Well, homemade from a stock single intake.... I'm sure this was done back in the day and I don't see why it can't be done again. This is my plan, if you have any thoughts or photos of something like this, please post away. I have a stock 8BA intake and thought about milling off the carb mounting area and machining the two holes of the carb area to a standard size then plugging them with freeze plugs. Next drilling four holes in the runners, two in front and two behind the stock carb mounting area. Then cutting out two carb mounts from some 5/16" thick steel and connecting the carb mounts to the intake with the correct size pipe. It will be easy to weld the new carb mounts to the pipe but plan to make the pipes press into the manifold and seal up by brazing it together. I would like to be able to use the stock generator location so the forward carb will have to be rearward enough to clear. Or make the pipes long enough to mount the carb above the generator. Any thoughts on which would be better? What about mounting the carbs with the float bowl towards the rear? I have seen some mounted this way. Carbs will be Ford 94's. Anyway, I just thought I would run this by the group to get ideas.
Most dual carb intakes have larger and engineer runners for proper flow. That’s a lot of work for something that may not provide enough mix into all the outer cylinders.
Years ago, I bought a homemade dual carburetor intake manifold for pre-'49 flatheads at Carlisle that someone did a very nice job on. Gotha used to sell cast iron 1 and 2 barrel carb risers for the purpose in the '50s.
J.C. Whitney used to sell a kit to do this. It consisted of two risers with carb mounts. I believe it was meant to add two carbs to a stock manifold to make a triple. I had one in the late fifties and had cut open a manifold, but couldn't find anyone who would weld it together for me (I was about 16). I have no idea what happened to it.
Honestly, a good share of 1940s/50s aftermarket intakes didn't have a lot of science to them; they offered an improvement over the stock setup based on the "hey, it's better than it was " principal. Most engines were undercarbureted from the factory then. An otherwise stock 235 Chevrolet will still benefit from a dual carburetor setup.
Well that's cool, J.C. Whitney had all kinds of stuff, I used to look through the catalogs for hours. But what about mounting the carbs backwards? floats to the rear? And any thoughts on what would be better mounting the carbs high to clear the generator or more to the rear for clearance? I'm thinking higher so I can get the carbs closer to the intake ports in the block.
Here's some GOTHA intake manifold history: https://www.google.com/search?q=got...9i57j33i160.7881j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
I've bought one of those welded up JC Whitney manifolds at Hersey a few years ago. Less than professional job.
A stock '49-'53 Mercury intake manifold that someone modified for use with the first generation four barrel carburetors.
the above statement was made purely from opinions by many old flathead operators here clear back in the day. I want to thank Flatheadjohn47 for politely correcting me with some actual science I’ve never seen. I stand corrected.
This...is really cool !! The linkage might be a nightmare, but I'd work...overtime to make this, or something close to this work. I can see a little better "box" design under each carburetor, but this is worth working on...to me anyway . Mike
If you read the "write-up" on the Thickstun manifold in post #16 you will see that the testers did not like the sharp bends at the bottom. I don't know if I can do much better but can try to round it out somewhat. The also thought the carbs may be too close, with first measurements, I think mine could be further apart .... we'll see. Thanks Petejoe for that bit of info.
Are the Mercury manifold and different then the Fords? other than that mounting surface on the side that is for a auto choke set up, I guess.
If you want to play “what ifs “ with a mill, I’ve an stock intake you can have for the postage, might not be worth the shipping cost across the States though.
I think that the top of the Mercury intake is slightly wider, giving a bit more area for such a modification.
It’s a random pic I ran across. And I could see the improvement you mentioned working. I’ve wondered if something like the carb linkage for a v12 jag could be created.
Well if your going to mill the top of the intake you might as well shave the whole thing off for a blower. I had or have a old aluminum intake that’s what they did to it. It’s shave off the top and put a aluminum plate on top. It looks good and welds are really nice. On the fordbarn was a old 1932 intake that someone made it a 2x2 and turned out nice in the pictures. I wonder how it ran with 2 Detroit Lubricators. A old ad from the catalog
Thanks Heathen, it looks like the two barrel adapters would just weld on to of the manifold, My plan is to use some correct size pipe and cut holes into the top of the manifold inserting the ends of pipe into the holes. It also looks like I may have to angle my pipes out at the bottom to get to the center of the intake runners. This is all just in the planning stage right now anyway. I have to stay focused on getting my 3x2 intake on the Y block that is in the Model A.
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