MAN A FRE intakes?

Who is running one?

Thinking about trying to find one to put on my 454 in my '62 Biscayne and take off the belly-button Holley 750.

What can I expect?
No low end but an ASS load of top-end power?
Shitty (less than 6 mpg ) fuel consumption (got 14 mpg to the Pile-Up last year from St Louis)? Not too worryed 'bout fuel but I don't want to burn a tank of gas everytime I go for a cruise.

I am looking for a BBC Man a Fre, any idea who may have one?
Yes, I do know what the typical price is.

Thanks, Marty McFly

 

I tried to run one in the 70's on the street. 350 4spd 62 Corvette.

I found it hard to control for street driving. It would come out of the hole like a striped ass ape. 4 Rochesters dumping all at once will make some instant HP. In fact it came out too well for the street. It was either frying the tires or the clutch trying to find that very fine edge between the two. You need 1/4 the amount of gas pedal travel for normal operation. It might be easier with an automatic that you can drive with both feet. The cool factor is undeniable. Real world driving was a PITA.

It would be fine for a trailer queen, 4 blocks from the fair grounds but if you really expect to drive it in real world conditions be prepared for a real pain in the ass. Can it be done sure. I did it. Will it be fun to drive...I don't think so.

 

I had TH400 with a 2500 stall converter behind mine
it was the most fun setup I ever ran
very streetable, gobs of power from idle to the top

you do need to figure a workable pedal ratio
and I can see how a clutch would be tough
but I had no problems with mine.

wish I never got rid of it.
they are tough to find, I've only seen two other sets before or since.

here's a crappy clip of when I first put it on
healthy 454, 074 heads, moderate hyd. cam, headers...
in my old Ply coupe

 

oh yeah,
I don't remember gas consumption being much worse than any of the dual four setups I ran on that motor.

 

i know who bought my buddy's...not sure if you want to deal with him though...... brandon

 

I had a BBC Man-a-Fre till about a month ago. It was real nice. Looked to be never used. Had to sell it so I could make it to the HAMB Drags. Sold to a HAMBer.

 

anyone have one for a SBF 289?? Thanks,
-Dean

 

I suspected an automatic would be more managable. Since I have a Muncie it maybe a bit more difficult. As far as the throttle ratio issue I had figured I would have to work something out since moving the throttle 1/4" would expose alot more area on 4 two barrels.

Another route to get away from the boring Holley is to use the Hillborn I bought to convert to EFI (Megasuirt controller, injectors plumbed with mechanical style hose instead of fuel rail) but carbs are so much easier and simpler.

What to do, what to do?

Thanks for the feedback, M. McFly

 

I love it ,406 sbc 250 rear gears,540 lift solid cam,turbo350,works fantastic on the street.Making the linkage for it was a bitch, but as said its very responsive and mine holds sync very well.

 

yeah despite what you will constantly hear, man-a-fre's car is proof that they can be completly streetable. great off the line, very responsive all around a great set up.

the only down side you've got is trouble shooting 4 carbs but hey if it were easy.......

 

one of my friends has a complete bbc original manifree set up with the 59 pontiac big bore carbs he had it for sale at the l a roadster show pm me i'll get you his phone number don't have it off hand john it wasn't cheap but you can deal direct with him john