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Intake wont fit after head job

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ThikStik

My sleep apnea is winning
Joined
Mar 27, 2002
Messages
1,680
I sent my low mile, uncut heads off to be done, they got messed up so another pair came. Im using RJC gaskets and the intake wont fit. About 60%of bolt hole is visible and i can force a bolt into each side. Ive heard of notching holes, but that would throw off port match and im not even sure top of gasket would seal. I have to cut intake, anyone have advice as I have terrible luck with machine shops?
 
I had a set trued up and they fit perfect. The shop only had to take .007 off though. I would be calling the shop back and tell them the heads are bad. I wouldn't cut the intake. There are just to many good stock uncut heads out there.
 
There were...

a few guys that have had this done, unfortunately I can't remember who. But post your location and you might get some suggestions near you. Otherwise, it may be more prudent to send the intake out to one of our reputable member/vendors.
You're probably only talking about .010" off each side, but if the job gets botched, you're back to square 1.:eek: This is going to make your heads and intake a matched set.
 
Its not out of the ordinary to have to cut your intake down, I have it dont all the time.
Make sure it is done by a reputable machinist.
 
Theres no knowing how much they took off, as I said, they damaged my low mile oe heads so they found another set of 8445's and messaged them. I know that there are areas on a heavily cut head that become shiny from reaching the cutting stone that otherwise are rough appearing than on a less cut head. And these heads showed those new found cut areas. Would you guys say just cut 010 from intake and be done? It wont bolt on w/o really forcing the bolts...does that mean that the intake gasket may be so off, especially at top, that it for sure has to be cut?
I wonder how common is to have to cut intake. These heads got port/polish and are on so no turning back or car will be sold not running. thanks

PS- Otto, regarding reputable machinist, i hear ya. Thing is i use the best and get burned over and over. It would be very easy for them to botch this correct? I very well may sell if this is done wrong. Car has been down 3.8 years because of mistakes at machine shops.
 
Im in Birmingham, Ala. I cant use Howtons as they ruined a set of heads on a valve job when they cut exh boss down andafter a year of oil burning, i took them back and they sat there for over a year. I cant use Precision machine...they gave me 3.5 clearances on my rods, and knocked over my crank after they polished it and charged me to then cut it.
I'd rather send intake to someone here. Altho that hasnt worked out so well lately .
 
Do the holes line up without the gasket installed? You could try the one piece felpro valley pan gasket. Not as thick and you might squeek by:biggrin:
 
That s a thought , ill go see. Im thinking i could also push car out of garage and light it off, but then all this is not its fault!
 
gteater,

Without the metal viicto-reinz gaket in place the holes line up very closely. The gasket is .050 and im sure squisshes down which make me wonder , should i just tighten one side and see if the other side start to line up more and "accept" the bolts? Is it very easy for a machine shop to mess up a manny? ( for me it is, just saying)
 
I wouldn't just tighten one side then the other, unless you have a spare intake lying around. Ask me how I know:biggrin: Did that on a road runner when I was 16.
 
Not a big deal to cut the intake. Also not a big deal to throw a set of thicker headgaskets on it. Keep in mind that if you're intake isn't lining up, you're probably in the neighborhood of 9:1 compression.
 
Re compression , yea that bothers me. One head had exh valves set alittle deeper than the other. cc's will not be even . Chambers were polished on both, maybe thaqtl cut down compression alittle.
Re intake cutting-Will machinist know how much if i bring in intake gasket and let him know it fits w/o gasket ?
 
Send it to Otto...

Re intake cutting-Will machinist know how much if i bring in intake gasket and let him know it fits w/o gasket ?

at least he has a known experienced machinist w/the tr intake. He may know the crush on the gasket and can make an educated guess to the conservative side.:biggrin:
 
If it were me I would cut the intake surface of the head so that those heads and intake don't become married and useless for a different set of heads later on.
Mike
 
at least he has a known experienced machinist w/the tr intake. He may know the crush on the gasket and can make an educated guess to the conservative side.:biggrin:

Shadow, not sure who your referring to, a certain machinist here on website?
Or do you mean that it will have to be a TR familiar machinist?
Mike-Thats interesting info, Hate to pull heads its been second time for putting heads on with 0 run time. The first set was very well ported/strong running and i told them not to do a valve job just fit valves and NOT to mill them. they did a fulll v job that set valves in very low and left tiny margin on intake valves, and used a no name exh valve called SB International. Ive heard some experts on porting/flow say that a deep set valve is not a bad thing but it left no way to run stock rockers for sure.
I wonder if a conservatively cut intak would fit on another set of heads that had , say, 1 or 2 millings.
I wonder if Id drink less if I had a diff car!
 
Do the holes line up without the gasket installed? You could try the one piece felpro valley pan gasket. Not as thick and you might squeek by:biggrin:

Maybe I try buying the felpro, or measuring one anyway. The Victor reinz should crush to about .022-.025. Anybody know what the Felpro crushs at?
thanks
 
I just ran to Azone to mic the Felpro 96033. Its even thicker ,.062 so sadly that wont work.
 
Check TA PERFORMANCE parts site ,you will find intake gaskets in different thicknessess,,I also had a machine shop ruin my intake manifold.
 
Check TA PERFORMANCE parts site ,you will find intake gaskets in different thicknessess,,I also had a machine shop ruin my intake manifold.

Interesting..thanks.
So did machine shop goons buy back your manny? here, they would ruin it, blame it on the customer, leave filings all thru it, and tell you your lucky they would take on a job for a tr then charge you full price. Yes Precision Machine in Birmingham , Al , im talking about you.
 
I only noticed it was cut wrong when boost started leaking into lifter area. vacume at idle was OK ,intake gasket could not seal properly 6 months later ,i never went back to machine shop,i purchased a used intake manifold from intercooled and had JOE from JB RACING match port it to my champion iron heads and will use ta performance custom gaskets
 
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