Toronado.org

Just a continuation on the “Fan Clutch” thread (since we now know the problem with the overheating on my ‘69 Toronado has to do with a small leak in the head gaskets), I’m gonna have to start disassembling the top part of the engine. I’m going to start off with the intake manifold and try to clean it out or get it cleaned. After removing the carbon I’ll focus on blocking the exhaust crossover passage. However, while looking for the gaskets, I noticed that a lot of auto parts stores and RockAuto sell this metal valley pan for this manifold. Is this the gasket (and the correct one)? I just want to make sure. Our ‘68 Thunderbird didn’t use this type when we replaced its intake manifold, but then again, it’s a Ford product.

What does the 1969 shop manual say?

The '66 FSM says the 400 and 425 engine uses the one piece intake gasket with the valley pan like the one above.

Yeah it shows a picture of a single piece gasket that includes the valley pan. In that case, this “gasket” is made of metal?

Yes, it's metal. I'm not sure if they're available with the heat riser ports blocked off. You might have to use plugs like these.

https://mondelloperformance.com/shop/in ... -plates-2/

Ah okay, thanks! I’ll check those out. I just started on the Toro early this morning and just removed the intake manifold. Lifting it myself was a nightmare! Upon inspection there’s a lot of carbon deposits (I think) on the valley pan, under the manifold, and under the valley pan itself. Here are some pictures of the job so far:

Inside of exhaust crossover (and yes, that chunk was sitting inside the engine even before I removed the manifold).

I was also thinking, my choke is thermal. Wouldn’t blocking off the exhaust crossover make it harder for the choke to open?

Are you referring to the big chunk of coke laying over the pushrods?

As for the choke, there's no lack of heat under the hood of a Toronado. I'm pretty sure it will work just fine

Okay cool, just wanted to make sure, and yes haha that’s what I’m referring to, as well as the rock of deposits sitting in the middle of the valley.

Is there any way to clean the valley? I’m trying to remove as much of the gunk out as possible, but there is still some left that I cannot grab with my hands.

The heat under the hood will be enough to make your choke working. Don´t buy those block plates for 29$. You can easily make DIY plates from a piece of stainless steel. Don´t use normal sheet metal. It will rusted out. The DIY plate should be as thick as the manifold gasket material with little overlap and use of enough high heat resistance silicone.
Clean the engine with help of a vac-cleaner and scraper. Take attention that no carbon piece fall down into the oil pan if possible.