1966 Hemi intake question

[Jim Shook]

Question.
I just pulled off the aluminum intake on my 426 hemi to
replace the gaskets. When I rolled over the intake to look
at the windage tray, I noticed that the 8 bolts along the outside
of the tray were missing. Only the 2 center bolts remain on the tray.
I'm wondering if these missing bolts are on purpose or have they
backed out over time and now reside in the oil pan?
Anyone have any thoughts?
Jim

 

[Richard Cranium]

There's 10 bolts total and if 8 backed out while running on the engine, I seriously doubt that all of them would make their way down into the pan without causing some serious damage while travelling south, especially when the only two left are the ones in the center. My guess is that they were never installed, however, an easy way to check would be to drain the oil out of the pan and look inside the drain plug with a boroscope.

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Industrial-Scientific-Borescopes/zgbs/industrial/401578011

 

[Jim Shook]

There's 10 bolts total and if 8 backed out while running on the engine, I seriously doubt that all of them would make their way down into the pan without causing some serious damage while travelling south, especially when the only two left are the ones in the center. My guess is that they were never installed, however, an easy way to check would be to drain the oil out of the pan and look inside the drain plug with a boroscope.

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Industrial-Scientific-Borescopes/zgbs/industrial/401578011

So, I guess it's safe to say that if they were never installed and they didn't find there way to the oil pan, then I shouldn't replace them.

 

[Richard Cranium]

So, I guess it's safe to say that if they were never installed and they didn't find there way to the oil pan, then I shouldn't replace them.

The factory put them in for a reason, so I'd put them in. You can just get 1/4-20 bolts & lock washers from the hardware store..