My RPM Performer was having issues getting a good seal and port match to my RHS Pro-Action aluminum heads. While its quite possible the machine shop who was doing the matching took too much off the intake but that had no bearing on the fact the ports did not line up exactly. So I did some research and went with this DART piece. It is an excellent intake. Matched perfectly to the aluminum heads, and immediately lowered normal temp slightly and obvious improved throttle response....and the best part is it fits under the cowl hood with a holley and LT-1 air cleaner assembly.

I dont recall seeing these discussed so I thought I would share. I bought mine from Jegs but it was drop shipped from DART.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Dart/301/42811000/10002/-1

 

Looks good and fits
Like the four corner cooling thats available.

 

It is a very nce intake. I did some testing with one a while back ona 400" pump gas build. It made 540 HP with it using a 750 Holley. Everything...the Dart SHP shortblock, Dart as cast heads and intake were out of the box and untouched.

JIM

 

Dart makes good stuff! Glad you're happy with it. So, are you saying that it's shorter than the RPM intake, or was that fitting under your hood too?

 

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. Why di the intake need machining?

 

It's actually 3/8" higher at the carb flange. However I know there have been height issues with the edelbrock air gaps, so just thought I would comment that this one fit without major drop base or shortening of the filter height.

Thats a long sad story...but it really goees back to the way it came out of the box. The block and been decked, the heads had been slightly shaved for a cleanup, but the intake was a gross match out of the box. Shop said they could plane it to fit ...should have just sent it back... Since the DART piece fit perfectly I have to assume the Edel RPM was a poor cast to begin with...now it's scrap aluminum!

However, I have other issues with this shop as they installed my rocker studs with no sealer.... so immediately after the build we had a major oil consumption issue which originally was tied to the intake seal, which was only part of the issue....so not sure what exactly to believe from them on the intake...although since it was not fitting out of the box and I witnessed that much, I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt...I should have just sent it back. Lesson learned!

This thing is rock solid now though! She rocks and rolls!

 

I am reading that some performance heads (like my DART IE's) require sealant on the rocker studs as SOME protrude into the intake ports. That would explain oil on my spark plugs (if not my rings).

I will research some more

 

Do you have any photos of the nonfit?

 

I believe he is talking about Rocker Studs, not Head Bolts-
I had some Large Port Vortec Bow Tie heads a while back that had the same thing. Rocker stud holes went all the way though to the intake port.
If you don't seal those studs, you suck in oil...

 

My bad I wasn't thinking............

 

This ^ indeed!

 

I have a few of the soaked and lifter gasket at the bottom the intake ports once we took it back off. I'll try and upload a few of thoses later today. As far as the port match goes, you really had to be standing over top and setting the intake down while watching the ports line up... unfortunately I did not think to take any at that point.

 

I use a bore scope to check how the ports line up.

 

I'd prob buy Dart if I got another air gap intake both edelbrock I got, have bad core shift on the runner ports. I hate when I try to buy USA and the quality is the same as chinna junk.

 

Yeah the scope eventually came out but after the damage was done...no pics were snapped at that point...we just used it to visually verify the difference between the modified Edel and the new DART. This was after we had thanked the machine shop for the "quality" work and retreated to my friends garage. I am ordering my own bore scope this week wont make that mistake again

I tweaked the idle adjustment and took her out for a 20 mile drive at dusk yesterday. Let me just say its going to be scary once fully broken in and tuned. It's been long summer with this thing but fruition has arrived!

Thanks to all who have provided input on this project.!

 

Thanks for this. Makes me feel a little better about the machine shops story.

 

the old manifold may have worked with a thicker intake gasket.

 

We tried the Fel_pro 1206s which is .065. I'm pretty convinced the edel was imperfect out of the box and the shop made it worse....the Dart just fit too prefectly. Anyhoo it's all good now, and at the end of the day I think this one is a better match for my build.