I'm changing the 2V on my 1969 351W to a 4V and I've bought a
69 Ford cast-iron 4V manifold. I'm hoping someone here can
tell me why someone might have done 3 things:

1. The exhaust passage in the intake manifold from the #2 to
the #7 cylinder has has been welded shut. Is this some sort
of performance modification to keep the fuel cool?

2. Two passages at the front of the manifold (water passages?) have
been welded shut. Another performance mod? Is this a problem?

3. There is a 1/8" Hole in the baffle plate (valley shield, valley
plate)? I'm planning to remove the plate and clean it, then I'm
assuming I should weld the hole up before I bolt it back on.

Any ideas?

 

>I'm changing the 2V on my 1969 351W to a 4V and I've bought
>a
>69 Ford cast-iron 4V manifold. I'm hoping someone here can
>tell me why someone might have done 3 things:
>
>1. The exhaust passage in the intake manifold from the #2
>to
> the #7 cylinder has has been welded shut. Is this some
>sort
> of performance modification to keep the fuel cool?
>
>2. Two passages at the front of the manifold (water
>passages?) have
> been welded shut. Another performance mod? Is this a
>problem?
>
>3. There is a 1/8" Hole in the baffle plate (valley shield,
>valley
> plate)? I'm planning to remove the plate and clean it,
>then I'm
> assuming I should weld the hole up before I bolt it back
>on.
>
>Any ideas?

the heat cross over should be located between the 2nd and 3rd runners on the passenger side and the 5th and 6th runners on the drivers side. you should have a water cross over running from the thermostat housing and entering the heads infront of the 1st and 5th intake runner. ive seen the heat cross over blocked off before but never welded shut. the pan thats located under the manifold is very useful in keeping hot oil from raising the temp under the carb.i just pull out the rivets and then tap the holes and bolt the pan back in place. make sure to use the proper thread locker on the bolts. i would like to see a picture of this intake. i mention that because the 351w uses a wet style intake while the cleveland uses a dry intake.

 

Sure, I'll take a picture of it tonight.

I thought the baffle plate was to keep the hot exhaust in the
heat crossover from burning the oil beneath the intake. (Instead
of the other way around.)

What does it mean for the water passages to be welded shut?
That doesn't sound like a good idea to me. (But, I guess it would
help for me to show you a picture first so that you know which
passages I'm talking about.)

I think I'll leave the heat crossover blocked unless someone
wants to warn me not to. It doesn't get too cold down here in
Texas anyway.

Thanks for the reply!

Byrom

 

the picture will help alot. i first wondered if maybe you have a cleveland style intake vs a windsor. does your intake have the thermostat opening built into the intake.

 

That's what I was wondering 'cause there's not that many old 351W 4V manifolds floating around...

 

Yes, there's a thermostat housing at the front passenger side.

The passages are blocked at the corners. The blocked passages
I'm talking about go to the heads. At the moment, I don't
remember whether they are at the front or the back of the
manifold. I think they are at the front, though, near the
thermostat housing.

Why would someone do that? Is there another way for water to
circulate to the heads?

(I'm working on getting a picture. The part number is C90E-9425-E.)

Byrom

 

BBB- I'm afraid that he has a cleveland manifold... hope not but it sounds likely. the picture will tell the story.

 

Why would a Cleveland intake have a number like C9OE? I
thought the Cleveland engine didn't come out until after
1969? (Like 1970?)

 

Here's a couple of pictures of the manifold.

Here's the top:

http://www.colquitt.org/intake/intake01.jpg

Here's the bottom:

http://www.colquitt.org/intake/intake.jpg

I've circled the spots I'm talking about. The heat crossover
and the back 2 water passages are blocked. I've circled those
in red.

Here's an example of what the blockage looks like:

http://www.colquitt.org/intake/intake04.jpg

I received a reply via e-mail that basically said not to worry
about it. The hole in the baffle needs to be repaired. It would
be better for cold-weather driving if the heat crossover weren't
blocked. Apparently, the blocking of the rear water passages is
no big deal, though.

Thanks for the answers!