[Johnny406]

Here are a couple of pics of my not so good port alignment from my Wenzler tunnel ram sitting on my Edelbrock D port alum heads. The pictures don't really show the "down" step from the floor of the intake to the floor of the head. I know I need to mill down the intake to improve the alignment, just not sure how much. I'm guessing .020 on each side? I'll them oval the mounting bolts to shift it back to align the side ports? These pics are w/o intake gaskets.

[huddie]

I had to take .125 off mine and do the mounting holes.It was for KRE D ports though.Probably could have gone a little more.

[steve25]

There is one thing you do not want to do in getting this matched up, that being you do not want to end up with more port area at the head flange to manifold flange interface than the amount of port area you have at the start of the runner in the Plenum!

To get what you are expecting power band wise out of a tunnel ram you want the runners to have a gradual rate of area expansion from the port choke ( area at the crown of the short turn ) back out to the Plenum.

If you have end up having more area at the previously mentioned interface you will end up with a smaller rpm power band, as in starting higher up from the bottom, and less on the top.
In a stituation like this you would be better off using epoxy to bring down the size of the runner to match the head.

Also I can tell by your photos that your push Rod budge area in the head is still a pretty good restriction that tunnel Rams really do not like. I would drill them out to 1/2" , incert a 1/2" OD brass or aluminum tube and grind back that budge area into a more gentle radius until you hit that tube insert.
I use fuel resistant silicone sealer when installing the tube.

Note that in terms of push Rod clearance that the insert only needs to be 1/4" longer on each end then the height of the buldge you will be grinding thru in the port.
.



If your D- ports do not flow more than 330 Intake cfm@28" then using a port match to a RA4 size gasket is all you need, and to detail this more if your amount of valve lift you are running will only access 300 cfm of less out of the head then you can run a standard D port gasket match set up and not see a HP drop.

[mgarblik]

The Wenzler intakes we have used have all had similar issues. As mentioned by Steve, the forward facing step is very bad and must be dealt with. If running gasoline, I use ZSPAR as a filler material. It is a marine splash zone epoxy type filler. The beauty of this material is it is very easy to work and shape. You work it with wet fingers and you can really minimize the sanding time. It doesn't stay put long term with alcohol, so you have to keep an eye on it. Stays in place 2-3 years on alcohol, 10 years + on gasoline. The plus side is once properly fitted, the Wenzler intakes are just wonderful. Our worked-over Guts-ram was .2 quicker than a $1500.00 sheet metal intake we replaced!. Excellent throttle response too. I probably had 100 hours in that manifold, moving, aligning, and fitting it. Moving the bolt holes. Every dimension was off. But it worked great.

[LMSRACER]

Originally Posted by Johnny406

Here are a couple of pics of my not so good port alignment from my Wenzler tunnel ram sitting on my Edelbrock D port alum heads. The pictures don't really show the "down" step from the floor of the intake to the floor of the head. I know I need to mill down the intake to improve the alignment, just not sure how much. I'm guessing .020 on each side? I'll them oval the mounting bolts to shift it back to align the side ports? These pics are w/o intake gaskets.

Since the Photos are without the Gasket and the Intake Gaskets are Approximately 0.060", we know that You'll need to Remove 0.060" per Side to get You back to where You are Now with the Gasket Installed.

Now taking into account the Amount of Cylinder Head that's Showing below the Tunnel Ram's Port Roof, I'd say that You'll be Removing 0.120" Per Side Minimum.

Larry S.

[60man]

FWIW: with my old original Wenzler on KRE 325 D ports made 50+ HP over a Offie 360 2x4 intake using same AFBs. I was very surprised but it was done back to back on dyno.
I used it "as is".

[mgarblik]

It's too bad Larry Wenzler never had the casting capability or access like Edelbrock. His intakes are ugly and poor fitting but just run fantastic! I have always been impressed with his intakes and for their time period, his heads were great too.

[Johnny406]

I'll take the Wenzler intake base to the machine shop tomorrow and get a guesstimate. I may very well put the Northwind on with my Shaker455 built Dominator and save the tunnelram for the higher reving 4 bolt 428.

[Tom Vaught]

When you make tens of thousands of intakes a year vs a very few intakes for Pontiac guys you have to know the casting molds and final intakes need some extra effort, typically.

It is a piece of aluminum. HEAVY aluminum too. So some rework is going to be required. But as people have posted, at the end of the day Larry's stuff DOES work with a goodly amount of finishing effort. His stuff is really not that expensive either.

Tom V.

[Johnny406]

I just dropped the base off at the machine shop and told them to take .125 off each side. He thought I was crazy till I pulled out the camera and showed him the pics I posted. We'll find out later this week. It gives the Felpro 1233 gaskets time to come in.

[twooldgoats]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

It's too bad Larry Wenzler never had the casting capability or access like Edelbrock. His intakes are ugly and poor fitting but just run fantastic! I have always been impressed with his intakes and for their time period, his heads were great too.

And I know of one Wenzler Gutsram intake and SuperChief head combo that's out there running 7.80's.

Jim

[vin63]

Originally Posted by twooldgoats

And I know of one Wenzler Gutsram intake and SuperChief head combo that's out there running 7.80's.

Jim

You're welcome.

[Johnny406]

Just picked up the base from the machine shop. The ports now align up much better. Of course the mounting holes are now off so it's time to pull out the dremel tool.

[Johnny406]

Here's a couple of pics, these are with the intake sitting on a set of FelPro RA IV intake gaskets.

[Skip Fix]

Looks pretty close.