Manifold bolt missing?

[adam_knox]

So I've had the usual number of hiccups in getting the car ready for this weekend (company accidentally sent a different year's manifold gasket set that doesn't fit). So anyways, I put the manifold on, and I have one stud/bolt combo left that mounts into the engine. Then I look on the manifold bottom square section and there's a hole on the side facing the engine...I'm out of bolts. Does anyone recollect if a bolt goes into the side of the manifold (not the 4 that run vertically to hold the two pieces together)? Sorry, I don't have a picture or anything, I've looked in the manual, parts guide, and a Motor's manual, but none show detailed pictures, especially at that angle.

Thanks gang, hope everyone is having a good week. Can't believe June is almost here!

[Don Coatney]

There are 13 fasteners that hold the maniold on as pictured. The one in the very center cannot be seen with the manifold in place. You must reach under the bottom side of the manifold and "feel" for it.

[james curl]

Is the center bottom bolt hole in the intake manifold the hole you are talking about? I used a bolt there in mine so that I could pull the intake manifold separately from the exhaust manifold and to do that requires bolts in the intake manifold. You can use a bolt in that hole, however it will be difficult to install. The bolt has to be short enough to go between the intake flange and the back side of the carburetor heater box. You have to be under the car to be able to see the manifold flange and hole to install it in the intake manifold hole. It will be a slow and tedious job, no different than trying to put a nut on a stud in that position.

[TodFitch]

So I've had the usual number of hiccups in getting the car ready for this weekend (company accidentally sent a different year's manifold gasket set that doesn't fit). ...snip...

I am pretty sure that the manifold to block gaskets are the same for 1933 through 1959 for Plymouth cars. So I'm curious about the "different year's manifold gasket set" you mention. Maybe for a Chrysler/DeSoto "long" block? Or maybe the gasket that goes between the intake and exhaust?

[adam_knox]

Thanks Don for the pic of the engine. I have all the mounting bolts for that installed. Its on the "sqaure" portion of the manifold itself where there is a hole. (on the opposite side or where some cars have that heat riser thing they flip). I "drew" this on paint, so pretend you are the engine and its being mounted to you, the red circle is the hole in question. Is this the hole you are talking about James? Thanks for your help guys, sorry for some reason I'm lacking the vocabulary to convey what I'm talking about. I really need a course in old car terminology!

[adam_knox]

Hey Tod, yeah, the Chrysler 1948 manifold gaskets are smaller than the 1949. Sadly, I now know this first hand! =P Since that crazy half year the company in 49 they fella prolly just grabbed the wrong one off the shelf getting the first and second series models mixed up. I don't blame the guy, I do that stuff all the time. Bought a set of four bolts from the hardware store the other day, get home, and sure enough, even after my double check one of the four bolts is shorter than the others!

[Merle Coggins]

Its on the "sqaure" portion of the manifold itself where there is a hole. (on the opposite side or where some cars have that heat riser thing they flip).

So, I'm understanding from this statement that you DON'T have a heat riser counterweight on the outside of your exhaust manifold? Is there a matching hole on the outside? I would have to venture a SWAG (scientific wild @$$ guess) that the hole that you see is where the heat riser shaft should be. If your heat riser is gone alltogether there should be a matching hole on the outside, unless it's been welded shut.

[David Strieb]

Thanks Don for the pic of the engine. I have all the mounting bolts for that installed. Its on the "sqaure" portion of the manifold itself where there is a hole. (on the opposite side or where some cars have that heat riser thing they flip). I "drew" this on paint, so pretend you are the engine and its being mounted to you, the red circle is the hole in question. Is this the hole you are talking about James? Thanks for your help guys, sorry for some reason I'm lacking the vocabulary to convey what I'm talking about. I really need a course in old car terminology!

I think that's for the heat riser spring, not an attachement point for the manifold.

[adam_knox]

Yeah, I don't have a heat riser spring, but I do have a metal stud that it looks like a heat riser should clamp onto. On the opposite side there's a bolt hole. David, you're right, it doesn't serve any mounting purpose to hold the pipes together nor does it attach to the engine. Merle, you should be on a game show with your skill in SWAG guessing! So should there be a bolt in that hole since I don't have a riser?

[Merle Coggins]

I don't think it's a bolt hole. It's the hole that the heat riser shaft would go through. On the outside there should be a stud slightly off center that acts as a stop for the counterweight and the shaft coming through from the flapper. Since your heat riser has been removed I would suspect that someone plugged the shaft holes and maybe the inside one has become unplugged. I suggest replugging it with something. Maybe some epoxy putty?

Merle

[adam_knox]

Merle, you were right, the hole isn't threaded. Threw a cork in there until I figure out what I wanna do with it. Still figuring out if I should hunt for a heat riser. The car hasn't had one since I've owned it. You at work today? Have to go get the suit fitted and was thinking of swinging by....

[Merle Coggins]

I was out this morning visiting customers. Got back around 2:00 and have to leave at 4:00 to get to the motorcycle school for class tonite.

[james curl]

The hole that I thought you were asking about is the bottom hole on the center intake port flange. If it is in the heater box in the exhaust manifold would suggest that you use a bolt and two copper washers and a nut to seal the old butterfly shaft holes. The box probably runs hotter than most epoxies can stand. Most will become liquid and blow out leaving the holes open again.

[adam_knox]

I bought some "Fahrenheit" epoxy from the hardware store, says good up to 500 degrees F. Was going to put that around a short bolt and seal it in. Wish there was a less permanent solution, but the cork only lasted me 10 miles before it popped out!

James, when you say two copper washers do you mean to just stack the two washers?

[james curl]

No, one under the bolt head on the out side of the manifold box and one under the nut inside if the manifold box to help seal the hole up. The Copper washers are used like a gasket in this application. I truly believe the manifold will run hotter than 500 degrees on a long highway trip. You can buy the hand held point and shoot infrared thermometers for under $40.00 from Harbor Freight and Sears. Buy you one for your tool box, you will find all kinda of excuses to use it once you have one. I use mine to compare cylinder temperatures between cylinders by pointing at each exhaust outlet on the exhaust manifold. The cylinders nearest the carburetor usually runs cooler than the ones on the end as they get the richest mixture.