Re: Intake Manifold ‘Hot Spots’

[Anonymous]

<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;”>OK, I did some searching and have confirmed that Ford’s Y-Block middle ports are indeed connected to the exhausts, to provide heat to the choke and carb. However I also read that besides the known  discoloration issue, this often results to cracked heads as well, especially in warmer climates! Anyone facing this problems?

<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;”>One remedy I read about somewhere, was to improve water cooling in the area, by drilling holes on the block(?) and installing Fel-Pro’s improved head gaskets. Unfortunatelly I lost the link; has anyone heard on this? 

<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;”>The other is to use Intake Manifold gaskets that have  those middle ports almost blocked , leaving a small opening only. I ended up finding in http://www.bestgasket.com ,  three gaskets for the 1954 Mercury, but I cant figure out the proper engine application. Anyway they have TWO gasket sets, P/N 14044 and P/N 14043, where the 14043 shows the middlle ports blocked.

<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;”>Has anyone tried this? The question anyway is: if the discoloration issue is resolved with the blocked manifold gasket, will this bring more heat to the cylinder heads and make them crack more easily?

<p class=”MsoNormal” style=”margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;”>Here are Best Gasket’s three application links.

<p class=”MsoListParagraph” style=”text-indent: -18pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 90pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;”>1.       http://www.bestgasket.com/engine_catalog_years.asp?YearsCID=1954 Merc 256, Truck 1954-55…….[572-3]

<p class=”MsoListParagraph” style=”text-indent: -18pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 90pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;”>2.       http://www.bestgasket.com/engine_catalog_years.asp?YearsCID=1954E, 239 EBU…….[563]

<p class=”MsoListParagraph” style=”text-indent: -18pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 90pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;”>3.        http://www.bestgasket.com/engine_catalog_years.asp?YearsCID=1954L-55, 239 EBV…….[572-4]