Intake Manifold Bolts, 94 Sierra 5.7l Tbi

gmchevroletruck · October 27, 2009

Hello, and thanks for your help in advance...I am putting a motor together, and have run into a snag. I want to be absolutely certain that I use the correct length bolt for each hole on the intake manifold. I do have all the bolts, but unfortunately, they were not labeled when I got ahold of them. I am not opposed to buying a completely new set if needed, but have been unable to find a set locally, including at the local dealer. But, as I said, I am sure the set that I have is complete.

My specific question would be this: If there is any way to determine this, I would like to know the length of each bolt that goes into each corresponding hole in the intake manifold on this engine (94 model TBI 350), and which ones are "studs' and which ones are "cap bolts". I will be putting the engine back together completely in the next few days, and want to be absolutely sure I don't install a bolt that is too long or too short for the application for which it was originally designed.

Thank you very much for your help!

(actual intake mounting bolts only, don't need info on the bracket mounting bolts, etc)

Nytemare · October 27, 2009

Longer bolts will go in the holes with raised material on the manifold.

There should be spots that look like this ------___-----

and other spots that look like this ____----_______

Right on the manifold.

The studs will go where stuff needs to be mounted...It would help if you could get a pic of the engine assembled.

A haynes/chiltons also helps.

gmchevroletruck · October 27, 2009

Longer bolts will go in the holes with raised material on the manifold.

There should be spots that look like this ------___-----

and other spots that look like this ____----_______

Right on the manifold.

The studs will go where stuff needs to be mounted...It would help if you could get a pic of the engine assembled.

A haynes/chiltons also helps.

I do have a Haynes and a Chilton, but surprisingly the pics provided there do not help, and what I am looking for is exact bolt protrusion length, as there are a few that seem to be very depth-sensitive, as they could contact the pushrods if they are too long. I do know which ones are bolts and which ones are studs, guess I didn't need to ask that specifically...I put the motor together already once, but it had an issue and I ended up getting a warranty replacement engine. I need the length of each bolt, the amount that it is allowed to protrude into the intake manifold / cylinder head. The dealer doesn't know, has no listing (I would just buy a set of bolts to obtain this information if that's what was needed to do), the internet has not helped, and Haynes and Chilton don't have this info, as really, it's not commonly needed.

So really, what I need is a list of the individual lengths of the 12 intake manifold mounting bolts and studs

Nytemare · October 27, 2009

Do you know anyone with a program named Mitchel's.

Its used to give Job time quotes and also has manuals for just about anything with full exploded views. It would definitely have the bolt lengths.

Other than that, I'm at a loss. Sorry man, I haven't done a 350 in so long that I almost forget the firing order.

gmchevroletruck · October 27, 2009

Do you know anyone with a program named Mitchel's.

Its used to give Job time quotes and also has manuals for just about anything with full exploded views. It would definitely have the bolt lengths.

Other than that, I'm at a loss. Sorry man, I haven't done a 350 in so long that I almost forget the firing order.

firing order...isn't it 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8?

Just kidding...

Seriously, thanks for the tip on Mitchel's...I'll look around for that. See, part of the problem here is that I have like...one and a half sets of bolts...only 2 of them I'm really concerned about, as they seem to come close to hitting the pushrods (can't remember off hand which cylinders or intake bolts, I'd have to go out and look again). Really I may have guessed correctly but I'd hate to find out I was wrong, the hard way. I wonder if Napa would have Mitchel's...

Nytemare · October 27, 2009

OK so I spent the last hour searching the internet....yeah its pretty useless for this job.

But;

I looked at several aftermarket suppliers....they show bolts that are all equal length. You may have the wrong bolts there. order a new set man...ARP's are only 30 bucks. And at worst, they will come with either a card saying where each bolt goes...or you can call they're tech support.

Its never good to find out anything the hard way...although...that's the way we all learn best....too bad its so expensive.

gmchevroletruck · October 27, 2009

OK so I spent the last hour searching the internet....yeah its pretty useless for this job.

But;

I looked at several aftermarket suppliers....they show bolts that are all equal length. You may have the wrong bolts there. order a new set man...ARP's are only 30 bucks. And at worst, they will come with either a card saying where each bolt goes...or you can call they're tech support.

Its never good to find out anything the hard way...although...that's the way we all learn best....too bad its so expensive.

Thanks for looking with me! Ya, I had seen those "sets" also...I think they may have been originally developed for the pre-TBI manifolds, and sort of "carried over" into this listing...but, the stock bolts are not equal length for sure, and some are bolts, some are studs (for bracket mounting). I may end up going with the guess method. The only other thing I could think of is, going to a salvage yard and trying to find a truck with the same engine, with the intake manifold still in it, and remove the bolts...sounds a bit time consuming, considering the time I have available.

Nytemare · October 27, 2009

If there is any place that is meaty-er on the manifold, i would hazard a guess hey go there.

grampadirt · October 28, 2009

OK so I spent the last hour searching the internet....yeah its pretty useless for this job.

But;

I looked at several aftermarket suppliers....they show bolts that are all equal length. You may have the wrong bolts there. order a new set man...ARP's are only 30 bucks. And at worst, they will come with either a card saying where each bolt goes...or you can call they're tech support.

Its never good to find out anything the hard way...although...that's the way we all learn best....too bad its so expensive.

Thanks for looking with me! Ya, I had seen those "sets" also...I think they may have been originally developed for the pre-TBI manifolds, and sort of "carried over" into this listing...but, the stock bolts are not equal length for sure, and some are bolts, some are studs (for bracket mounting). I may end up going with the guess method. The only other thing I could think of is, going to a salvage yard and trying to find a truck with the same engine, with the intake manifold still in it, and remove the bolts...sounds a bit time consuming, considering the time I have available.

Your idea about going to a salvage yard might be your best bet.It might be time consuming but at least you'll have the right bolt in the right hole.There's gotta be a ton of TBI 350s out there.

grose67 · October 28, 2009

I just checked my online FSM and could only go back as far as 96. It does not give specifics for the bolt placement, just reccomended torque and tightening sequence. The boneyard may be your best bet.

grose67 · October 28, 2009

I just checked my online FSM and could only go back as far as 96. It does not give specifics for the bolt placement, just reccomended torque and tightening sequence. The boneyard may be your best bet.