Put the Fiero lower intake manifold on my 3.4 build, torqued it down to 19 ft-lbs.

Where the angled port surface of the manifold butts to the head, the manifold is higher than the head - step up from valve cover sealing surface of head is a good sixteenth of an inch. It's the same on both ends of both heads. As far as I know, these heads weren't milled.

This looks like bad news to me. It's easy to imagine internal coolant leaks, and the rubber valve cover gaskets are going to need wedges of RTV to seal. Or do I need to get the LIM milled?

Anybody else run into this with their 3.4 swap?

I've had two different sets of heads on my 3.4.
None of mine have ever lined up, exactly.
Just put a dab of silicone at the place where they join, just before you put the valve covers on.

This has never caused me a problem with either oil or coolant leaks..

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Raydar
88 4.9 Formula IMSA Fasback..........................88 3.4 coupe -soon to be something other than red

Read Nealz Nuze! Praise the Lowered!

Thanks for the reassurance - did the dabs of silicone and then noticed that when the valve covers are torqued down, the gasket overlaps the gap anyway.

My 3.4 and 2.8 do not line up perfectly either. I did opt for the more expensive rubber valve cover gaskets over the cork ones just for this reason.