A friend of mine has install a TBI setup on top of a 350. He has started the motor, but it is running very hot. When removing a temp sensor, there was no coolant to be seen.

He is wondering if he installed the head/manifold gaskets backwards. He is telling me that on one end there was a block-off metal insert.

Does anyone know anything about this?

For my 350 TPI, the head/manifold gaskets (Felpro 1010s) have both ends open for coolant passage. So I do not know about what he is saying.

 

TBI gaskets have the rear blocked off. I have however found that I installed them backwards on one occasion. The stock GM intake has a passage under the TBI, the coolant simply went from the rear of the manifold, to the thermostat housing, then onto the radiator. Never overheated or even hinted that it was running hot though.