i am putting a 6 pack intake onto a 440 , using napa gaskets and valley pan. when i put the gaskets and valley pan on i cant get the intake to line up with the holes, the intake seems to wide . with out the gaskets and valley pan the holes will line up.
would the gaskets be too thick or does it sound like someone may have milled the block or heads?
i tried several times to get it to bolt up and i can only ever get one side of the bolts in but then the other side looks at least 1/8 off from working.

any advice?

Are you using the valley tray AND the paper gaskets ? If using paper gaskets also how many? Have you tried to install just using the valley tray?

i was using the valley tray and gaskets also. there is 4 gaskets all together. is that the way it should be or do some people not use the paper gaskets?

I never use the paper gaskets and it works just fine

same here never use gaskets

Doing it with the tin makes it very easy to reuse that tin gasket.

Yes alot of times it will not fit w the supplied gaskets and those gaskets ain't cut perfect enough to suit me. Install it WO them & tho people have installed valley pans dry w no reported probs I dont think the metal is pliable enough to seal perfect on each port & I use a light coat of Permatex #1 in the toothpaste like tube SPARINGLY but evenly around each port opening/both sides of the valley & a bit on the bolt threads.

Another vote for no paper gaskets. They didn't come with them from the factory - don't need them later.

i tried it with just the valley pan and i still cannot get the bolts in the holes but it is very close. the only way the bolts will go in is with our anything between the intake and heads and even then they barely line up close enough to go in.
i am starting to think that something was milled on the motor.

sounds like it.

Dave

in that case you'll want to mill the intake. Normally you'd mill the heads' intake faces so the intake wou'dn't b specific to that eng but the short block is already assembled

Especially on aluminum intakes/aftermarket , i let the intake mounting dictate on whether to use gaskets or not on the valley pan


Just ask the guys that didnt , wondering why there sucking oil under the valley pan

EVERY INTAKE IS DIFFERENT

Peace

If the holes are as close as you say - Take and elongate them slightly When the intake is pulled down into place when the bolts are tightened the mismatch would be negligible and performance wise unnoticeable. Been down that road and the difference didn't even show up on a time clock.

edelbrock 6-pak intakes are too wide. the last one i bought i had to cut .040 off each side to get it to line up. another one i have has .090 off each side for the use of paper gaskets.

Another just the tin.Been doing them for 45 years like that and no problems.Rocky

The special thin "paper" gaskets that I have always used are super thin and come in a 4-pack. Regular common parts store "paper" intake type intake gaskets are too thick to use, especially when you have 2 per side.

Your heads or block may have been surfaced enough to affect it too. If that's the case, you will need to have your intake surfaced as already stated.

I've often found that once I can get a few bolts per side started, the intake compresses down enough to install the rest of the bolds. Like was mentioned above, you may have to elongate the bolt holes slightly to get a couple to start. One time I started one side and used a prybar to lever down the other side by carefully using the heat crossover gap to gently push the intake down on the free side, so I could start the bolts.

I alway like to make sure to use a quality gasket sealer (Permatex Ultra Seal) making sure to put a good sized dab at the corners or the head /valley pan and smear a very thin coat on the remaining surfaces.

My latest motor uses a different set-up, but still requires a little coaxing to get the intake down enough to start the bolts.

Just use the pan and start the 4 bolts on one side, then use the shaft of a decent size phillips screwdriver in 4 remaining holes to pry intake over a little to start bolts on that side of intake. That should help immensely. If not, you might be getting intake shaved.

first off, sound like the block been decked,
secound , i know some have gotten by with the plain o metal,
hurah for you, !! i never have with aluminum intake ,
i always put the intake on dry, get my feeler gauge out check fron to
back , side to side, dont ever tr to just grind the hole open and make it fit,
reminds me of a commercial , 2 guys putting a battery in a car thats to big , and they are holding a hammer ,," we can make it fit"
i use the fiber, cut away the metal small amount of sealer, im done . no leaks, !