powerplay230
04-13-2004, 03:49 PM
Wondering if anyone out there has had experience with the WP Merlin aluminum marine intakes and salt water use?
About 18 months ago I put a new 502 longblock in my "slow boat to china" and one of the pieces I used on it was the Merlin marine intake, which has brass lined coolant passages. On assembly I used the exact # Felpro gasket that was recomended in the intakes' directions. After a few too many months of non use I had to pull the heads because of a stuck valve and now have found a problem with the intake. Never noticed during assembley but the gaskets are almost 1/4" larger than the portion of the intake that has the brass inlay. So water was able to get at the aluminum that surrounds the brass portion and you can guess what happened to that. Errrrr worse problem was we didn't catch this until putting top end back together and firing it up and after admiring how well it ran for 15 minutes it filled the motor with water. I know starting to sound like I should buy a canoe:mad:
Question (finally) is I found that Mr Gasket makes an intake gasket (non-marine) that fits perfectly to the smaller brass port. Now engine is running again but after that milkshake disaster I am almost afraid to run it. Is there a better solution or should I go back to GM's marine intake? :confused:
Help!!!!!!!
Thanks, Rick
About 18 months ago I put a new 502 longblock in my "slow boat to china" and one of the pieces I used on it was the Merlin marine intake, which has brass lined coolant passages. On assembly I used the exact # Felpro gasket that was recomended in the intakes' directions. After a few too many months of non use I had to pull the heads because of a stuck valve and now have found a problem with the intake. Never noticed during assembley but the gaskets are almost 1/4" larger than the portion of the intake that has the brass inlay. So water was able to get at the aluminum that surrounds the brass portion and you can guess what happened to that. Errrrr worse problem was we didn't catch this until putting top end back together and firing it up and after admiring how well it ran for 15 minutes it filled the motor with water. I know starting to sound like I should buy a canoe:mad:
Question (finally) is I found that Mr Gasket makes an intake gasket (non-marine) that fits perfectly to the smaller brass port. Now engine is running again but after that milkshake disaster I am almost afraid to run it. Is there a better solution or should I go back to GM's marine intake? :confused:
Help!!!!!!!
Thanks, Rick