When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
This is a 390 rebuild that I'm doing. I had the block and heads machined at the same time just on the gasket surfaces, not in the intake surfaces. I used Fel Pro 1020 Head gaskets which have a thickness of .041" I started putting the intake on using FelPro Printo seal performance gaskets and could not get all the bolts started at the same time. I'm using an Edlebrock 2105 intake. The heads were in good shape as far as casting goes and they didn't look to have ever been worked on much. The block had never been rebuilt before. After I got all the gasgasinch and rtv cleaned off I placed a set of stock FelPro gaskets on there for reference and have included pics. The gasket holes are way off and I can't imagine How that much could've been milled off. I'm not sure if it would help to pull the heads off and use stock replacement head gaskets or if I just need to have the intake milled off to match it and call it good using the print o seal gaskets again. If so, how much would I need to have milled do you think? .020-.030" ? I'm sure I'm missing something in the explanation but any help would be appreciated. Thanks
Never mill the intake manifold. It ruins that manifold for any other motor or another intake if you decide to change it later.
To do it properly, you should have the intake surface of the heads milled the same amount that you had milled off the combustion chamber side.
Never mill the intake manifold. It ruins that manifold for any other motor or another intake if you decide to change it later.
To do it properly, you should have the intake surface of the heads milled the same amount that you had milled off the combustion chamber side.
Kinda what I was thinking based on my experience but wasn't sure. I was wondering why they didn't do that at the shop when they re worked the heads
I used to moonlight as a machinist for a friend that built drag boat engines mainly. Top alcohol and nitro included. These things are a mosaic of aftermarket race parts; really expensive parts. Anyway there are tons of fitment issues to sort, that's where I came in.
Do not machine intake if possible. Have the heads' face milled, the question is how much. I'm not certain you can measure the the head deck to determine how much has been milled. Trial and error may have to do - going too far is really bad. lol.. Typically .005 - .010 will cleanup a head deck surface. These have had more than that judging from pics. Dry fitting is your friend. Once heads are re-machined and on block, fit intake. The end sealing surfaces will be awfully close to the china walls; you do not want interference there. Make sure it fits everywhere. You will also now have a mismatch where the head face, china wall, and block deck come together. It will leak(oil) if not properly sealed there. Sorry man, that sucks, but can be fixed.
You can't imagine the hours poured into making things like this work together. Lots of stories. We built some spec roundy-round engines that weren't quite spec, but never got caught or claimed. Lots of late nights and hangovers...was awesome (thirty years ago!)
