OK, I just got my 350 crate installed in my '84 T/A and just abour ready to go, just waiting on my rocker arms and y-pipe. I noticed that my new #2116 Edelbrock Vortec Performer intake has no coolant passages in the back of it. Anyway I installed the intake, sealing the bolts and using the proper gaskets and torquing them to spec. Also used gasket gunk on the front and rear under the intake to the block. Now when I torque the rear bolts, the distributor fits so tight that it's almost impossible to turn. Only when I loosen the intake will it turn freely. Anyone experience this? Only thing I can think of is the intake is so weak in the back due to the lack of coolant passages that it flexes when torqued. Anyone know of a fix rather than a slight polishing, and if this'll hurt anything?

BTW: the rotor still seems free to turn.

 

Sounds like either the bolt holes are mis-located or the hole in the manifold for the distributor is mis-located.
Or the distributor housing is out of wack.
You could return the intake for warranty replacement if that is the cause of the problem.

Or enlarge the bolt holes to allow you to shift the intake on the motor a little till the distributor rotates in the hole freely.

 

I didn't have this problem at all. I would do what F-BIRD'88 said, either open up the bolt holes, or send it back.

 

I'll probably open it up a little. I had to loosen the 4 rear bolts to move the distributor a tooth, but at least I got the engine running. I'd send it back, but it took 3 weeks on special order just to get it...I guess Edelbrock is backing up.