Started on the intake manifold today. Instead of using a long hose with a steel support tube, like the instructions call for, I decided to weld the tube to the spider and use a short hose. To do this you need to be very careful on the fit. I found that both ends of the tube need angles cut on them. You want to have as straight a run at the factory bent tube as possible.
I found that my abrasive cutoff saw was the best tool for the job. The built in vice did a great job of holding the tube and the cuts were straight and smooth.
Now the problems.
Yes those are burn through holes in Photo 1. I used my new mig welder to tack the ends together. Seemed like a reasonable solution, and I plan on Tig welding the final product. Well my new mig has a feature that you set the metal thickness and it sets the wire feed rate all my itself. It worked very well when building the stand that the engine sits on.
The first tack worked great. I went 90 degrees and tried again, wham it burned through. Hmmm is says to my self. Tried it again but with a setting for thinner metal with the same result. Went to the next tube and again the first tack was fine but the second burned through. For the third I turned it way down with a good first tack and a burn through on the second. On the last one I said screw the technology and set the wire feed manually. Worked like a charm. Live and learn.
Next problem. After getting everything tacked in place I stood back and admired my handiwork. I noticed that the phlenum was tilted away from the engine block. You can see this in Photos 2 & 3. This is a problem because of potential interference problems with the oil pickup tube (blue fitting in Photo 1). The inward tilt at the bottom forces the carb/Scat tubing too close to the fitting.
The problem is caused by the flange not being bent to the full 90 degrees. You can see this flange in Photo 3 at the bottom of the phlenum. Unfortunately the top needs to be bent in probably 3/4". This will of course screwup my
