Ford tunnel wedge and low riser port

[My427stang]

I have a build coming in and trying to get ahead of it.  Has anyone had any issues sealing the bottom of a Ford TW to a low riser port?

Not asking about porting the intake or head or changing anything, just wondering if the bottom of the intake will have enough material to seal to a low riser gasket, I know some of the early MR intakes had a bit less material on the bottom sealing surface and trying to get ahead with some parts choice planning.

I don't have the intake in hand yet to check myself, bench racing at this point

[thatdarncat]

I ran an original Ford tunnel wedge with 428 CJ heads years ago with my Torino bracket car, no issues. It’s the same intake Jay used for his book testing, he probably remembers which heads the engines he tested it with had. I can’t say how the various aftermarket versions fit at the bottom of the port. I think, if I remember, it’s some of the versions of the Sidewinder that have the issue with not having enough material at the bottom of the manifold to seal with the Low Riser port.

[blykins]

Yes, the different Sidewinders are made differently on the bottom of the flange.

No issues with running LR gaskets with a Tunnel Wedge. 

[My427stang]

Thanks guy, good to hear it’s only the Sidewinders

[CaptCobrajet]

You should check it.  I have seen cases where those Ford T-Wedges only have about an eighth of an inch on the bottom with a LR/CJ gasket.  Good chance you won't have to weld, but you might.

[My427stang]

Thanks Blair, sure will

[cammerfe]

I ran an original Ford tunnel wedge with 428 CJ heads years ago with my Torino bracket car, no issues. It’s the same intake Jay used for his book testing, he probably remembers which heads the engines he tested it with had. I can’t say how the various aftermarket versions fit at the bottom of the port. I think, if I remember, it’s some of the versions of the Sidewinder that have the issue with not having enough material at the bottom of the manifold to seal with the Low Riser port.

That's correct. When I was involved with one of the original dozen 428 CJ Mustangs, Jack Roush and Al Buckmaster came into the shop one night to deliver one of the very first Sidewinders. It had been cast at the Gate 4 Foundry and had no identification of any kind. In order to make it fit the early '68 CJ head ports, it was necessary to add material to the bottoms of all 8 runners. In addition, we were told to put a plenum divider front to back, making for a side to side division. This was suggested because our car was a Super 'E' Automatic car. The auto trans was supposed to make the divider a 'good' thing. We got the material added and then the intake got put on a shelf. I finally used it when I put a 'parts' 427 in my '67 Cougar XR7 GT in '69. I finished the trimming to make it fit. As I remember, I used '64 427 heads in that build.

KS