2x4 Intake converted to 4x2- let's talk!

Been thinking about the possibility of converting a 2x4 manifold into a 4x2 manifold using Vintage Speed's conversion plates.



How does it actually turn out looking?? Does it look... errr... "adapted"?? I like the look of four Strombergs or Holleys in a row, but how will it look with the adpters??

Nother question... do these adapter flow well? How's the performance characteristics?

Let's hear it!

 

I thought about it when I saw those. my only thought was if there would be enough room between the two carbs. you would probably have to ask the manufacturer if they could check it.

 

They WILL work on a 4x2 to convert to 2x4 according to vintage speed. They look neat by themselves, but I'm curious to see what they will actually look like with two of them end to end. Have a feeling they might look a little cluttered.

 

right... some intakes its too close. I know someone who mocked it up on a Olds Rocket intake. It looked reaaaal cool.

 

Yeah, if anyone has some pics, please post them.

I was kind of thinking that they might be too close depending on the 2x4 manifold also...

SHOW US! SOMEONE!

 

What about linkage?
Maybe run the center carbs as primaries and bring in the end carbs progressive? Or all direct w/ a bigger engine?
I'd also like to hear results of how well it would perform.

Josh

 

I was thinking a couple 48's in the middle and a 97 on either end. Not sure how that linkage would look.... but I bet Bass would show us on his Hemi!!

The reason I've been thinking about going with an adapted manifold is becuase of how hard it is getting to find in-line 4x2 manifolds for an early Hemi. They're around, but the price is often unreasonable.

 

i also would like to see some pix. i've been thinking of doing this on a 401 nailhead. i've got an original buick 2x4 manifold that i'd like to put 4 two's on, but wonder how it would look/perform.

 

for the cost of buying the 2x4 intake, adapters and making/buying the linkage you could purchase a real 4x2 for a little more money...

1 adapter would be cost effective, 2 at $99.00 + tax + shipping doesnt make sense. you still have to buy 4 carbs at the end of the day... no real savings IMO.

i guess the real question would be, what motor are you going to run?

early cad 4x2 intakes are about $500.00.... olds, chevy and buick stuff is cheap in comparison to other setups.

 

$100+$100+a nice used 2x4 manifold @ $100 is only $350 plus carbs seems reasonable compared to what I've seen some of the original in-line 4x2 manifolds for an early Hemi go for.

 

yes, but if you wanted a different looking intake, I've yet to see an inline 4x2 intake for a sbc. maybe there would be clearance issues with the distr.

now if you wanted to make it REALLY different add 4-6 inch 3 bolt carb spacers to it. talk about wierd looking!

 

I think the 4 2s will work on most 2X4 intakes, my Edelbrock C-26 has the right clearance. What's unreasonably expensive are the carbs, especially 97s. I have an ancient McGirk 6X2 SBC intake and when I started pricing 97s I freaked. I have a bucket full of good 94s, but the float bowls are too big to work on the manifold I have, I have to use 97s. I went ahead and bought two 500 CFM Elelbrock Performers, went dual quads and never looked back. They are easy to tune, they don't leak, parts are available and the price is realistic. 6 Stromberg 97s from Vintage Speed was going to cost me $1200 plus the core charge. To me, it wasn't worth it. If I was going to spend that kind of money for "The Look", I'd toss a little more in and buy the Moon EFI look-a-likes or a Hillborn EFI, just my two cents! Look up the old posts about Vintage Speed, I haven't seen one satisfied customer yet!

John

 

please let me know where the cheap buick stuff is.

thanx.

 

well, now you are in the realm of doing things just because you can or just to be different.. that can become a mess pretty fast.

a bunch of adapters and spacers is not necessarily getting creative and from a functionality standpoint i see a pile of spacers and adapters as twice the amount of possible vaccuum leaks.

by all means, speculate and try it... worse thing that can happen - it wont work or it may look like a mess.

in regards to distributer/carb clearance issues on a SBC, you could maybe run a front drive(?) timing cover.. this relocates the distrib from the back to the front. ive got one for a BBC and i cant recall seeing them for a SBC but iam sure they were made. you can get creative with the water neck as well...

 

ya'll take note - vintage speed's adapters don't have recessed mount holes and the carb linkage hits the bolts that mount the adapter to the manifold. The NW speed adapters have recessed holes so you can use allen head bolts that recess to mount the adpater to the manifold - you need the recessed heads. Trust me.

 

you and i are deffinately building different drive trains... buick is cheap in comparison to banger and flathead speed equipment. lets just say in the realm of 4x2 intakes, buick is on the RELATIVE cheap side.....

 

nothing ten minutes, a drill press and a countersink couldn't fix. just use flathead/countersunk allen bolts.

 

I thinks it would be very interesting to see these adapters and carbs on a side by side cross ram intake. Two carbs for the driver and two for the passenger....cool.

 

boy it could sure get very strange in a hurry.

 

Chrome everything!
Would be cool for a wild 60's show rod.

 

distributor clearance on a Hemi may be a problem with the adaptation. Didn't think about that. I think I would have to see.

Tudor, who makes the other ones with the coutersunk holes you mentioned?

 

Just dont use Vintage speed! Use Eelco and keep it in the family-

http://www.eelco-usa.com/index.php?cPath=24_30_44&osCsid=ceb459c24307d7e135532bad15255833

cheaper too!

 

Umm they both suck.....Proven track record.

 

Expand on that.

 

yeah,but with THIS he can unbolt all of it if it doesnt work/looks like ass and stick 2 fours on..if a REAL 4x2 is on it,he's screwed if he cant get it to run
creepy

 

I thought about changing from 2x4 to 4x2 with 2 adapters on my 348 chevy about a year ago. After taking some measurements there is no way it would work on my 348 with a 2x4 Offy manifold with 2 adapters and 4-94 carbs. The center 2 carbs is where the clearance problem would be and maybe the distributor also. I would believe that this would be a problem on almost all inline 2x4 intake manifolds. I would like to see some pictures of an inline 2x4 manifold that it would work on. A cross ram style intake would probably work and look cool.

 

I just bought one from www.nwspeedequipment.com should be in tommorow...
Bought the linkage too, I think it would look good on my Nailhead...
Oh and Buick speedequipment is not cheap...

 

i know that guy too. it's a weiand 2x4 intake for a 303/324 olds. two old offenhauser adapters with four 97's. 94's wouldn't work. perfect spacing on all carbs. mike, you might get the opportunity to photograph that set-up this weekend.
i tried it on a new edelbrock sbf 2x4 intake and it didn't even come close to fitting. i was monkeying around with an efi gt-40 lower intake, seeing what kind of plenum could be bolted to the top to run 4 97's in a row. then tig weld the injector holes closed. it would be tight, but the front carb did clear the distributor.
if you don't mind the looks of a u-fab intake, you can run four 2 barrels in a row on a hemi. a guy is selling kits on ebay all the time.

 

The U-fab is a staggered 4x2. I actually really like it and may put one together and powdercoat it. There's some pics here:
http://www.lakeheaders.com/UFabIntakes.html
They're a little pricey, but if you have the resources you could easily make your own I would think.