rebuilt motor, driven approx 100mi, the driver side manifold has begun to discolor only where the manifold ports extend to meet the head at just above the 6&7 cylinders. the red paint on the manifold has turned grey(seems like heat is the culprate). is this a sign of leak?

Assume we are talking about the intake manifold as opposed to exhaust manifold?? Sounds like where the exhaust crossover in the intake, burning off the paint Common problem, no leak. Use the T-Bird/Truck intake gaskets with the restricted crossover or if you are in a warmer climate, plug it all together.

BOB

If you repaint that part of the manifold, try ultra high-temp engine paint and than apply correct color top coat. Does your vehicle have a thermo riser valve on the exhaust manifold? If it sticks closed, even a restricted intake gasket might still burn the paint (?).

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

You will never stop it from doing that until you get the small exhaust port gaskets or close them off altogether. Even with the small exhaust port gaskets it will eventually burn, just takes longer.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

thanks for the heads-up. i dont mind the discoloration. looking around for these gaskets, i came across http://www.headersbyed.com/__ford.htm#Y block. recommend these are better compared to http://www.summitracing.com/search/Department/Gaskets-Seals/?keyword=y+block+header found ?

nope,no thermo riser

I bought some gaskets with a metal plate on ebay from http://stores.ebay.com/Rons-Classic-Car-Gaskets. Thet have about a 1/2" hole in the center. 

I would rather block mine off completely as I have a boat.  How exactly is the best way to do that? Do I take a piece of flat metal and place it over the hole, or use the regular gaskets and a larger piece of metal?

Two small pieces of shim stock about 0.015”-0.020” thick placed over the intake gasket heat riser holes before installing the intake manifold will block the heat riser portion of the intake.  If the intake gasket you are using already has metal stock with a hole in it at the heat riser location, simply remove that piece of metal and lay your substitute metal pieces over the existing gasket hole.  I like to put a 1/8” 90° bend at the tops of the new block off metal pieces which allows the plates to sit in place while the intake is being positioned prior to bolting it down.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

63pikup, It appears that the gaskets you have listed are exhaust gaskets. You want the intake gaskets with the restriction...

BOB

For my truck, I milled a recess around that heater port and fitted a 3/32 piece of flat stock in to it with a 1/2 hole like the truck gasket.