Picked this intake up at a swap meet last year for $50. I was hoping to have something different than the usual Edelbrock performer that's on it now. Thing is, the little 283 runs great and I don't want to lose a lot of low end performance. What do you guys recommend?
I have run that Weiand before and it ran fine. But, I am guessing that you will actually get better low end performance with what you have. For the same reason as you mentioned about wanting to run something different than a performer, I picked up an old Edelbrock C3BX to run on my kids motor. It is still dual plane, so I am hoping it works decent.
I’m sure you are right about the height difference. I was just thinking the main thing you would see is the difference between single plane vs. dual plane as far as low end performance more than the difference in height.
On that same note though...I have this old Offenhauser single plane intake I am considering running on my other sons 283. So, I am interested to hear others comments here as well.
There was a different Weiand single plane on my Fordor when I bought it, it was a 7504. Looked the same as yours but the 7504 has a removable aluminum center divider in the plenum. The car has a mild 283/T350 and ran really good with the Weiand but I wanted a more nostalgia look so I put a C-3B on it with the same Carter 4028 AVS from the Weiand. They both feel the same on the bottom end and I think it is the divided plenum that helps; I’d keep the Performer, the open plenum will hurt the low end.
Its not the height of that intake that is going to be the problem. The fact that it is open plenum is the problem, it is not designed for low end grunt and will probably only be marginal at mid range. The size of the plenum is going to want a large carburetor for optimum effect. The general rule of thumb is that to keep a manifold working properly you have to keep the plenum full of air (air/fuel mix). That usually demands a carburetor with a large CFM rating. For a mild to mid level build 283 for street use if someone does not want an Edelbrock Performer Weiand makes a nice intake called the Stealth. There were also a few dual plane offerings sold in the '60s that had a little more carb pad height (rise). They are now "traditional" as opposed to outdated so that makes them a little pricey but they work well.
I would clean/polish it and try it. Sounds like a nice weekend project, plus the oil and coolant get changed and you’ll get to clean and service some other areas as well. I would bet you won’t be able to feel the difference. If you can feel a difference, you can make yourself some plenum dividers and carb spacers to play with - the essence of hot rodding. That old Offenhauser looks pretty beat up, look it over very carefully before trying to use it. I had one on a mild SBC and it was very responsive. I’m not sure how well it performs overall compared to more modern designs though. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Those old Offy 360s were good intakes, they were a tradeoff between an open plenum and a 180 degree intake. They power slot was what made the difference. They wanted a lot of cam to really perform. They would work on a stockish small bore motor but they really shined with a big cam and larger displacements. One thing that a lot of the racers and hot street guys were doing with the large open plenum intakes was to raise the floor of the planum and extend the runners. 2 part epoxy and aluminum plate was the medium. You could weld the runner extensions and build up the floor with the epoxy, or if you are not a welder you can use the epoxy to hold the extensions in I have seen it done both ways.
Thanks man! This 283 is stock and will likely stay that way considering this kid. I may keep my eye out for another cheap intake that can take a fill tube. I only paid $40 for this one with the Quadrajet and adapter that was on it, so don’t really have any money in it. I had read mixed reviews on the Offy 360, so appreciate the input. Or, I’m sure it may work fine as well considering I am not worried about this one being a hot rod...unlike my other son that thinks he needs a 9 second daily driver.
What red blooded American boy doesn't think he needs a 9 second streeter. LOL chat with me when you get a chance, I may be interested in the offy in the future not today but I may have a home for it eventually.
If you don't want to lose low-end power, then I would suggest not using that intake you bought. From experience, a single plane intake like that on a engine with a factory cam and compression and under 300 ci, had a hell of an off-idle stumble and didn't really make any power until 2500 rpm. I used it because I was broke and it was free, and the car did run with it. But it would have been substantially better with a low rise, dual plane intake. If you don't want to run an Edlbrock performer, there are plenty of other good offerings out there that would suit your needs and work better, including intakes by Weiand and Offy, or even a Edelbrock C4B with a front oil fill tube. Those can still be found at swap meets and on eBay. What I surmise you're trying to do is make your SBC different and unique in a car that puts the engine out there in the open. This is an impossible task. The SBC has been done every way imaginable. If that's your goal, you need to come to terms with that fact. The reality is that pretty much any intake you put on there is going to be a lateral move at best in a single four configuration, and more likely, make your car run worse. If your end goal is to make your engine look better, that's something you can definitely do. A set of matching your valve covers with your air cleaner, getting rid of that billety upper rad hose, losing the bright red MSD modern coil and blue wires, or even taking the time to bend some nice PCV lines, would all do wonders in terms of overall aesthetics. So maybe you just leave it alone.
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