intake manifold removal/installation

[83cutlasssedan]

Started putting the manifold on today and noticed that the fel-pro 1200 gaskets don't have what I guess are vacuum port cutouts to match up with the cylinder heads and the edelbrock intake. Am I supposed to cut these holes out myself or just leave them blocked off? Please someone chime in asap, I have got RTV all over the heads as we speak. Really don't want to mess this up.

 

[pontiacgp]

there are no vacuum ports in the heads...you must be talking about the coolant crossover near the back of the heads or the egr port

 

[83cutlasssedan]

Not the coolant ports there are cutouts for that at the back of the heads and front of the heads. Does that sound right to you? They are in the middle so I guess they are egr ports. But the intake has them as well and the intake does not support egr. Would they just be crossover ports in the manifold?

 

[pontiacgp]

the intake has a crossover for the egr but has no egr provision?...what intake is it?

 

[83cutlasssedan]

it's a edel performer intake. looks like the port just crosses over underneath to the other side...for heating maybe? Would that be there for drivability psoosibly?

 

[pontiacgp]

on the instructions for the installation your manifold did it say anything like this...

"When installed on 1972 and up cylinder heads, intake gasket FEL-MS90205 or MRG-5848 is required to seal exhaust crossover."

 

[83cutlasssedan]

No. the edelbrock instructions call for these gaskets. there is a crossover in the edelbrock intake and it matches up to the port in the cylinder heads, but there is no port in the gasket. There is nothing else in the instructions. Why would they put the crossover in the manifold and not mention anything about the gaskets they are telling you to use. The only thing I can see is if you have the option of sealing it off or using the crossover for better economy? I think the crossover is there to warm the incoming air/fuel charge when the engine is cold. is that right?

Anyway I cut a small hole in both gaskets where the ports match up. don't think there is any downside.

 

[Bonnewagon]

Yes, the exhaust crossover is for driveability. In winter you would be suffering without it. If it had EGR that crossover is where they tap into for the exhaust gas.

 

[megaladon6]

so they cross left-right and are positioned at the front and rear?sounds like a coolant passage :? are you sure the gaskets/intake are for the same/right engine?
if you can post pics of everything.

 

[pontiacgp]

If the intake gaskets have no port then I would not be cutting into the gasket. Those gaskets have been around for a few decades so I don't think they'd be made wrong. I'd stop and figure out what you need to do. I have a friend who does buick v6 engines regularly and I'll ask him what he does. What is the part number of the intake?