Hot Rods DeSoto Hemi intake query...

Cold, rainy fall day question: I just passed on an Edmunds 2x2 BBL intake for my little DeSoto Hemi. Carbs, probably need rebuilt from setting, progressive linkage but complete. I offered the guy $500, he came back with $900, which is probably on the money, but I'm reluctant to spend that much for eye candy, and the thing runs SO good now with the original single 2BBL that I kinda don't want to rock the boat by adding another carb.
Anyway, this whole escapade and near purchase did make me think about the brand new, still in the box E 1405 carb I bought several years ago for my Chris Craft 283 and never used. Hot Heads Racing (I've bought lots of stuff from them already for this engine) has new casting high rise, dual plane intakes for $650. I'm planning on a hood top, measuring the current stock set up with the E carb and adding the 1.5" they say this manifold is taller by, I'd still gain 1/2" to clear a hood. Right now the carb stud hits the hood top I made.
I guess my question really is, on this bone stock engine, would the E-carb and intake make enough difference in performance to be noticeable? It's got a really TALL rear gear, 2.85's, and 30" rear tires, so it's no dragster, although it doesn't hold up traffic. The E carb doesn't have the "antiques" look I want, but I've been really happy with the others I've run, including 2 of them on and old Off 360 manifold on the 283 in the '34 roadster. I could still use the Stellings air cleaner on it, and under a hood top it'd be hidden anyway.
So, spend $700 for the manifold and trinkets to make it work, or be happy with what I've got and get my wife something pretty with the money instead?

 

I’ve heard the saying “ Don’t let $1000.00 keep you from having a nice car.”

 

Hey Brian, It is hard to make out in this pic but I bought the Hot Heads single 4 bbl manifold for my truck's DeSoto 330. Nice looking piece out of the box but I removed all of the casting marks, logos, smoothed it down and covered it in black ceramic paint. I have only done the 20 minute cam burn and another 20 minutes of drive time before tearing the truck apart for paint so I don't have a performance report for you...yet

 

I'd forgotten you used one of them on your DeSoto. Yeah, let me know how it performs. My engine is completely stock, and like I said, it runs so nice now I'm hesitant to "improve" it much.

 

If it ain't broke . . .

 

The more I think about it, that sounds better and better. I'm glad I didn't hit the "Buy" button on the intake...

 

Several years ago, there was a guy modifying stock early hemi 2 bbl intake manifolds for use with a four barrel. Milling the top of the intake and bolting an aluminum adapter to it, I believe. There must be enough meat there to do it, so maybe find another stock intake and experiment?

 

....You're not trying hard enough

 

You ALREADY know the answer!

Ben

 

Yeah, I do, just looking for encouragement to do something futile and stupid...

 

The hot heads intake is a really nice piece,,,,it was designed taller to help hp .
However,,, since your engine is basically stock and you are happy as is,,,,,you probably don’t need it ?

Tommy

 

If that setup didn't sit up so high I'd say get a big air cleaner that pretty well hid the carb and call it good.
i know from hunting for one back years ago stock 330 4 barrel intakes are pretty well non existant.
Some guy does have carb and intake that looks like it was lifted straight off a long sitting engine on Ebay for 499 though. 363537586380 A bit ritzy for me right now but Those intakes have always been spendy by themselves.

 

If that 2x2 Edmunds was for the low deck DeSoto, $900 would be a deal. In 30 years, I've only seen a total of 3 of them, and I own 1.
I am in the camp that "more carbs is better" even if it doesn't improve performance. I mean really, the reason you put a small DeSoto in there was because it is cool and different. I'm sure you could have built a 383 SBC for half the price and it would have performed twice as well. But then it would be just another belly button roadster.
Get the 2x2 intake.

 

Your argument is convincing enough, especially since this engine cost $0.00. I yanked it out of our '52 DeSoto wagon to put a (cough, ahem, cough) off topic 354 Chrysler Hemi in it. So the buy in cost is low enough. I also know that these Edmunds intakes are made of unobtaium, so it probably wouldn't hurt to own it as a conversation piece. The guy said he's not going to sell it unless I decide to buy it, so it's not going anywhere. Oh, decisions, decisions...

 

When my nephew gifted me the 276 DeSoto hemi, I was stoked...Nicely smaller than my 354 Chrysler, it was slated for my '27 tub.
But the intake prospect hung me up. (wanted a 2X4 setup, have two 500 Carter AFBs)
Then I looked at the footprint of the 2bbl intake: There's a 5" sq. flat plateau up there that can be plunge-milled for an AFB (Edelbrock) 4bbl, and a spacer under it... O joy O rapture!
Thought I saw a 'flash' on 'Speed ---' in Florida regarding a 2 X 4 intake for DeSoto.
Might have been raised block, though...Anyone see that?

 

I didn't but Hot Heads does have a 2x4 intake for Desotos. It is basically a blower manifold with a bolt on conversion for the carbs. I was going to go for that one but I ran out of room under the hood.

 

The $900 is a good price. I recently sold an Edmunds 2x2 Chrysler for $1100.
But if it runs good as is..........

 

T. R. Waters, but he has stopped doing them, last I heard.

 

Put a hood on it and forget about it...

 

Don't do it. The Hot Heads intake is very helpful to a built motor, but not on a bone stock engine. Furthermore, the 1405 carb you have is 600CFM, when the cam in that engine is designed for 370cfm, so you're over carbureting.

Install the hood top and enjoy as is.

If you wind up using the Edmunds dual carb intake down the road, that's a much more period correct setup for your car, though I'd probably still recommend installing a better camshaft to take advantage of the added carburetion.

~Peter

 

Just drive it Brian, I'd much rather see the 2bbl on it than the other option.

 

you should spend that money on an alcohol powered engine for the scooter

 

I'd either keep the stock two barrel, hunt for a stock four barrel, or a '50s aluminum aftermarket four barrel.

I used to have a 276 Desoto and was quite excited that Hot Heads was coming out with a four barrel intake, until I saw it:



Too modern looking for me.

 

Run the 2bbl. I had one on my roadster, ran well, no one bothered that it was only 2 barrel.

 

I agree with @Beanscoot, looks like the pattern was made on a milling machine. It needs some radii on the runners for a start. It's too modern looking for a vintage engine.

 

Or maybe this

http://www.alsblowers.com/streetinduction.html

 

run the 2bbl....its different...that adds the cool factor ...unless you want to run with the herd...

 

Those little hemis are cool regardless of what carb or carbs it has. I would leave it alone.

 

Best idea yet! Or, I could probably buy Brandon's, I heard it's available...

 

Agreed, they're ugly, the stock one is much more appropriate looking, and it does run really, really well.