#1  
Old 11-04-2022, 04:50 PM
INchief INchief is offline
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Default Gusher tubes

I have my 1955 287 being overhauled and the gusher tubes were damaged being removed.

I am looking for replacements or advice on running without them or reinstalling the ones I have as-is. One has most of the funnel still left and other one has no funnel left.

Any help is appreciated.

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Old 11-04-2022, 05:46 PM
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Best to run them. the one with "most of the funnel" should be fine. let me see what I have.
The '57-'59 are slightly larger, not sure if they fit.
Where are you located?

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Old 11-04-2022, 06:41 PM
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Sounds great. I'm new to this engine so not sure if they fit. I am located in SE Indiana. Thanks

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Old 11-04-2022, 08:10 PM
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Safari Larry (Larry Gorden) has additional info on Pontiac cooling systems here: http://www.pontiacsafari.com/EngineCooling/index.htm

He'd likely know about later tubes fitting earlier heads, but my guess is that they would not.

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Old 11-04-2022, 08:26 PM
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OK- I'll do some more research, Thanks

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Old 11-04-2022, 11:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by INchief View Post
One has most of the funnel still left and other one has no funnel left.
I think the early ones were brass and the later were stainless. If yours are brass you might be able to find a local artist who works in brass sheet and get him/her to build a new funnel on the end of the most damaged one. They'd have the other one as a pattern and exact fit probably isn't necessary.


By the way, make sure that the shop doing the overhaul cleans out the oil gallery in the heads and the oil holes in the rocker studs.

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Old 11-05-2022, 12:21 PM
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OK, I was thinking the same thing, could be repaired with new material and soldered in place. Yes, they cleaned it all out. It's been a real experience coming from dozens of SMC overhauls to working with this 287. I thought I understood the reverse flow, but this was a surprise. I wish they had called before removing them, maybe some better care could have prevented the damage, but here we are. Do you know if any replacements are available either stainless or brass? I haven't turned up any on searching the internet. Thanks for your response.

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Old 11-05-2022, 01:44 PM
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No, but I just talked to a metal artist friend of mine who works in copper among other metals. She says "should be doable". Where are you located?

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Old 11-05-2022, 08:39 PM
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I have just one, $25 + da ride.

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  #10  
Old 11-06-2022, 12:27 PM
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The 1955-56 distributing tubes have a different shape than the 1957-59 tubes. A 1955-56 tube can be installed on either head, left or right -- and can be installed in a 1957-59 head. The 1955-56 tubes changed from brass to stainless during the 1956 model year, so some 56's have the brass tubes and some have stainless tubes. Later years are all stainless.

There is a left and right for the 1957-59 tubes, a tube can only be installed on either left or right head. The 1957-59 tubes can be installed in 1956 heads, I don't know for sure about installing in 1955 heads, but I suspect you can.

I'm attaching an end photo of a 1956 tube (top) along with a 1957 tube. These show the non-flared (rear) end of the tubes, they are a bit bunged up from the removal process but should give you some idea of the difference.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	56and57tubes.jpg
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ID:	601767  

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Old 11-06-2022, 02:03 PM
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Great stuff Larry, Thanks!

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  #12  
Old 11-06-2022, 04:03 PM
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@694.1 - I'll take it - how do we proceed? I'm old and new to message boards. Thanks

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Old 11-06-2022, 04:05 PM
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@ Safari Larry - Thanks for all you do. I found your page early on and it's been really helpful.

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Old 11-06-2022, 04:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Hanlon View Post
No, but I just talked to a metal artist friend of mine who works in copper among other metals. She says "should be doable". Where are you located?
I'm in Aurora, IN

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Old 11-06-2022, 09:10 PM
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Sounds like you have one on the way. If you want to fix the worst of the originals you'd need to send both the worst and the somewhat better (to copy from. She could probably rebuild the better of the two (with the damaged funnel) as well.

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Old 11-06-2022, 09:40 PM
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PM sent, hope you can figure out the PM thing!

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"At no time did we exceed 175 mph.”
Dan Gurney's truthful response to his and Brock Yate's winning of the first ever Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining Sea...

Still have my 1st Firebird
7th Firebird
57 Starchief
  #17  
Old 11-09-2022, 12:24 PM
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Default I think I replied

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PM sent, hope you can figure out the PM thing!
I think I replied. Let me know if you don't get it, I am send the check to the address you provided. Thanks. I appreciate it.

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Old 11-09-2022, 12:41 PM
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Default local artist here

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Hanlon View Post
Sounds like you have one on the way. If you want to fix the worst of the originals you'd need to send both the worst and the somewhat better (to copy from. She could probably rebuild the better of the two (with the damaged funnel) as well.
OK, thanks. I contacted a local artist and she thinks she can repair the better of the two. If that changes I'll send you a PM. I appreciate the help.

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