Difference in 350's?

[wilpetty]

I am switching my 1986 350 to an older one. The older one has a driver side dipstick and the manifold is covering the hole, so I guess I have to get different manifolds. Is there any other differences that I need to know about?

 

[xenomarine]

Might have a different sized temp sensor hole as well, you can get it at Napa only from what I can tell. That or dealership but please don't throw that much cash down for it, I did that ONCE.

Could also have a different flex plate, that depends on rear main seal type.

 

[wilpetty]

Is the temp sensor hole on the intake? I believe it is the only hole I didn't have something in. Also with the edelbrock air filter, what do you do with the metal hose that goes from passenger manifold up to filter?

 

[Deuling]

Is the temp sensor hole on the intake? I believe it is the only hole I didn't have something in. Also with the edelbrock air filter, what do you do with the metal hose that goes from passenger manifold up to filter?

In the block or head. I cant remember

 

[xenomarine]

I believe block. Drivers side, I think a little below spark plug #3. Same spot as newer style, just a bigger hole.

 

[wilpetty]

Great I will make sure to get one if I can't find someone with a spare one

 

[bubba blazer]

i just did a similar swap and made my stock manifolds work by taking a cheap chrome dipstick and modifying it so it's sandwiched between the head and manifold. youll also need to stack two thick gaskets (torqued evenly). had to be careful when shoving the d'stick back in the tube so it wouldn't bind and bend plus it would also get hot when the engine's running. lasted about 1000 miles b/f i switched to headers. the temp sensor is a standard tapered pipe thread so you can pick up an adapter at your local hardware store.

best boards here! i need to up my posts...

 

[wilpetty]

Thanks for the reply!I am not looking on spending the dough for headers right now, so it is either junkyard or finding someone with cheap stock manis for this engine. There are 2-3 holes that I need you guys to determine what should go there, so pics will be uploaded in the next few days This swap will be done within 2-3 more weekends of me going at it I am thinking. The other motor Just needs to be inbolted and the new one put in. Really excited to get this completed!

 

[bubba blazer]

oh - almost forgot. the passenger side exhaust manifold is a "7" hole style so unless youre running later model heads (i think 80-86) you wont be able to bolt the hole in the rear - i left it off and just torqued the other 5 bolts equally using a good paper style gasket and it didnt leak. got lucky b/c the manifold wasn't warped. i looked into using earlier style exhaust manifolds but then you'd have to change the y-pipe flanges or the air pump fittings were different

 

[wilpetty]

Yes I noticed that, but wasn't too worried. I am just trying to see how I should go about getting the dipstick in... I think I put the dipstick in first then bolt down the exhaust it will work correct?

 

[bubba blazer]

yes - basically bend the d'stick tube slightly to get in the general ball park and then bolt the manifold to "squish" it into it's final shape. the extra gaskets will leave enough of a gap. be careful bending the tube, it can kink badly and I had one small tear in mine (nothing that a little jb or silicon couldnt fix). maybe pickup a few junkyard tubes in case...

trust me, it was the best option for me. i looked at everything from using different manifolds to changing the oilpan (with a dedicated d'stick tube) to even using the flexible lokar one but none of them were cheap.