Smog removal from drivers side head

[Jesus5150]

I have a 1971 3986336 engine that's all original from a chevy van. I want to clean it up and drop it in the c10. I ditched the carb and intake because I have a holley 4160 and torker 2 intake lying around and they're fresh.

I took the stock intake off and there's 2 steel tubes in one of the small ports of my drivers side head. What are they and how do I remove them without damage?

[geezer#99]

They’re the tubes for the hot air choke on your carb.
Over time they get stuck in the exhaust crossover by a build up of carbon.
You likely need to dig them out of there. Nothing else in there to hurt.

[Jesus5150]

Wow. That's shocking. They look and feel "mounted". Thanks a lot. I'm going to move forward!

[kwmech]

Yep, there supposed to be attached to the metal plate that bolts to the intake from the outside. Small chisel an hammer, start chipping away 'til they come loose. Other side looks just as clogged up

[MS66]

Careful when digging through that hardened carbon, don't let it get anywhere inside the engine, it can wreak havoc.
Since you live in WA, you will need those exhaust ports opened up for manifold heat if you do any driving during the winter. A lot of folks that live in warmer climates have plugged, or severely restricted those crossover ports to reduce the amount of exhaust heat that reaches the intake manifold. If you don't drive the truck in the winter, leave them plugged up. If you decide to go that route, you can just cut the heat riser tubes off flush, you won't hurt a thing. Personally, I would pull the heads off and clean it out, check the valves for wear at least, then new head gaskets. You don't want that hardened mess down in the cylinders, make sure the two center exhaust valves are in the closed position to keep it from going into the cylinders. Also tape over the intake ports, and cover the lifter valley well if you clean it out with the heads still mounted to the block.

[GASoline71]

If that's going to be just a stocker with a new intake and carb on it, you're gonna hate that single plane Torker intake. A dual plane would be so much better.

Gary