Swap for EFI Intake? + Bonus Material

crazyeddie · #1 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 01:39 PM

I was browsing intakes on ebay and came across this:

FORD 460 ALUMINUM INTAKE MANIFOLD FUEL INJECTION obo:eBay Motors (item 110443281598 end time Nov-06-09 12:54:18 PST)

While doing some research on the Edelbrock Streetmaster I was thinking of topping off my 460 with, I came across a few intake manifold dyno comparisons and they all showed the same results: The stock intake manifold was out-performed only by the Edelbrock Performer (by a very small margin) on a stock to mildly modified 460.

All single-planes they tested lowered the dyno numbers (they'd work nice on a motor with some compression and a big cam though) so I'm thinking about scratching the Streetmaster.

Since buying an Edelbrock Performer is about $200 over my budget (

I'm such a tightwad...) I was thinking about getting my hands on an EFI intake - there's a handful of them in my local junkyard just like the one on ebay. Same performance as my cast intake, it's lightweight, looks pretty, etc.

The injector bosses would have to be plugged (no biggie right?) and I can machine a spacer plate to bolt the carb down to.

Question 1: Will the manifold mate to my '76 heads?
Question 2: Is the EFI manifold split-plenum? (Hard to tell from the pics on the ebay listing whether it's split plenum or just has the divider cast into the surface of the throttle-body base)
Question 3: Is this a crazy idea?

I was also thinking if the intake is actually open plenum, I can machine the base divider off and fab a full divider to make it a split plenum intake. I read an article in Hot-Rod Engines - they put a divider in an open plenum intake which is supposed to artificially create torque by amplifying the intake pulses and their dyno verified an additional 13ft/lbs on a Chevy v6.

And while skimming the same magazine, they found blocking off the intake's heat riser made a dyno verified 26hp in a Mopar 440!

I read too much. I type too much too. At least I ain't readin' no Harry Potter though

Halp! I need ideauhz!

jarod17 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 04:43 PM

I will answer your question in order.

1. No the EFI manifold will not mount up to the carbed (or pre efi) heads.
2. Having not taken my engine apart yet I do not know.
3. If it works is it realy crazy?

Why not convert to efi?

Bear 45/70 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarod17

Why not convert to efi?

And lose all ability to improve the engine's performance for a reasonable amount of money.

crazyeddie · #4 (**permalink**) 10-30-2009, 09:46 PM

And there's nothing I can do to make it fit the heads? Crap this blows!