Grinding Cast Iron

[gcdsn76]

When I went to install my Street Demon carb on my stock 383 manifold, I found that the fast idle screw hits inside the edge of the old choke well, requiring me to grind away a chunk of the cast iron manifold if I want to use this carb on my car. I want to run a stock dual snorkel air cleaner. I've been grinding away with a die grinder and a grinding stone. I tried using a carbide bit, but this dulled very quickly. Any recommendations?

[ws23rt]

A grinding stone will be slow progress.

I'm not sure why your carbide bit failed but it is likely from too much pressure. A normal attempt is to push hard on the cutting edge to get er done.---Not---A light advance of the cutter allows for chips to exit. Excessive pressure on the cutter will allow it to load up or get filled with metal. Additional working with the loaded cutting tool will just make heat.--No place for the cutting edges to get a bite.

BTW good eye protection is on your list. :icon_smile_wink  I had a small sharp piece of metal get stuck in my eye many years ago. I will never forget how uncomfortable that was. I had to have a curled piece of metal unhooked from my eye at the hospital.

Sorry for the lecture but I can still see with both eyes.  I've used those aggressive cutters for 40+ years since and made very short work from what a grinder would have taken forever.

[BSB67]

When I went to install my Street Demon carb on my stock 383 manifold, I found that the fast idle screw hits inside the edge of the old choke well, requiring me to grind away a chunk of the cast iron manifold if I want to use this carb on my car. I want to run a stock dual snorkel air cleaner. I've been grinding away with a die grinder and a grinding stone. I tried using a carbide bit, but this dulled very quickly. Any recommendations?

Got a picture of what you need to grind away.  Hard to imaging that it would take more than a few minutes with the right carbide burr.

[gcdsn76]

It is the old choke well. I'm thinking that part of the problem might be I'm using too small of a compressor.

[b5blue]

I'm just spitballing here but how about a cheap 1/2 spacer?

[gcdsn76]

That's what Demon recommended, but I wanted it as stock appearing as possible. Also, I don't know if I would run into clearance issues with the stock air cleaner.

[BSB67]

It is the old choke well. I'm thinking that part of the problem might be I'm using too small of a compressor.

I was thinking close up showing exactly needs to be removed for clearance

[c00nhunterjoe]

That's what Demon recommended, but I wanted it as stock appearing as possible. Also, I don't know if I would run into clearance issues with the stock air cleaner.

You want it to look stock so are opposed to a 1/4" spacer but put a demon carb on jt?

Fwiw, cool carb technology makes a phenominal product that will be nearly undetectable on your car. Moreso if you leave the stock air cleaner on it and they definatly wont notice it under a demon carb.
http://www.coolcarb.com/

[gcdsn76]

The Demon should hide pretty well under the dual snorkel and I was using a Carter AFB anyway. The .25 spacer wouldn't be noticeable. The .5" probably would, and I was worried about clearance issues with the hood. I'm not going for a 100 point show car in a stock class, but stock appearing enough to pass casual inspection. I thought if I was just able to hollow out that choke well a little, it would work, but I think I would have to grind the part hanging up completely away. So far, the Cool Carb spacer looks like the best idea. Thanks for everyone's help.

[b5blue]

  I used a CH4B intake and Proform 750 with a 1/2 spacer on my 440. All of this is higher than a stock 383 with factory intake and 4BBL dual snorkel air cleaner. With mine assembled and the dual snorkel air cleaner on top I put Play Dough points anyplace the cleaner looked like it might hit the hood. Clearance was no issue on my 70 Charger.
You can't see anything under the air cleaner, everyone wants me to remove it to see the new parts!  I think it's a win/win to insulate the carb as much as you can! 

[375instroke]

Carbide, or could it be high speed steel?

[gcdsn76]

The package says carbide.