intake wont fit properly

[Gene]

I recently purchased a new performance 10 to 1 360 short block fron Chrysler. It has a deck height of 9.56". I am using a set of 340 X heads that havent been milled, just surfaced for straightness, I also am using a 340 edlebrock troker intake. After I installed my heads and set my intake on, I noticed that the intake bolt holes dont line up with the head very well. Seems like the intake needs to go down more in order to bolt up. Any suggestions why this wont fit right??? Thanks, Gene

[moparking]

If the intake isn't sitting on the end gaskets,(toss them &use silicone)you have 3 options.#1 elongate the bolt holes in the intake to fit. #2Have the intake face of the head milled to fit. #3Have the gasket face of the manifold milled to fit. If using option #1 consider the alignment of the intake runners to the ports in the head.If I had the choice I would modify the intake, in one way or the other,before doing anything to a valuable set of heads.

[Gene]

thats what I was thinking also,I dont want to mess with my x heads, took too long to get them, not to meantion the work on them also, to have the intake milled but how would I determind how much to tell the machine shop to take off each side without taking my entire engine to them? Also I set the intake in place without any gasket and it still needs to go down more. Could I make some kind of template for the shop to go by, thanks, Gene

[George G. Leverette]

Had the same problem with the Mopar shortblock, performer RPM heads and intake. Had to have the new intake milled.080 to get the proper fit. Give Cummings a call and have them make a recommendation, they have the specs on all of the Mopar engines they rebuild.

[345Dart]

Gene
What thickness of Int. gasket are you attempting to use? and what clearance do you have between the end seal surfaces (front and back) when the intake is torqued in place - (no end seal gasket)?
I have had a similiar problem and was using Fel-pro .060 gaskets. The intake bolt holes did not line up with the head threads.
Found a set of .045 gaskets (Victor) and set in place and all seems to line up - ie head threads are in the middle of the bolt holes.
As suggested/manditory - dispense with the end seal gaskets and use silicon seal.
As I never had the end seal surfaces milled, I am down to ±.060 between the seal surface and the intake seal surface when the intake is set in place and bolts tightened.
I also removed the head gasket end tabs and ground ±.030 off the edge corners so there would be nothing on the end seal surface that would hang up the intake from dropping into place.
You may need more due to the 9.560 deck height, but you would be suprised at the amount it dropped with only .015 thinner gasket on each side.:ide

[kudah440]

Its been mentioned to lose the end gaskets a few times, just gotta write to agree I guess. Even with all the stock 318 340 and 360 blocks I have rarely had one that would accept the end gaskets with an aftermarket manifold. like moparking said, slap a good bead of rtv in there instead. (make sure its fully cured before starting it though!)

[340duster1]

You can make your own intake gaskets using a thin gasket paper. I did this on a 340 engine that the heads were cut 0.030" . I also eliminated the end gaskets because of their thickness as well. I did not want to mill the intake because it would be usless on an engine will no deck or head milling.

[rumblefish360]

George G. Leverette and myself had the same problem. I traced it to 1 side of the deck being milled more than the other. Driver side pistons were 10-12 positive and pass. side was zero.

[George G. Leverette]

Gaskets do not appear to be the problem, the intake will not go down far enough without any gasket. My machinist recommended making several cuts to ensure too much was not taken off, there was a charge for each cut, after a long conversation about professionalism and ability to get the job done correctly he made the correct choice and it works. Put the responsibility on doing the job right on the pro, give him the info he needs and expect good work.