I'm trying to do one on my car but am having problems with the bolts. Because of my corvette heads, the bolt heads hit the side of the intake. I think my intake gaskets are too thick as well. Anyone got some pics of the bolts that they are useing.

I'm tired of not driving my car. The LTR craps going back on tonight.

 

I assume you are talking about the LT1 Intake swap even though it's not mentioned in the post.

I used allen head bolts because the stock torx head bolts have a VERY large head which causes problem with not only installing them but tightening them down.

Here's a picture of the allen head bolts on the center drivers side (old style heads), they are the worst due to the angle.

 

I used the allen heads like John's, but found that they did not reach into the heads as far as I liked. So I pocketed the intake a bit where I could to get a better reach:


I also reused the torx bolts (which were about 3/16" longer) where clearance permitted. Although, looking at John's picture, I did not have to clearance mine like that.

 

RCR, you have late style heads then because early style ('86 and prior) have all the intake bolts at the same angle, '87+ heard have the center two almost straight up and down compared to the early heads.
Early style must clearance the drivers side intake to allow for the bolts.

 

Right on the money John. Didn't think of that.

later...

 

Freebird, don't give up. I had the same problems. I used allen heads, and on the driver's side two centers I had to grind away on the circumference and also a little on the top of the bolt. You did clearance the intake under the PCV hole, right? I had to take quite a bit out there to get that one at the angle to start it. I broke through so I just JB welded it some more. Use a Felpro gasket. You're right though, this swap took me a long time and I questioned whether I was better off with my Accel LTR setup. Now that it's done, it was worth it. The only thing is that it revs so freely beyond 6000 rpm, that I had to buy some 3.73 gears (installing this Fri.) and next is a bigger stall.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I was getting very discuraged. The 6spd swap went really smooth. I think I'm going to break in my tranny w/ the TPI on it. I'm tired of having to bum rides everywhere. When I get a chance I'll work on the LT1 intake soon.

I tried to use allen head bolts but the were to long. So I cut them, but then they wouldn't thread. So I ran a die on it. No luck. Gues I'll just keep looking for shorter allen head bolts.

Steve10 - I'm having a hell of a time adj. my 1.6RR I just put on. They are the crane gold race kind(LT4). Can you adj. them acuately w/ the car off? Do you have any tricks you'd like to share. Also I still have the ZZ4 cam. Do you think I'm having piston to valve contact? The tech line said it would increase my lift to .506 int. and .544 exh.

Thanks again!

 

No one has mentioned how long the allen head bolts are supposed to be. I see that washers are needed, but how long are the allen head bolts? Are they supposed to be the same lenght as the torx head bolts? I have post 87 heads so wonder if I could reuse all the allen head bolts.

 

I used standard Allen head intake bolts from the local parts store in their performance isle.