If you zero deck the block, will the intake need to be machined?

[adam85]

Like the title says will the intake fit properly on a zero decked block? It is a LE ported intake with his 21* TFS heads. Heads have not been decked. My buddy just got his motor togeather and is having problems with his. Although his is a ford it has me worried and id like to take care of it now while the engine is still out of the car. Thanks guys.

[Puck]

Usually zero decking the block on its own is not enough to upset the intake seal on an SBC.

Now, if you zero deck the block AND heavily flat mill the heads then you may run into some issues and need a thicker gasket or even may have to mill the intake to match.

[FormulaJoe]

My block is zero decked and I had my heads (stock ported le2s) milled to 54cc from 56cc. My intake bolt holes didn't line up so I had to drill them a bit, which wasn't hard. The angle is a bit off, so I check my intake bolt torque once every other week or more, I've had them loosen up on me just a small amount and it was sucking a little oil through the bottom part of the gasket, though I think some of it also had to do with the crappy gasket that I over-payed for. Got pics of the gasket and where it leaked I can post if you want. Also I've been torquing my bolts to 40 ft lbs just for an added precaution. Later on down the road I might switch up head gaskets to bump my compression a little and if when I do that I'll probably have the intake milled a bit so it sits perfect.

[PWR SHFT]

Sorry if this is a hijack, If doing heads and cam only and having the heads milled like above, do you need to worry about the intake being milled.? I also assume its an angle mil and not a straight mill off the intake, correct?

[adam85]

My block is zero decked and I had my heads (stock ported le2s) milled to 54cc from 56cc. My intake bolt holes didn't line up so I had to drill them a bit, which wasn't hard. The angle is a bit off, so I check my intake bolt torque once every other week or more, I've had them loosen up on me just a small amount and it was sucking a little oil through the bottom part of the gasket, though I think some of it also had to do with the crappy gasket that I over-payed for. Got pics of the gasket and where it leaked I can post if you want. Also I've been torquing my bolts to 40 ft lbs just for an added precaution. Later on down the road I might switch up head gaskets to bump my compression a little and if when I do that I'll probably have the intake milled a bit so it sits perfect.


I'd love some pics!

[Sapper]

I also assume its an angle mil and not a straight mill off the intake, correct?


Yes. Angle mill is what changes sealing properties. A flat mill of either surface doesn't change much of anything unless you want absolute, perfect transition between parts. But a few thousandths of either (block or heads) doesn't change much.

[FormulaJoe]

No problem, the first 2 are of the gasket that was used and how you can sort of see it falling apart lol, you can also see oil got in to a couple of the bolt holes which resulted in them loosening up to the point where some were damn near finger tight.. The last 2 you can see on the intake manifold where the oil was seeping through (top of the picture) in to the runners... I think felpro puts this gasket out as their high performance gasket or something ( I don't remember the gasket part number). I've seen pics almost exactly like mine on some forum of someone else having problems like this with these gaskets. Now I just use the stock replacement gasket with no problems. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of the intake manifold bolt holes and how much I had to drill them, but honestly I didn't have to drill much at all, if you weren't looking for it you'd look right over it.

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EDIT: I guess you can kind of see the bolt hole on the intake manifold where it was drilled out a little.

[quik95lt1]

im at 0 deck with mine as well as the heads are milled.......for mine to seal AND line up correctly I had to mill the intake to fit

[adam85]

Thanks for all the help guys! So how do you know ho much you would have to take off and could any machine shop handle this?

[adam85]

Hey formula joe i see you are in Mn I am in the St. Cloud area. Do you ever rac at BIR??

[FormulaJoe]

Nice!! I'm over here in Minnetonka. Bout a hour drive from St. Cloud.
Yeah, I go to BIR every chance I get. I'm trying to get a big crew to thunder out to Proving Grounds. I try to make it to all the big events, though last year I didn't make it out there once (had some major money and family problems).
I'm guessing you go to BIR? If so I'd love to meet you and check your car out!

Where do you normally get your machine work done? I'm sure most places can get that intake milled, but I'm just guessing on that. Not sure how much would have to be milled, depends per set-up. Give some places a ring tomorrow.

[adam85]

Ive been through there before, not fun driving in the cities hehe. I race in all three of the muscle car serires races in the index class. I also do the wed. night stuff too.
With my latest project I had my machine work done by a shop in Litchfield. I'm sure if my intake does need some work he would be able to handle it. What et's are you running? I'm sure i have seen your car before especially if it is a lt1. there isnt many lt1 guys there.

[FormulaJoe]

No I hate driving in the cities too.... I just plain don't like being in the cities LOL...

No ETs yet with the new motor. I haven't been to a track since the new motor. Nor has it even been dyno'd (which I'm hoping to get done relatively soon, once work picks up and I have the funds.) Here's a link to my build thread if your interested... http://ltxtech.com/forums/showthread.php?19155-LE2-355-build-done-Details-and-pictures-for-you-all

[adam85]

Thanks for the link, who is tuning yours? I just have mail order on my LE2 set up now. I probly should get on the dyno for the new engine.
I was going to see if Doug Rippie could do mine. you should keep in touch it would be nice to meet up if the snow ever melts.

[FormulaJoe]

Last I heard Doug doesn't tune lt1s, but that might have just been internet banter.

I did all my machine work and got my base tune from TPIS, they are located in Chaska, about a 15-20 minute drive from where I live.

I'll definitely keep in touch, just about to send you a PM with my number. The snow is never ending this year haha, but it gives me more time to tinker with the car and not worry so much about wanting to get it on the road!

[adam85]

Thought I would update this. I got the intake on last weekend and I did not have to have it machined. I did have to enlarge the bolt holes very slightly though.

I checked the runners with my boriscope and they are lined up perfect. Another LE trickflow 21* 355 should be running Saturday. Thanks for all the help!