[DeTomaso] Mismatched Intake and Head Ports

[Mike Drew]

Mike,

You're a spaz. :)

Boss 351 heads and standard 4V 351C heads are identical, except that the Boss heads come from the factory with machining in the rocker arm mount area so they can accommodate adjustable rockers, because the Boss came with solid lifters. The rest of the head, including the intake ports were absolutely identical. 

Now, it's possible that at some point somebody decked your block, which lowers the heads and alters the relationship between the intake and the heads. Normally the intake is machined accordingly if a bunch of material is taken from the block. The heads are not only lower, but also closer together since they move closer to the centerline of the engine as they are moving down. So the bottom of the intake may need to be machined to allow it to fit properly.

Could that explain the mating problem you are seeing?

Mike

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 12, 2016, at 20:24, "Mike Becker" <mikebecker679 at gmail.com> wrote:

>   Hey Gang,
> 
>   I've just torn down my top end on my Pantera because the intake
>   manifold gaskets were completely destroyed.  They were the so called
>   self-destructing Felpro Print-O-Seal / Print-O-Leak gaskets.  Only, I
>   see now what the real problem was.  I went to fit my brand new
>   Edelbrock gaskets and there's no way they'll work! It turns out I have
>   BOSS 351 heads and a Cleveland intake!  This undoubtedly contributed to
>   the early demise of the old intake gaskets.  because in the mismatch,
>   there are several places where there is minimal surface contact in
>   order to sandwich the gasket.  The result is that the gasket isn't held
>   in place for long.  While the engine was still assembled, there were
>   places where the entire blue stripe on the gasket material was
>   completely exposed, i.e. not sandwiched between the intake and the
>   head.  See attached photos for the results.
> 
>   So, now what do I do?
> 
>    - Switch to aluminum heads for a couple of grand (can't really afford
>   it)
> 
>    - get a BOSS intake (can't seem to find one, they all look like
>   windsor intakes, except for one NOS unit for 3 grand!)
> 
>    - fabricate home-made gaskets
> 
>   I saw some nice original BOSS 351 iron heads on ebay for $2500.  Are
>   they really worth that much?  If so, mine are still very fresh, maybe I
>   could sell them to fund a set of Trickflow aluminum heads.
> 
>   Somebody please help me before I blow a gasket!
> 
>   thanks,
> 
>   Mike Becker (San Diego)
> 
>   1741
> 
>   <<...>> <<...>>
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