PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA

Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: MitchiePinto on August 27, 2012, 12:16:04 PM

Title: On 2.3L engines why does coolant run though the intake?
Post by: MitchiePinto on August 27, 2012, 12:16:04 PM
I heard its to warm up the intake and carb in cold weather driving.

Also wondering if it would be ok to block the coolant hole on the block to stop coolant going to the intake

Just asking because a racing manifold I bought used came with an aluminum patch on the coolant hole

I will not be diving it in the winter or in cold and one last thing the intake is aluminum and off a 79' 2.3L Pinto which will be going on a 1980 2.3L block

Title: Re: On 2.3L engines why does coolant run though the intake?
Post by: Bigtimmay on August 28, 2012, 12:55:52 PM
Its fine to block it off It basically just heats the air going in the engine for winter time but most race engines run better with it blocked.
Title: Re: On 2.3L engines why does coolant run though the intake?
Post by: MitchiePinto on August 28, 2012, 01:12:26 PM
Great thanks for the reply. I quess theres not enough coolant pressure to burst the patch. I'm going to use my un-patched intake still though, I don't want coolant leaking when im driving down the road.
Title: Re: On 2.3L engines why does coolant run though the intake?
Post by: Bigtimmay on August 28, 2012, 01:55:19 PM
Theres a Industrial 2.3 that has a intake gasket that doesnt have an opening for that port and quite a few people just use that to block it off so it shouldnt burst. Could always make a phenolic spacer to block it off if your really worried about it.
Title: Re: On 2.3L engines why does coolant run though the intake?
Post by: MitchiePinto on August 29, 2012, 02:11:23 PM
Intresting where could I find an industrial 2.3L gasket. I think my gasket is done b/c coolant is in the intake just a little but still. Also heard that once the intake gasket starts to leak the head gasket would soon go?
Title: Re: On 2.3L engines why does coolant run though the intake?
Post by: Bigtimmay on August 29, 2012, 04:19:51 PM
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/FEL0/MS91806/02293.oap?year=1984&make=Ford&model=LTD&vi=1131488&ck=Search_intake gasket_02293_1 131488_-1&keyword=intake gasket&pt=02293&ppt=C0026 (http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/FEL0/MS91806/02293.oap?year=1984&make=Ford&model=LTD&vi=1131488&ck=Search_intake gasket_02293_1131488_-1&keyword=intake gasket&pt=02293&ppt=C0026)
That's the gasket it was used on 2.3s that ran on propane.
As for the intake gasket going the headgasket to follow dunno but never seen that happen nor hear anything like that.I play with mostly the turbo 2.3s but usually the cause of a blown headgasket is a bad tune causing detonation.
Title: Re: On 2.3L engines why does coolant run though the intake?
Post by: Pintopowers on August 29, 2012, 04:41:29 PM
Last time ide seen coolant in the intake was when a hole from the coolant passage underneath the carb developed..   I thought it was a bad head gasket. Ended up replacing the head and gasket before i discovered the prob...

Deffinately interested in finding a fix for those intakes, Alot of those intakes rot through around here.....

Steve
Title: Re: On 2.3L engines why does coolant run though the intake?
Post by: 71pintoracer on August 29, 2012, 09:52:09 PM
On my race engines I just blocked it off at the opening in the head.
Title: Re: On 2.3L engines why does coolant run though the intake?
Post by: racer99 on August 30, 2012, 02:51:35 PM
On my race engines I just blocked it off at the opening in the head.

Redneck fix,we have done it at the track.
1 used intake gasket,silicone and a beer can
works every time!
Title: Re: On 2.3L engines why does coolant run though the intake?
Post by: dick1172762 on August 30, 2012, 03:07:04 PM
Redneck fix,we have done it at the track.
1 used intake gasket,silicone and a beer can
works every time!
   Works every time. I like 7-UP cans. Put it on the intake side of the gasket. And if you still don't get it, well, FORD BUILT IT THAT WAY!!!!
Title: Re: On 2.3L engines why does coolant run though the intake?
Post by: Pinto5.0 on August 31, 2012, 05:15:06 PM
A pressurized radiator has less than 15 PSI of pressure on the gaskets. You can blow about as much into a 2 litre bottle with your lungs. If the passage was welded by a good welder it wont leak or blow out. My Esslinger intake doesn't even have a water passage in it.
Title: Re: On 2.3L engines why does coolant run though the intake?
Post by: MitchiePinto on September 02, 2012, 06:36:09 PM
Thanks bigtimmy for the link for the gasket. That o'reilly's auto seems to have everything I wonder if theres any here in Canada. When ever I need a part most local parts stores are very unhelpful.