83-85 GT HO intake manifold on 65 Problem!

[84convertablegt]

was wondering if anyone had ever had this problem. my engine rebuilder called me today and told me that the ford 4v intake i provided for my 65 289 wont work. its from my old 84 gt. everything bolts up correctly, but he said when he compressed the cooling system water started pouring out of the front intake water passages. He said that the 83-85 HO intakes had larger water ports that dont mate up correctly to the 289 heads and he doesnt want to permatex it all up... so i figure no big deal, i told him to go to jegs and pick up a performer intake but i was wondering if anyone had ever run into this, i was a little disapointed since the 84 intake is free...

 

[302 coupe]

yeah the water ports are different. Some heads have L-shaped water ports and others have rectangular ports. Still by using the right gasket, the problem should be fixable by using either the 84 gaskets or the 66 gaskets. The 84 intake isn't exactly for performance though, so I'd just buy another intake if it fit the budget.

 

[D.Hearne]

The intake will work, it's just got larger ports than the 289 heads have. He's doing something wrong if there's a leak. Maybe he's using 289 intake gaskets instead of 84 intake gaskets.

 

[84convertablegt]

well i agree that it should work with the right gasket/and a little rtv, but they are very picky how they do things (KAR mustang) in columbus ohio so i dont know, i just am gonna use a performer instead, so i should probably get a little more performance anyway, oh well. i was just trying to cut some costs where i could thanks for the replies

 

[allcarfan]

cut costs? I could sell ya a 289 performer intake rather than going through slummit

 

[krash kendall]

The newer gaskets on a pre 1976 engine will leak at the front and back unless you are REALLY lucky. Try to install the newer 302 gaskets on an older 302 and you'll see. They look like they fit, but only about a 1/16" is in contact with the mating surface on the head side at the ends. Once you torque the bolts down the gasket gets sqeezed out. At least you remember where every single bolt belongs when you start ripping it apart again.