Intake Manifold installation advice
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Hampstead NC
Intake Manifold installation advice
I have everything cleaned up and am ready to re-install my intake manifold on my 89 and I ran into a confusing situation and am looking for some advice.
The Fel-Pro gasket set instructions tell me to install with the coolant blockage to the rear of the engine. It's even printed on the gasket. However my Cheverolet shop manual says the blocked port on the gasket should be installed at the front of the engine.
I clearly do not want to get this wrong. Any help would be appreciated.
At this point I am planning to install according to the Fel-pro directions
I checked at NAPA where I got the gasket set and they agreed with that approach
Thanks
Thom
The Fel-Pro gasket set instructions tell me to install with the coolant blockage to the rear of the engine. It's even printed on the gasket. However my Cheverolet shop manual says the blocked port on the gasket should be installed at the front of the engine.
I clearly do not want to get this wrong. Any help would be appreciated.
At this point I am planning to install according to the Fel-pro directions
I checked at NAPA where I got the gasket set and they agreed with that approach
Thanks
Thom
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 764
i just went thru this on my 90. i can tell you the restrictor port is on the rear of the intake. is your Chevrolet shop manual, a factory service manual for the 89 corvette?
BTW, if your avatar is your 89, that color combo is one of my favorites!
EDIT: just checked my 90 FSM -- it states, "Coolant passages restrictors in gaskets to be positioned at REAR of the engine..."
BTW, if your avatar is your 89, that color combo is one of my favorites!
EDIT: just checked my 90 FSM -- it states, "Coolant passages restrictors in gaskets to be positioned at REAR of the engine..."
Last edited by Joe C; Feb 21, 2014 at 05:02 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 413
From: WV
My 89 FSM has the same mistake.. I can't believe GM screwed up something as important as the intake gasket directions, "but they did"...The restrictors go in the back , I have made the appropriate corrections in my 89 FSM, do the same in yours.....
.I've also found a few Torque specs they have in the book to be wrong.....It really sucks when you can't even trust GM to get there Factory Service Manuals right....
...WW
.I've also found a few Torque specs they have in the book to be wrong.....It really sucks when you can't even trust GM to get there Factory Service Manuals right.......WW
Last edited by WW7; Feb 21, 2014 at 09:39 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Hampstead NC
Thanks!
I thought it was weird that the instructions in the manual would be 180 degree's from what everybody else was recommending. I have updated my FSM and will install the manifold tomorrow with the restrictions to the rear of the engine. Thanks, after so much work cleaning and preparing it is nice to have some piece of mind that I am doing it correctly. I've included a couple of pictures to show off some of the results of my cleanup efforts. Lot's of hours soda blasting and then cleaning, but it is rewarding. Looking forward to seeing how it's going to run after all of this!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 413
From: WV
To make the job last a lot longer, you may want to use something called ( The Right Stuff) on the front and rear China walls...This stuff is a rubber compound and not a RTV sealant...It's much tougher and sticks much better then the RTV sealant.. Everyone I know that has used it liked it better then RTV....There's also something called " dimpleing" that you can do to the China wall that will make the sealant not tend to push out from between the china wall and the intake manifold... You take a ***** punch and dimple the china wall (front and back) about every 1/2" across the entire wall..This gives the sealant something to hold onto and stops it from pushing the sealant out from between the opening...A guy that use to race Chevy Small Blocks told me about this years ago and it has worked great for me.......WW
Here is a link to a thread telling how well (The Right Stuff) sealant and the dimpling process works.....
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...aking-oil.html
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...WWHere is a link to a thread telling how well (The Right Stuff) sealant and the dimpling process works.....
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...aking-oil.html
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Last edited by WW7; Feb 22, 2014 at 08:36 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,700
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
To make the job last a lot longer, you may want to use something called ( The Right Stuff) on the front and rear China walls...This stuff is a rubber compound and not a RTV sealant...It's much tougher and sticks much better then the RTV sealant.. Everyone I know that has used it liked it better then RTV....There's also something called " dimpleing" that you can do to the China wall that will make the sealant not tend to push out from between the china wall and the intake manifold... You take a ***** punch and dimple the china wall (front and back) about every 1/2" across the entire wall..This gives the sealant something to hold onto and stops it from pushing the sealant out from between the opening...A guy that use to race Chevy Small Blocks told me about this years ago and it has worked great for me.......WW
Here is a link to a thread telling how well (The Right Stuff) sealant and the dimpling process works.....
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...aking-oil.html
.
.
.
.
.
...WWHere is a link to a thread telling how well (The Right Stuff) sealant and the dimpling process works.....
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...aking-oil.html
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.
.
.
.
With Will. Using the Right Stuff will pretty much eliminate china wall leaks. I have found dimpling is not needed using this material; it sticks to anything. It also takes some effort removing the intake manifold in the future, and cleanup is a little bit of a chore. But not having a leak back there is more important
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