manifold is off 56 special

[Guest tv56]

Hey all..

Well, I took off the intake manifold today.

It was very easy to do. There is a square

plate under the intake which was leaking

exhaust, and, is also rusted but I think

usable. I notice there was red silicone

gasket sealer both on the top and underneath

the steel gaskets for the intake. Is this

necessary? Also, The square steel plate under

the intake I am going to have to make a gasket

for. Is there any special material to use?

How about the core plug thing? I didn't see

anything like that yet...I also cleaned

some serious carbon deposits off the intake

ports on the cylinder heads, is this common

with these nailheads? Some fell into the heads

but I think I got most of it back out, had the

port holes plugged with a rag but some little chunks

may have fell. Hope this won't hurt anything when

I start her back up...

Well, I thought I'd report in with you guys,

let ya know what I'm breaking this week..

Talk to you soon,

Tom V

[old-tank]

If you reuse the steel intake gaskets use a small(!) layer of black or gray RTV (for cosmetics) on both sides.

To clean out the intake ports rotate the engine so that the intake valve for that port is closed and blow it out...repeat for the others.

The gasket for the bottom side is a special material not readily available for fabrication of a gasket. Anything will work for a while. I have some extra gaskets if your looks like THIS

(size may not display accurately..it is about 3" x 3.25")

I can mail to you if it will work for you.

Willie

[Guest tv56]

Thanks Willie. That looks like the gasket to me. I will

measure the steel plate to be sure and E-mail you back.

That is a very nice offer. I will contact you soon.

Thanks again,

Tom Vellozzi

[JohnD1956]

That plate takes the full heat of the exhaust. If it looks rusted it probably has pin holes. That's the plate we discussed at Guptils. I went to a metal shop and they cut me a square piece of thick steel for mine. Then I put that on with a new gasket like Willie is offering you. That was at least 1988 and it's still going strong. Don't put that plate back in there. The steel gaskets for this manifold are getting tough to find, and they are a one time use only. This plate would be the equavilent of the other plug described and you would not have both, only this one on a 56.

Meanwhile, before putting the manifold back on , I would think about permanently sealing off the exhaust ports to the manifold. This exhaust is sent there to help with carb de-icing in the winter. It is generally not necessary in the summer. Usually that carbon you saw will also gum up the bottom of the carb and is caused by these ports.

The 56 has dual exhaust on most cars so if your heat riser valve is working okay ( or removed) , then you do not need these ports and it will help your carb stay cleaner.

[Guest tv56]

Thanks John. I have a new old stock plate and two gaskets

coming from a place called the buick farm. I was surfing

the other night and stumbled onto them listed on their site

so I ordered them. I don't think the heat riser valve looks

very healthy . I don't know if it leaks but I will know soon.

Willie< if you are reading this I won,t be needing those

gaskets you offered me, but thanks again. I will let you

guys know what happens.

Thanks again,

Tom

[old-tank]

Tom

I'm glad you found what you needed. Anyone else interested in this gasket before I put it back in my pile of excess gaskets?

Willie