the key turned over a little. Hope I don't have something drawing power that I don't know about. I hate chasing electrical stuff...