So I have my intake manifold (90 5.0L E7 heads) marked out to gasket match the intake runners (from intake manifold to intake ports in heads) to the gasket. It's been years since I did any real engine work so I'm a little nervous and thinking of ways to avoid starting the job.

It occurs to me that centering the gasket nicely on the intake manifold ports doesn't mean that I'll get a perfect alignment to the ports on the heads. It seems to me that I should drop the intake manifold back on the engine, mark the edge of the intake on the heads and then measure from those marks to the tops and sides of the ports on the heads and then measure same points on the intake to ensure that when I start marking out the gasket outline on the intake and the heads , they will both line up with each other......

So, two questions -

1. Did anyone understand what I'm trying to say ?

2. Am I right ?

Thanks,

 

Match metal to metal. I make sure the head and intake ports are matched, then cut out the parts of overlapping gasket material for flow.

 

I think what you wrote made perfect sense after I read it the second time, Ferguson777, haha. I get what your saying, if you used bolts then there is still some give, and the only way to know if it is correct is to establish reference points on the top and sides of the gasket to the intake in order to see exactly where the gasket sits. Something else to consider is, you only go 1" to 1 1/2" into the port on the heads so I would imagine it would also apply to the intake. You probably knew that, in case you forgot, I thought I would share. I think your on to something, good luck with your port work, later

 

Thanks gents.

 

The reference you should use is the bolt holes not the ports. The intake can be shifted around quite a bit until you tighten it up--so as long as you are pretty close with bolt centering, you should be fine.
Use a gasket for a reference and cut a much thinner piece of cardboard to use as a template. There are squared off places at both ends at the bottom that index the gasket to the heads.
Match the template to the heads from like indexes cut on the new thin cardboard template. Next, mark the bolt holes on the template for center on the heads to reference when you transfer to the intake. Mark and cut the intake just a little under size initially. Then fit the intake to the long-block and make a feeler "L shaped" wire to scrape inside each port to ensure you have a smooth transition from head to intake. Cut in small increments. Blow out the intake between fittings. Matching both pieces to the gasket is more work than just matching the intake to the heads. Usually the intake is smaller than the head port. Also transition/smooth the valve bowl, valve seat transition and the short radius turn nearest the valve.

 

Thanks very much. That really helps.

 

Something I have done in the past was to drill four 1/8" holes in the intake manifold (two on each side) thru the manifold, thru the gasket and just into the head. If you do this after you install and torque the manifold it will give you easy referencing. Take the manifold back off then all you need to do is insert two drill bits into the holes and hang the gasket on them. Just be careful to drill the holes where they will not cause harm or bad sealing.

 

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