So I'm on to the building the top end of my motor and I'm putting on a Edelbrock performer 390 intake on with Fel pro gaskets and I can't get the bolts on all 4 corners to line up straight. I notices that the intake was about an 1/8 " higher than the head surface for the valve cover to seal. Now I managed to get 3 out of 4 of the bolts in on the corners (not without a struggle) but the 4th would not line up. It wouldn't go so hesitantly I ripped it off silicone sealing and all!! Anyways I removed all the silicone and gaskets and placed just the intake on the bare heads and it bolted up fine and the two mated surfaces for the intake and head were flush and there was a 1/8 gap under the front and back where the gaskets lay. So it seems the two side gaskets are what are causing the intake to sit too high and holes to not match. Now is there a different thinner type gasket I should use (special Edelbrock maybe) or is this a problem with the head sides needing to be machined because someone might of shaved the base of the heads???

 

I always use a bead of silicone on the ends instead of the cork gaskets. I would also advise against using Fel Pro Print-o-Seal intake gaskets for this aplication, they have a reputation for failing on this engine.

 

73 ford guy,

I just finished overhauling my 390 about 2 months ago and I install the edelbrock performer RPM 390 and I didn't read the instructions completly, but in the instructions they actually say to use silicone at the back and the front of the manifold, once I did that everything fit perfect.

 

thats not the case here I tried the intake with side gaskets in place and no front and rear gaskets and it still wouldn't seat properly. I'll be taking my complete engine on stand with intake to machine shop this weekend. I gotta have this thing done soon for Tough truck Comp!!

 

Sounds to me like someone milled the heads a few thousandths to bump the compression a lil'. Take it in to the machine shop, and he will know, and if this is the case he can mill your intake a little and everything will fit peachy. My dad and i had this problem on a 340... swapped heads and everything was perfect.

 

I'm not changing heads now though I've already had them re valved,new seals, oil restrictor plugs and valve springs to match my crane cam so it looks like I'm gonna machine the intake side of the heads or the intake. I'll find out soon I guess...Heres a pic of it now with it just mocked up until I get this problem figured out. Its a complete rebuild including 30 over bore with new forged pistons

 

daaaaammmmmmnnnn son lookin sexy. tho with that being an FE im not sure where you will end up milling but i dont see how youre gunna mill the intake side, if im right that would cause problems with the valve cover bolts... i would assume it has to be done on the head, but dont quote me.

 

I had the same problem with my 390 I just made it fit. If you get all of the other bolts in and tightened down some then that last one should go right in there. Then after that one is in and threaded in aways loosen the rest of em up a bit and torque em down. The valve cover I wouldnt worry about it should suck down some when you get it tightened down then just use a healthy amount of silicone and put your bolts in and your done.

 

So I just got my intake back from the machine shop and we went with 40 thou taken of each side and it worked out good($190 bucks later). The only thing now was it sat a little lower on the front and rear so I just ran a big silicone bead front and back instead of the cork gaskets. What a relief to have it finally fit nice with the valve cover surface mating nice and flush with intake... I hope to install motor in the morning : )

 

Ya gotta love FTE. Building a 390 for my 75 F250 Camper Special, and when I went to slap on the Edelbrock intake I absolutely could not get the bolt holes to line up. I'd had my heads decked, and I thought that might have something to do with the fact that the intake lay 1/8" high over the heads where the valve covers go. Started wondering if there were thinner gaskets available or some other tricks to overcome this problem. Searched FTE, and danged if 73 Ford Guy hadn't posted the solution 15 years ago. Off I went to my machinist, and $60 and .040 off each side of the intake later it fit like a glove.

Thanks 73 Ford Guy, and thanks FTE community!