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Hello, I have this 1985 460 from a F-250 4x4. When I got the truck it had a Holley 600 on it. The previous owner had removed some smog equipment. I changed the carb and it started and ran fine most of the time. I just decided to install a Holley Brawler carb. Upon removing the Edelbrrock I was reminded of this weird factory spacer under the carburetor. It is apparently partially modified but still is forcing air to denigrate to center of the gasket. What is the best solution for this situation ( short of a new intake manifold? The Motorcraft part #. E4HE9A589-DA. Thank you
That EGR plate gets it's exhaust feed from the heat riser in the intake manifold
Plugged off like you have it is the best option short of replacing the intake
Clean air act of 1977 "All Cars will have a EGR valve" lowers combustion temperature and lessens NOx formation
Put an aluminum intake on it sometime with no EGR provision if you want
Hello, I have this 1985 460 from a F-250 4x4. When I got the truck it had a Holley 600 on it. The previous owner had removed some smog equipment. I changed the carb and it started and ran fine most of the time. I just decided to install a Holley Brawler carb. Upon removing the Edelbrrock I was reminded of this weird factory spacer under the carburetor. It is apparently partially modified but still is forcing air to denigrate to center of the gasket. What is the best solution for this situation ( short of a new intake manifold? The Motorcraft part #. E4HE9A589-DA. Thank you
i went with a aftermarket intake manifold about 8 years ago. It didn't have egr provisions. It's hard to beat the stock for torque.
That EGR spacer plate already has a block-off plate where the EGR valve used to be.The only 'problem' is that exhaust gasses will still heat up that intake manifold. That's OK if you live where it gets below freezing, but not needed most places. I prefer to block off the passages into the intake from the cylinder heads by using a gasket set with the block-off provisions like this:
Note the 'open' insets and the 'closed' inserts for that center exhaust gas passage. Alternatively, I use a piece of .030 stainless cut to fit that location. Also note that this is for SBF, not 460s, but the idea is still the same. Block it off at the intake manifold gasket.
Last edited by cougrrcj; Mar 15, 2026 at 10:14 AM.
You could also use a 1/2 NTP plug. You can go to Harbor freight and get a tap and die set for 1/2 NTP. Run the tap down that EGR hole just enough to get threads. You don’t need to go all the way down and then plug it off and then you can put on your new gasket and that EGR spacer plate back on and that should help stop burning up the gaskets. I just did this a few weeks ago for a 460 I’m overhauling. It was pretty easy to do.
