Intake Manifold Left Head Matchup

I've been doing a frame up resto mod on my 1971 CJ 5. I'm at the stage where I've been changing gaskets on the engine (I hope to eliminate or at least reduce leaks) then repaint.

This past Weekend, I took the intake manifold off and was surprised to see that there is a port on the rear of the left Head, but no corresponding port on the intake manifold. The port on the head was basically blocked off.

What's surprising is the Jeep ran great, smooth, good idle and power and didnt overheat.

Have I got the wrong intake for this 225?

 

Im not sure but its common to have ports that go nowhere in the cooling system its just casting holes to drain the sand. There is no reason to run coolant through the intake manifold some do to preheat the mixture but i dont think the dauntless has it since the exhaust runs through it

 

Thanks, hope it's ok. Seems strange to have that opening on the head that doesnt do anything.

 

the head can be installed left or right . the reason you have one side working with water flow or not

 

So, good to go?

 

yep

 

Great News, had me worried for a bit.

 

As Twin replied in post #4, the cylinder heads are interchangable left or right. The heads are cast with a water passage on both ends, but the intake manifold only has the water port at the forward end on both the left and right banks due to the thermostat being located on that end. This leaves a "blank" port at the rear of the manifold to match up with the heads.
-Donny

 

Makes sense. I just wanted to make sure before I installed it. Do you guys have any advice on using sealant on the gaskets? A couple video's I watched recommended not using the rubber gaskets on the ends, but RTV instead? I the gasket i removed had the rubber ends, which leaked. It looked like there might have been a tab of sealant where they met the fiber gaskets. Any advice? looking for leak free!

 

yes Iv always thrown out the ends and use permatex right stuff a thick bead top and bottom

 

I think I will as well. Permatex, Right Stuff. Any particular color? Do you let it set a bit before tightening?

 

All "The Right Stuff" I've ever used is always black.
-Donny

 

Thanks