I recently picked up a new block and my old intake manifold has seen
better days, lots of pitting an such, and we couldn't get it to hold
any pressure when we prressured up the block for any length of time.
My mechanic has had problems with vacuum leaks in the past so he
automatically pressures up the water jacket (I think htat's what he's
presuriaing up, the four vent at the corners of the intake where the
water goes through are involved). We ordered in a "new" intake and
when it arrived my mechanic said he though it loked like a pulloff.
On the surfaces where the gaskets are supposed to go you can see arced
milling marks that look as though someone to a 4 inch grinder, tried
to level it out and then moved down to the next spot to do the same.
Sort of overlapping arcs down the surface.

You can run your fingers down the surface of the area where the gasket
goes and feel that the surface is not level in spots, in fact you can
see visible high and low spots. The "new" intake won't even get a
seal where we can pressure the block up to 3 psi. If we use it water
is just going to end up in ht eooil resevoir and then I'm SOL. When I
talked to the vendor he said on new GM manifolds you can see the
milling marks. Anyway, the plan is to send this one back and they're
shipping out a new one. Not sure I should trust that the new one will
be any better.

Is it common for "new" intakes to have machined surfaces that aren't
level to the touch? I find that odd.

later

Steve

You may want to consider an aluminum after market manifold. There are lots
available in automotive performance catalogues. Get one that you carb or
throttle body will fit.

--
Ron White
Boat building web address is
www.concentric.net/~knotreel

I've had a edlebrock rpm plus for 6 years now with no probs. I have a
holley on it but it takes either 4 barrel. In fresh water though.

"Ron White" wrote in message
...
You may want to consider an aluminum after market manifold. There are lots
available in automotive performance catalogues. Get one that you carb or
throttle body will fit.

--
Ron White
Boat building web address is
www.concentric.net/~knotreel