67 L79 intake manifold installation

[Randy R.]

I am assembling a 67 350 HP engine and am having difficulty installing the intake manifold. I purchased an intake manifold gasket kit from Long Island Corvette because the gaskets in this kit are supposed to be shaped correctly. With the gaskets in place, the bolts securing the manifold to the heads do not line up. Without the gaskets in place, the bolts line up. The holes in the manifold are clean with no burrs. The manifold surfaces are flat. The mating surfaces on the heads are also flat. The gaskets that fit between the head and intake have raised faces around the openings. The originals do not.

Could the new gaskets be too thick? Any other ideas?

BTY,The head gaskets are steel and the manifold to head gaskets seem to be a little too long because the right rear does not line up with the square depression on the rubber gasket that fits on the cylinder case.

Thanks for the help.

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 L79 intake manifold installation

Randy------

The original gaskets used by GM were embossed, as you describe the gaskets you got from LI. Assuming that such gaskets were used the last time on your car, you will noit be able to see the embossment upon disassembly as it's "flattened". These embossed gaskets are absolutely the best ones to use on a small block.

Your problem with bolt alignment with the gaskets installed may be caused by heads which have been excessively "decked" or a block that's been excessively "decked". If you can still see the numbers on the pad, then the block is not the problem.

Usually, with heads that have been significantly milled, it's necessary to use thicker composition type head gaskets. Your use of steel shim type gaskets with heads that, possibly, have been milled excessively may be a big contributing factor to your problem.

[Randy R.]

Re: 67 L79 intake manifold installation

I got it on. I had to remove the rubber rail gaskets and use silicone instead. I then installed the two end bolts on one side and aligned the other side using a small needle bar.
Thank you for the help.