How do I best determine if the stock intake manifold on a 1987 Ford 460 is a single plane or dual plane setup? I am trying to best match a new carburator and am not sure. I think it is a dual plane based on a few threads I have read here, but I wanted to confirm as I did not see the 1987 specifically referenced. My Ford shop manual does not seem to provide this info, or at least I have not looked in the right section to find it if it does...

Thanks all!

Joe ...

 

A dual plane manifold had two separate runners, one for each cylinder bank. You can tell by looking at the carb mounting surface, a dual plane had a divider in it separating the runners. A single plane is just an open cavity. Yours is more than likely a dual plane. The Edelbrock Performer is a dual plane.

 

Thanks for the info. I was not sure if there is a way to tell single verses dual with the carb still mounted. This 1987 460 has the Holley 4180 carb, and it is still on the intake, so I cannot see the intake opening(s) to determine single or dual. I was hoping someone who had already taken theirs off may know which the stock intake is.

Thanks!

Joe ...

 

It's a dual plane...

If you want to look at some pics of my engine all torn apart last spring here you go.

460 Re-Power - a set on Flickr

 

There were no stock single plane manifolds for the 460, all were dual plane manifolds. So there is no way to have a stock single plane manifold.

 

In the photo I attached above you can see that some runners pass over others.
In a single plane like a TFS or Victor all runners pull from a common plenum.

(link to Summit page)
F-250 PICKUP, 7.5L/460, 4-barrel square bore, FORD - summitracing.com

 

Thanks all! That is what I thought, but I wanted to confirm.

 

All stock carbed intake manifolds are dual plane (Ford, GM, Dodge). Dual plane manifolds are street/daily driver, nothing above 5500 to 6000RPM. Single plane manifolds are for pretty much all out racing. These manifolds usually start only making power above 4000 RPM, that is why they are not used on stock vehicles.