Hallo everybody,while replacing the intake manifold gaskets,i noticed on the driver side this small mushroom that is connected to the hot air passage.The mushroom is damaged and leaks,can i just shut the hole in the manifold or is it mandatory to retain it?
Thanks for any advice, Christian

Its where the Pipes for choke picks up hot air. if You are not planning on hooking up the pipes you can plug the hole so it does not leak. If You have Electric choke or the aftermarket Heat Stove which goes in the Exhaust Manifold You don't need the hookup on the intake Manifold.

  

If your planning to use the other end as hot air intake for the choke, then yes, keep it.  If you are going to use the tube for the choke, make sure the tube is in good condition.  Replacement tubes are available.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

I replaced both the tube and the mushroom on mine. The tube was broken and was causing an odd exhaust leak into the choke thermostat. I damaged the mushroom in the process of replacing the tube. Both were easy to replace with the manifold off.


~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles

Years ago I replaced my rusted tube with a stainless steel replacement from  Concours. I also purchased the mushroom and the tool to drive out the original which was obviously not stainless and was completely rusted apart toward the middle. The tool worked like a charm in driving out the old tube. An old time mechanic told me that back in the day when these tubes rusted through, rather than remove the intake manifold to replace the tube, people would install a manual choke fix kit or drill a hole in the intake or exhaust manifold to run hot polluted air to the hot air choke..Seems to me that I had to remove the intake manifold to be able to drive out the rusted tube. Also, I don't know why you would need to plug either end if the choke tube was in good shape. Good luck.

It is a truck and has manual choke,i don't plan to use the hot air passage for a choke.The other side is closed to,so i guess i will shut this one to and eliminate exaust fumes floating around.

I just used a drill bit to drive out the broken pieces from mine.



~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles