Intake manifold recommendation?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 0
From: Manassas, VA, USA
Intake manifold recommendation?
I really don't like the way the old "stock" manifold looks with those shiny new Sportsman II heads on our 350 rebuild. Besides which, the old manifold has pretty beat up laying around the shed for the past 6 months.
Because we're mainly going to drive it on the street, we're looking for a dual plane manifold. I'm thinking probably iron because the heads are iron, and an iron manifold won't have the difference in expansion that an aluminum one would. But this is the first time I've actually swapped out the manifold, so I'm out of my experience base here.
Any suggestions? TIA. :cheers:
Because we're mainly going to drive it on the street, we're looking for a dual plane manifold. I'm thinking probably iron because the heads are iron, and an iron manifold won't have the difference in expansion that an aluminum one would. But this is the first time I've actually swapped out the manifold, so I'm out of my experience base here.
Any suggestions? TIA. :cheers:
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Re: Intake manifold recommendation? (lyonsh)
There's really no reason to go with an iron intake manifold. An aluminum manifold will be a lot lighter and will dissipate heat much better. Depending on your setup the Edelbrock Performer (2101) is a very nice dual plane intake.
*Edit*
I'm not even sure if there are any "performance" oriented cast iron intake manifolds. The stock cast iron one that you have will most likely restrict the performance of your setup. Aluminum is definitely the way to go.
[Modified by bence13_33, 10:46 PM 5/24/2002]
*Edit*
I'm not even sure if there are any "performance" oriented cast iron intake manifolds. The stock cast iron one that you have will most likely restrict the performance of your setup. Aluminum is definitely the way to go.
[Modified by bence13_33, 10:46 PM 5/24/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,056
Likes: 40
From: Life is Messy, Bring a mop
Re: Intake manifold recommendation? (lyonsh)
Bence is spot on... The performer is hard to beat. I've had them on everything from a 289 Fort to a 455 Poncho and they've always worked great.
They do pretty much give up around 5500 rpm but I don't go there more than a couple times a week. Their punch down low is really useful :D
Plus, they can be bought dirt cheap :cool:
They do pretty much give up around 5500 rpm but I don't go there more than a couple times a week. Their punch down low is really useful :D
Plus, they can be bought dirt cheap :cool:
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 0
From: Manassas, VA, USA
Re: Intake manifold recommendation? (bence13_33)
There's really no reason to go with an iron intake manifold.
[Modified by bence13_33, 10:46 PM 5/24/2002]
[Modified by bence13_33, 10:46 PM 5/24/2002]
Also, IF I remember correctly, Chevy had some trouble with the original 4.3L engines (which are basically a small block V8 with 2 cylinders cut off) with Al manifolds leaking when mounted on the iron block/heads.
Like I said, that's why I'm considering iron. But I really don't know, so need experienced advice on this one.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,581
Likes: 28
From: Spring, Texas
Re: Intake manifold recommendation? (lyonsh)
The Edelbrock Performer (2101) or Performer RPM are good, as is the Weiand #8004 (all are aluminum). If you have the hood clearance (LT-1/BB hood required), Holley makes a replica of the LT-1 intake that works very well through higher RPMs and with taller gears (i.e. 3.55:1 +).
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Re: Intake manifold recommendation? (72rdstr)
Bence is spot on... The performer is hard to beat. I've had them on everything from a 289 Fort to a 455 Poncho and they've always worked great.
They do pretty much give up around 5500 rpm but I don't go there more than a couple times a week. Their punch down low is really useful :D
Plus, they can be bought dirt cheap :cool:
They do pretty much give up around 5500 rpm but I don't go there more than a couple times a week. Their punch down low is really useful :D
Plus, they can be bought dirt cheap :cool:
:cheers:
Olivier
P.S. You'll need a drop base air filter for the Performer RPM (if you don't have a L-88 style hood)
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 0
Re: Intake manifold recommendation? (GrandSportC3)
A Weiand "Action Plus" does it for me ($88.95). Will accept either a spread bore or Square bore carb and does fit under my '76 Hood. Did have to shorten the Air Cleaner stud tho.......Some folks say that the Performer RPM wont fit under a Vette Hood unless its an L-88 Hood......I'd hate to find out the hard way........ :eek: :eek: :eek:
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Re: Intake manifold recommendation? (tnt76vette)
A Weiand "Action Plus" does it for me ($88.95). Will accept either a spread bore or Square bore carb and does fit under my '76 Hood. Did have to shorten the Air Cleaner stud tho.......Some folks say that the Performer RPM wont fit under a Vette Hood unless its an L-88 Hood......I'd hate to find out the hard way........ :eek: :eek: :eek:
:cheers:
Olivier
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 963
Likes: 0
From: melbourne,Australia
Re: Intake manifold recommendation? (GrandSportC3)
Clink69 and i both have RPM Airgaps under standard hoods with the same drop base airfilter.....so the lower performer rpm will DEFINATELY fit....john :chevy
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Re: Intake manifold recommendation? (jdunne)
Clink69 and i both have RPM Airgaps under standard hoods with the same drop base airfilter.....so the lower performer rpm will DEFINATELY fit....john :chevy
:cheers:
Olivier
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Re: Intake manifold recommendation? (Tominator)
Not sure about the RPM but I had a holley 650 double pumper on my performer.
:cheers:
Olivier
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Grand Rapids MI
Re: Intake manifold recommendation? (GrandSportC3)
When running a Performer RPM manifold with a Holley, you usually need to run a thick gasket. I don't remember exactly what hits, but it might be the accellerator pump housing or the power valve cover- anyway, something hits unless you raise the carb up 1/4".
Matt
Matt
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: New Berlin Wisconsin USA
Re: Intake manifold recommendation? (lyonsh)
Chevy makes a cast iron version of the old (hard to beat) LT-1 intake. Its listed in the GM performance catalog. It accepts both square & spread bore carbs, and will still retain the choke. I have one and love it . Yes its heavy, though I would put up against anything Edelbrock or Weiand has. Its good to 6500 RPM as well.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 936
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
Re: Intake manifold recommendation? (lyonsh)
Sportsman II heads are pretty big heads for a 350 - 200cc intake runners. Stock GM heads are in the 150-170 cc range to give some idea of how much larger the ports are (significant!). A Performer or other stock replacement (#1256 gasket style) intakes are going to have smaller runners than the heads and basically constitute a mis-matched combination (those intakes are designed with more velocity and less raw flow in mind). A better matched combination would be an RPM (large dual plane) or Victor Jr. (moderate single plane). 200 cc heads on a 350 are meant for making power higher in the RPM range - so if that is what you are trying to do then finish it off with a matching intake and cam. If you are going for a mild or moderate 350 (a warm street motor) you may want to rethink your head purchase.
Rob
Rob
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 3
From: Surrey
Re: Intake manifold recommendation? (razz1980)
isnt there a hood clearence problem with the performer manifold on a stock set-up..thats what has kept me away with replacing my stock one :confused:
Paul
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: Canton GA
Re: Intake manifold recommendation? (lyonsh)
I have a Summit Crosswind (which is made by performance Plus) under my Speed Demon Carb. The Crosswind is polished and looks nice. Its a knock off of the RPM Airgap and performs well on my engine. I have a drop base air cleaner and can close the big block/lt1 hood with no troube (which has just a tad more clearance than the stock hood did). I've also read that there is no difference in height between the RPM and the RPM air gap.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Re: Intake manifold recommendation? (jdunne)
The new Performer EPS also fits under a stock hood. It is a dual plane square bore only intake, and has all the ports for all the accessories. I have a 750 Holley with a drop base air cleaner and did the putty test. Got over 1 1/2" clearance at the front end of the 14" drop base air cleaner. Many choices for you.... Good luck :cheers: :cheers:
Eddie
Eddie
