Thread: Total new guy question about intake swap

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Freeze plugs are those round cup-shaped things that are about 1 1/2/ t0 2" in diameter that are on the sides of your engine block, right above the oil pan. They are used in the manufacturing casting process, but are commonly called freeze plugs because in the northern climes they pop out if the water freezes in the engine.

You won't need to worry about these on your intake, There is no hole there to fill, just on the early engines.

As for resetting the timing, get a engine manual for your engine, and there will be a diagram showing a downward view of your engine. It will show you which cylinder is # 1. (On a Chevy V8, it is the drivers side front sparkplug. Remove the plug and put your finger over the hole while someone taps the starter. When you feel your finger starting to get pushed off by the air from the upcoming piston, look at your crank damper. There will be a timing tab on the block and a series of lines on the damper. Turn the crank with either a socket and breaker bar or tap the starter easily, until the zero line aligns with the pointer. You are now at Top Dead Center, and in this position you want your distributor rotor to be pointing at the contact for the number one wire. Drop the distributor back down into the hole, until it seats, and make sure it is still pointing at # 1. If it is, put the cap back on, and you are timed enough to fire the engine. You can time it with a light to get the right amount of advance.

I know we have discusssed this before on this forum, but for someone doing it for the first few times it is confusing.

You are going to have to add valve covers that have an oil fill cap on them, as you have eliminated the one on the intake.