Building
a Strong Street Machine
By: Jim
Hand
Part 9:
Intake Manifold Crossover Matching
The Q-Jet intake manifolds from
1967 to 1972 are functionally equivalent (except for type of chokes)
and will bolt up to any 1965 and up heads and front cover. The 1973/74
manifolds are similar in function (and will bolt up) but have the EGR provision
which requires a matching push rod cover (1973 to 1979). The 1975 and later
Q-Jet manifolds have the EGR, restricted secondary openings, and poorer
overall design.
There is a problem that occurs when
using 1967 to 1971 manifolds with 1972 and later heads. The exhaust crossover
opening on the right side of the manifold is much taller than the crossover
opening in the head. Unlike the earlier head, the 1972 and later heads
have an additional opening immediately above the small crossover port and
this prevents either the early gasket with a large opening or the later
gasket with the smaller opening from sealing the crossover. The solution
is to use the small opening gasket (72 and later) with a thin stainless
steel shim to cover the total area presented by the intake manifold opening.
(Only stainless will work; other materials will burn through.) Use copious
amounts of high temperature silicone seal on both sides of the gasket and
shim. Incidentally, the opening is there only to save weight and does not
need to be sealed.
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