I've been reading all of the various Hemi intake threads on the HAMB this evening, and my wheels started turning. It seems to me that the most desirable "traditional" intakes for the Chrysler Hemis are the inline 4x2's. The consensus seems to be that the log intakes (6x2 and 8x2) just don't flow enough to really utilize all that carburetor, and are hardly streetable, and dual-quad (2x4) manifolds, while certainly better performers and easier to sync than the log manifolds just don't offer the cool factor of all those carbs...but 4 94's, 97's, or 48's in line with a common plenum gives you the best of both worlds, and the prices seem to reflect that. I mean, I get a 1 of less than 100 some-odd Horne 4x2's bringing insane money, but it seems like the Weiand and Cragar manifolds aren't far behind in terms of sale prices, and conceivably there should still be a bunch of those out there. That's when I stumbled upon a thread where Kerry was showing off a plenum box he made to sit on top of a WC245 4x2 Weiand, and I thought, why not just buy a cheap, new, and readily available Weiand 2x4 manifold and build a 4x2 plenum box on top of it? I get that it's kind of counter-intuitive to put 4 more primitive carburetors that ultimately flow less cfm on an intake designed for fewer carburetors that will in all likelihood perform better (and for less money), but the end result would look the part, and on a smaller displacement Hemi, 4 smaller carbs might actual perform better than two 500cfm 4-barrels that in all honesty are probably too much for all but the wildest of motors... Or, like I said, maybe I should just go to sleep... Thoughts?
Make one and lets see how it turns out.... I think that the 'cool' part is mostly just the 'old' part. I have one and you don't sorta deal. The 2x4 manifolds do not flow well, especially at low rpm...too much plenum for too short of runner, so not sure what your bigger plenum on top will do besides really screw up the air flow. Perhaps if you cut out the top of the 2x4 and weld up the new box it might look better but not too sure that it be a great performer. Just my 2¢ .
Old blower manifolds don't seem that hard to find. Already open on top. You could maybe add some length to the runners inside the plenum. Or not. Make some different top plates. Inline four. Staggered four. sideways four. What ever you like.
On the .060 over 331 in my dirt modified (avatar) I'm running a Weiand dual quad manifold with adapters to 2 Rochester 2GC's. Before this, I ran a Weiand 4 carb manifold with 4 97's. This setup runs as good or better than the 97's and requires much less maintenance. We used to run 6-8 times a year, and every spring when I first started it, it would hardly run and leak like a proverbial sieve, so I'd have to go through the carbs. I hadn't run the car for 3 years when I got a chance to run an intermission show 2 years ago. I pulled the car out of storage, blew the dust off, put in a battery, started it up, and it ran perfect. I'm a big fan of 2GC''s in general and this setup in particular. (The engine also has a roller tappet cam, 12.5 to one pistons, and a magneto.)
I am not a fan of 97's. The bowls vent to the atmosphere and not to the throat. They originally has silencers with no restriction vs. air filters. They richen up if restricted. Did I mention leak? Constantly filthy. I love 2GC's,AFB's, and WCFB's
Ok, I'm awake. I too am a fan of the 2gc carbs, and there are a couple of "new" intakes floating around to run three of those inline on an early Chrysler. One from Hot Rod Carbs which is definitely "cool", but man oh man they're proud of it. And then there's the Hot Heads option, which seems more approachable, but also VERY modern looking. For what it's worth, I haven't ever had a 3+ carb Stromberg setup up and running before, but I HAVE had a few triple 94's setups, and I've never really had issues once I got them dialed in initially. Never had a 4x2, but I don't think adding one more carb would be THAT much of a headache...I HAVE heard that the Strombergs are more of a pain in the rear though...maybe that will make the Holley decision easier.
On my Weiand 4 carb manifold 94's wouldn't fit, only 97's. I think I could have squeezed them in if I trimmed off the center front top screw, but I was afraid of leaks. I think this may be the case for all of the inline 4 carb manifolds. Check before you buy.
People go in all directions, saw a 241 on Power Tour that had a tri-power intake with a plenum box & small 4 bl.....
Just go to sleep. There is nothing in the world uncool about a 2x4 motor. Most of us that think going fast trumps posing all know that already.
I agree that 2x4 setups are pretty cool, and I have a ton of respect for you Pork 'n*******; you've always been really helpful when I've posted dumb sh'tuff on here...but I have to disagree with your statement, because if it was true, all these multi carb intakes wouldn't be bringing such INSANE money, and the HAMB wouldn't flame everybody with big single-plane Dominator setups. I think the quest to capture the look and "spirit" of a multicarb induction system, but using a manifold with more modern plenum/runner designs is pretty darned noble...because let's face it, nothing I can put on this Hemi is going to give me the blend of power and drivability that a BIG Holley 4-barrel on that BIG single-plane Hot Heads intake manifold will. A COUPLE of the guys who build FAST Hemi engines (on here) have tried to talk me out of running ANY sort of vintage induction on this motor...most have suggested a single plane/4-barrel (if I want to go fast), but I can't get the idea of period speed equipment out of my head... I have this******in' NOS Hilborn setup "gently" resting on the motor right now, but I really want to be able to street drive the car a little. I'd just run the thing anyway to suss out it's drivability, but once I bolt it up, it's no longer "new", so I'm having some reservations.
One of the iterations I ran on my dirt modified was a single 500 cfm Holley two barrel adapted to the original 4bbl '54 manifold. It was the most docile setup I've had on there, but it still ran well. I have a '56 331 truck engine with a two barrel I'm thinking of running in my current "T-Tub" project. That will have either the stock WCFB on the '54 4bbl manifold or a 500 Holley adapted to the original 2bbl manifold.
LOL I wouldn't flame a soul that could out run me. I guess my point is that by the later '50s and early '60s hot rodders had begun to find out that going fast was easier with a better setup and braces of carbs were not making it happen anymore. We all want to snag the look and the reason that those 4, 6 and 8 carb setups go for big money is that there are a lot of people who just think that looking good is better then going good. I think that fact that you are looking into a more modern design to utilize the multipl carbs shows that you are looking for a balance between looking good and going good. Something that we played with a couple of years back ( and have not yet scrapped the idea) was a large open plenum with crossed runners for runner length, and a removable top. you could then set up several tops with several carb setups.
When I posted this I didn't really think about how the large plenum area to short runner of 2x4 setups like the Weiand made them less than ideal. I mean it's not rocket science, and makes sense...but like I said, I'm just not that smart. The Hot Heads tunnel ram base has more runner for sure, and it will accept any top that a 671 will, but on an early Hemi you've got a distributor that gets bumped into pretty quick, the further rearward you push things...something most blower setups don't have to consider. On their EMC Hemi, tubing was added inside of the cast runner of the Hot Heads intake to increase the effective length, much in the same manner that you mentioned...I just wish it wasn't such an "ugly" intake. Anyway,*****ster27 PM'd me about a 4x2 blower top that might work well with either 4 of the new "Big" 97's (250cfm each) or 4 of the new "Big 94's (300cfm each). I'm waiting to hear which one he's talking about...Dashman's being the only one I'm familiar with. Something like that on the Hot Head's base, with increased runner length could be a pretty potent setup that would still look "cool". And speaking of looks, my car will definitely not be all period (I'm running a fully race-prepped Tremec TKO-600 and I'll probably be adding a modern Winters Q/C rear end for example), but it will be built in a sort of mid-50's style, so in terms of parts that really jump out at you, I want it to "look" the part. Nothing about it will be "poser" in the slightest...and building it with all vintage parts isn't really within my budgetary constraints...not so much because of the cost of entry, but more because I know I'm going to probably break some stuff... Here's a pic of that Hot Heads intake, with the mod'd runners (yes that's a modified Hilborn 4-port on top, converted to EFI):
If I could get at my old tower easily I would send you some 3D models and a pick or two of what I am talking about. The runners actually run through the bottom of the plenum and cross from one side to the other to stay away from the tunnel ram look and keep the intake low. granted it is not a cast intake it is a sheet metal intake but once painted it shouldn't look too bad. I don't care much for the tunnel ram look. Something that you may consider is finding an old crietz I think that they made them for hemis, you could mill the top off of it and weld a top or a flange on it for a removable top. As a rule they are not an expensive intake to buy and are vintage.
Old thread. Danny did use tubes inside initially but eventually all of that was removed and epoxy was stuffed in there instead. I ended up having over 300 hours refining that setup after he passed to carry on the effort. Danny had many hours in the manifold himself, fun times and brings back some memories. Finished piece is my profile pic. BTW the effective runner length was around 22 inches to catch the 1st Harmonic.
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