I am re-installing my Weiand 8004 intake on my 350 ci in my '73 SC.

Question 1: Since there is no crossover for the coolant on the back of the intake, how does the coolant circulate properly through the heads?

Question 2: I don't use a choke on my Q-jet. Can I block off the exhaust crossover under the intake? Won't this help my intake run cooler?

I have searched the archives for answers to these questions but don't find specific answers.

each side of the older first gen blocks isolated both sides of the engine/cooling system from each other till the water got back up to the t-stat crossover.

that's one of the reasons why the rear cylinders run hotter. it goes in through the block arround the cylinders from the water pump,, then up through the heads and back to the front out the t-stat crossover. not very efficient at all. not much circulation towards the rear. some put tubing tapped into the rear water boss's in the intake back to front on the same side,, not cross'd over. some say it helps. some have modded for sbc heads to send water into the head just above the 2 center exaust ports. some say that helps.

some of the newer stuff uses reverse flow cooling to send the coolest water to the heads first. seams to be alot better than the older way.

on the crossover,, i block em for performance,, .010-.015 steel sheet works for a while. the coke can folded over a few times,, cut up and installed will burn out pretty quickly. if you can find some stainless steel sheet in that thickness range,, it should last a while. i've found that some thin steel shelving material cut up will work pretty well for a while before burning out.

hope it helps.

Are you sure your 8004 even has the exhaust crossover? I have a 20 year old one that does not even have it cast into the intake, but mine is an older casting that isn't available anymore today.

Thanks 74Rat for the helps. The Fel Pro gasket set comes with some stainless restrictors for the exhaust crossovers. I will modify them to block the crossovers completely. I think that the Vortec heads have an improved coolant travel path - so that is a future option.

Ft Stockton, TX huh? I get over (close) to there in Terrell County once-in-a-while. I am a drilling engineer with a rig working between Sanderson and Sheffield. I have heard that there is a road race down there from Stockton to Sanderson with a 140 mph class and other lower speed classes. Do you ever see that or run in it?

Are you sure your 8004 even has the exhaust crossover? I have a 20 year old one that does not even have it cast into the intake, but mine is an older casting that isn't available anymore today.

Thanks Gary,
Yes my 8004 has the crossover. You can see the ports and see where oil has turned to varnish on the bottom of the intake. That's how hot it gets!

Thanks 74Rat for the helps. The Fel Pro gasket set comes with some stainless restrictors for the exhaust crossovers. I will modify them to block the crossovers completely. I think that the Vortec heads have an improved coolant travel path - so that is a future option.

Ft Stockton, TX huh? I get over (close) to there in Terrell County once-in-a-while. I am a drilling engineer with a rig working between Sanderson and Sheffield. I have heard that there is a road race down there from Stockton to Sanderson with a 140 mph class and other lower speed classes. Do you ever see that or run in it?

my wife works for the city here. i usually get a free cap and t-shirt for helping out passing out radios and flags for the road course workers. usually a free dinner as well. same as the course workers. the road course workers are all volunteer people. always need more. never enough. anyone is welcome to volunteer to work the course,, and the only way to see the race is to work the course. they close the road to civilians traveling. it's in the spring and fall. 2 different races now. one to sanderson,, and the other to marathon. one of my buddy's from north of here,, in odessa,, works it every year. he loves that stuff. he's a nascar fanatic. he been working one of the radar guns since they started running out here. radar's the cars to see if they're out of their speed range and radios back if so. he takes lots of digital pics and comes to my house to download them. got about a hundred or so pics from this past marathon race here on the computer.

if you want to sit on the side of the road ALL DAY,, come on out and volunteer. i'm not that into the no shade thing considering that i live in it here. might end up being couped up in the car all day. not any trees out there. or you've gotta bring your shade,, yard furniture,, and a cooler full of stuff. no booze,etc.... some near 180+mph in the unlimited class. i'd rather cruise the motels and look at all the cars parked outside. also,, the city allows them to cruise the town without problems while they're here. d/q'd if caught racing arround town. some with open exaust and the smell of race gas in the air. also,,there's usually a car show at the park where most of them hang out for a while for the crowd. pretty good turn out usually. just not my thing to watch em go by at speed,, hoping they don't blow a tire or something,, and head right for me!! you'd be sitting in someones driveway near the edge of the road as they fly by,, keeping the "at home" folks from going anywhere while the race is going on. the economy booms and the hotels/resturants etc... fill up during those times.