I have an edelbrock performer intake that i picked up from a swap meet for 65 bucks but I did not notice when I bought it that it has some corrosion in the front water passage. The part where the water passage meets the head was corroded pretty badly, so bad that I know it would leak water. I cleaned the area with a wire brush and used JB weld to fill in the corrosion, then I sanded the JB weld down flush with the gasket surface of the intake. Now the corroded spots are all filled in and I am positive that it will seal, but will antifreeze eat through JB Weld? Has anyone done this before? I would like to use this intake if possible.

 

JB Weld won't hold there. Between the pressure and temperature changes, it will come off pretty quickly. I think you'l have to have it welded or brazed over.

 

Ward,

I'm not sure if there is much water around there, but if you call a boat propeller repair shop, I'm sure they'd be able to weld the area with aluminum for a minimal cost. I had an EGR passage welded shut on a Performer for about $20 at the local prop shop, fabricated plate and all.

 

I'd give the JB Weld a try. I used it on a porous 396 intake manifold runner, was still there when I replaced the manifold with the Weiand two years later. That was in the open, in a oil-splashed location, whereas yours will be squeezed between two surfaces and only holding coolant (coolant system pressure is next to nothing compared to the clamping force). The antifreeze itself won't affect the epoxy, but you need to use gasket sealant around that area, anyway.

Cleanliness is critical, though. I used brake cleaner on the hole before applying the JB Weld.

Worse that could happen is you'd have to pull the manifold and have it welded as suggested.

 

Well, I already put the JB Weld on the intake, and I cant afford another one right now, so I am gonna put it on and see what happens. I cleaned the area very well with a wire brush before I put the JB Weld on. Just sitting outside the car, that stuff is not coming off, I tapped on it with a screwdriver, its on there good. The main thing I was worried about the antifreeze eating the JB weld off. Thanks for the info, guys. Hopefully, when I get my engine back in, it will be a little faster than before, and not leak a quart of oil per week.