what are these and how do I cover up?

[boneheadsGeTeX]

What are these holes in the head? The ones in the mid, when intake was on it didnt cover them up looks like somthing is missing,,,well anyways iv got a mopar aluminum intake on its way,, but it dont look like its going to cover the hole,,

 

[Seax440Dodge]

perfectly normal, they won't get covered up, it's heat crossover tube

 

[boneheadsGeTeX]

They where there with the stock intake , looks bad , can I cover up , I figured the small ones under , that go in to the intake are the cross over,,?

 

[WileE]

No, you don't cover anything up. Just put the new valley pan on & then the manifold.

 

[Kern Dog]

In stock applications, the holes serve as a means to transfer heat from one side of the engine to the other, in effect heating the intake manifold. It was an effort to reduce emissions and make the engine warm up faster in cold weather.
Most, if not all aftermarket heads have no open section there for this.
It is okay to leave it open. The hole stops just barely an inch and a half inside the head and goes nowhere. You could use a valley pan that covers the hole. 413-426-440 engines used Fel Pro 1215 pan. I think the 361-383-400 used 1214.

 

[747mopar]

They where there with the stock intake , looks bad , can I cover up , I figured the small ones under , that go in to the intake are the cross over,,?

I'm with you 100%, I covered the damn things up. #1 they're ugly and like you said they make it look like something is missing #2 every time you wash the motor the water sits in there and then evaporates out leaving ugly rust color around them. After the intake was installed I bent a thin piece of aluminum to fit 1/4" up the edge of the intake and up over the holes, I just put RTV on it and propped it down while the RTV set up and it's been there ever since with no ugly stains or that hole.

 

[Cornpatch MO]

I don't like those holes . I never have heard a good reason for them being there. They are just a trap for water, oil, and small parts. I stuffed mine full of copper colored metal mesh pot scrubber. When people ask me why that is there---it is a speed secret!!!....................MO

 

[boneheadsGeTeX]

Thanks for the info.