I apologize in advance for asking something I should probably know, but... I'm putting on a new Edelbrock Performer intake on my 289. My heads have 3 water passages per head (front, middle, and back) but the intake only has the front and middle. Are the back one's not used? I was wondering if maybe the heads are simmetrical and the back water passages are simply not used.

 

Im not sure what you mean.

Look at your gaskets if you bought quality they usually will have asilicone bead around any water passages.Unless you have blockage all the passages are used.

And while youre at it throw those cork gaskets away and use some RTV silicone the black stuff.Then put a fat bead on the front and rear for the seals make sure its a about a half inch or higher so that you get it sealed good.

 

Sorry for the confusion, Killer. This is tough to describe... Check out the picture: the black arrows show where my water passages occur on the heads. If we say this is the left head, the green "checks" are where my intake has corresponding water passages. The red "X" shows where my intake does not have a corresponding intake. I guess I was wondering if maybe, due to the casting process, the heads are symmetrical and therefore they cast each head with three passages (front, middle & back) knowing that only any given two will be used (front & middle). I hope that makes a little more sense. I feel like it's okay and everything is cool. I just want to be sure before I fire her back up!
By the way, thanks for the tips on the sealant!

[IMG]local://upfiles/5383/By762397748.jpg[/IMG]

 

The passage in front goes throught the manifold to the thermostat. the middle passage, I'm pretty sure, is not a water pasage, but exhaust gas for the carb heat riser. The passage at the back is as you assumed just from the casting method used on the heads, and should be blocked by the manifold.

 

Thanks, Ian70. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to suffocate something!