Problem: minor amount of oil seems to be leaking by intake gaskets at intake ports on heads,just enough for the ports to be damp with oil at the junction with the intake,minor smoking out tailpipes. Probable cause: heads were skim cut(about .020 says the machine shop)so the intake doesnt seem to be pulling down as tight at the bottom of the ports? Possible solutions: extra thick intake gaskets, a bead of silicone around each port on both sides of the gasket, mill intake also(I really dont want to do that )any takers on this?
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dalecarbuff

I`m affraid the only way you can cure this is to plane the intake. Any other way and it`s like duct taping the hole in the boat. So to speak...
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The "New" and Unimproved edcroozer... Charter D.S.R.A. member

Yes, but wouldn't it depend on if you put the duct tape on the inside or the outside?
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One man's treasure is another man's trash.

Ed's right, you probably should plane the intake, however they make thick intake gaskets for just that purpose and I have seen them used with no problems.
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Digger
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DSRA Member

I threw it away yesterday, now I have to go buy one
Just when you think you have won the Rat Race along come faster rats

you might try silocone sealer on the end gaskets instead of cork or rubber gaskets that would let the manifold pull down tighter.
Dave

I'd stick with Ed on this one...better fix it right than have something go wrong later. Just my .02 worth.
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Is it funny yet?

Charter Member: Dipstick Street Rod Association

When repairing the boat in that matter, don't leave out the coat hanger and wire ties. I've tried it both ways, prefer the reinforcement of the wire ties for a snug fit!
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MrWillys aka HRB
Member: Dipstick Street Rod Association
Paint don't make 'em any faster!

dalecarbuff,
planing the heads narrows the space between them, leaving the intake too wide. i've been told if you plane them more than .012", you should plane the intake too. my vote goes with the others that say plane the intake. save the duct tape and wire for when you might really need it :-).
rickd
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project...39 ford pickup

I assume were all thinking small block Chevy here though I seem to have missed the brand. Your correct Rick. Milling the combustion side does bring the intake port sides closer together. One would think thinner gaskets would be called for except there is now an alignment problem if you could get gaskets in between. I don't remember exactly but on an old set of Pontiac heads that I whacked plenty, all you had to do was mill a equal amount off the intake side to regain proper fit. Equal because it was a 90 degree engine and it had a separate valley cover eliminating other problems. Without a valley cover, like Chevy, you'd have to mill the intake to again achieve proper port alignment. Though I think that will cause a fit problem at the four corners as the manifold can't sit down far enough because of the engine block front and back. You know, where all that RTV needs to go. So now you have to mill off equal amounts from the block and (if you can) the intakes front and rear so that there width relationship remains the same. As you can see it get's pretty crazy with one move forcing another. Of course all this created a boom for the Chevy piston manufactures as it was a much easier and probably cheaper way to increase compression. Anyway that's it as I remember and if I'm in error, somebody here will be only to happy to show me the way home...Frank