hey guys im not sure if im doing something wrong here, but i tried to put on my lt1 intake today and the bolt holes line up with the head holes, but i cant get the bolts to start, and allso, some of the middle holes is allmost inpossible to get a wrench on, im using just standerd hex chevy intake bolts, do i need to go with my tpi bolts, if so i need to reorder them , lost them in the shuffle of parts, allso if reuse the tpi intake bolts will they sit at a angle like these bolts did, if so im not to crazy about that ideal, ,

 

bolts im using

 

intake holes are lineing up with the head holes, no gasket is in the way

 

i got one bolt started,( no i didnt cross thread) but it sits in a angle like so, will the oem tpi bolts do the same ?

 

You must have older heads...

I don't think a different bolt is going to move the bolt hole. I could be wrong though.

The newer heads (87-up) have the center 2 intake bolt holes at a different angle. Looks like you have a 87-up intake and 86-back heads.

You can elongate the holes like you did, but you need either some self-centering ball-type spacers, or some slanted spacers cut at 18°.

 

The LT1 intake conversion requires the four corner bolt holes to be re-angled so the bolt will line up with the heads. There is no way around this. Ordering new bolts will not change the angle.

Stick with the Allen head intake bolts and use washers under each one. You will be fine.

Now, for the one that doesn't start. You should have test fit before sealing the intake down. The intake will have to be removed and the bolt hole filed for a perfect fit.

 

yeah I put the intake on , when I should have test fitted the bolt's , its a lesson learned , does anyone have a part # of just the tpi intake bolts, and I hope they are my 89 350 heads lol, If not Im going to scream ! this 383 has been a 2 year project , trying to find a decent person to build the damn thing, next time I'm just buying a crate motor, , lesson learned there to, , thanks for the info guy's , If I wasnt for this board I be sol!

 

oh and the reason I said It might be the bolt's was I have one torque intake bolt , that I tried and its the same size bolt as my hex head, but the torque bolt will thread in with no problem , but my hex bolt wont, so I was thinking maybe something to do with alum/ vs chrome steel bolts or thread spacing on the bolts, In any case looks like I will use toqure bolt's becuae I dont see any way of tighting up the middle intake bolts, with a wrench or rachet, but with the toques and a rachet should be no problem I suppose

 

You cannot use the TPI intake bolts. The thread is just fine but the head of the bolt is HUGE. It could interfer with the intake on the center bolts. This will depend on if you have early or late style heads.

Your bolt that will not thread in but the stock bolt will tells you that it's the WRONG thread. Probably metric.

You need 3/8" x 18 x 1 1/4" bolts, not metric.

 

ok i will try and find other intake bolts, to my knowledge they are standard (not metric) but i could be wrong, and my heads are 89 350 formula heads, well they better be i should say, i dont know if you remember or not john i bought that intake from you , i was wondering if you have a zip file of close up pictures, of one installed, that you could send me, if not i try and do shearches on the board, in any case thanks for the help guys,

 

All my pictures are on the website.

You got the intake from me? E-mail me and I'll hook you up with the right bolts.

 

Theres an easy way to tell if these are your heads. If theyre from an 89 Formula 350, then the last 3 digits of the head will be 083. All you need to do is pull one valve cover and look at the casting number. Wont take more than 3 minutes!

 

just checked on the head number and they are 083, , was starting to wonder there for awhile , this motor has been nightmare to build, have had it to 3 diffrent engine builders, the frist guy was lazzy , the second guy said he would build the motor for me, but somehow he only worked on 1200hp motors, humm , guess thats where the money is, and the third guy was slow as snail, so lost alot of bolts and stuff in the moves, which really ticks me, off, and all becuase, wanted to keep the stock block , big mistake , next time im going with 406 crate motor or something

john just emailed you ,

hey vader good to see ya,

thank's all you guys for the info and help, im just novice at this stuff, thanks again guys