Best 360 4 barrel intake manifold
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,056
Likes: 8
From: Union, Washington
1968 or later for your heads, so small ports.
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Tacoma Wa
Actually I just went out and measured the intake ports on a C3AE9425B 4bbl maifold off a 63 FE and the ports measured 2.128 X 1.192. I also measured the ports on a set of heads with C8 castings that measured 2.378 X 1.378. only a 1/8th inch diff. top and bottom with the intake ports slightly smaller.
Now these were actual hands on measurements with a Starrett 6in scale. not numbers published in some random book.
I also never said that ALL FE 4bbl intakes were the same, just "pretty much". I just failed to realize that I needed to add one of the most basic things to remember when swapping heads/manifolds, and that is to always measure your ports to make sure that the intake/head/exh will watch.... <silly me> Do I need to go into ALL the various diff's? Like the high and medium risers? or the round exh port heads? etc etc??? I'm not thinking so.
But to answer the original question? Yes a C2 intake WILL mount between a set of C8 heads. Just measure the ports and make sure they are close..... if you want to be EXACT? Dress the top and bottoms of the C2 intake to match the C8 head ports..... but in the real world? The 1/8th in diff top and bottom is not enough to bother with.... I've seen many of stock OEM port match-ups with at least that much diff. some with more....
If my memory is correct, the only diff between the C2 and C3 intakes was the thread size of the temp sender.
Now these were actual hands on measurements with a Starrett 6in scale. not numbers published in some random book.
I also never said that ALL FE 4bbl intakes were the same, just "pretty much". I just failed to realize that I needed to add one of the most basic things to remember when swapping heads/manifolds, and that is to always measure your ports to make sure that the intake/head/exh will watch.... <silly me> Do I need to go into ALL the various diff's? Like the high and medium risers? or the round exh port heads? etc etc??? I'm not thinking so.
But to answer the original question? Yes a C2 intake WILL mount between a set of C8 heads. Just measure the ports and make sure they are close..... if you want to be EXACT? Dress the top and bottoms of the C2 intake to match the C8 head ports..... but in the real world? The 1/8th in diff top and bottom is not enough to bother with.... I've seen many of stock OEM port match-ups with at least that much diff. some with more....
If my memory is correct, the only diff between the C2 and C3 intakes was the thread size of the temp sender.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 227
Likes: 1
From: Plymouth, MI
Originally Posted by crewdcab
While I can't tell you much about the manifold other than it's a 1962 casting, I can give you some info about the heads. C8AE-H heads are a 1968 casting. These heads were used in 1968 on the 360,390, and 428 with thermactor.They have a chamber size of 67-70cc, 2.34"x1.34" intake port, 1.84"x1.34"exhaust port. Measure your friends ports if you can. They should be slightly smaller than the heads. Hope that is of some help.
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Tacoma Wa
and just to set the record straight Kilich? Although I may be labled on the site as a "freshman" user, I'm a freshman user with almost 40 years experiance as a certified (ASE/ATRA/Ford) mechanic. With a significant portion of those years as a line mechanic in a major Ford dealership in the Seattle/Tacoma area. I've been building Ford FE engines of various sizes since I bought my first 1959 Ford (with a 332cid) out of a wrecking yard back in 1975.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 648
Likes: 0
From: Saskatoon
Another girlie thing that I do is when lowering the manifold with the lift is when the manifold is about 1" above the engine I screw in some threaded rod in the first and last bolt holes on oposite sides. The manifold then drops on in perfect allignment the first time with no screwed up gaskets or permatex.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,221
Likes: 17
I guess the weight is a matter of perception, my intake was 74lbs, heavy to shift, not heavy to lift onto an engine. (And my back is cr*p, so if it isn't safe to lift I won't do it.)
Anyway, FWIW, I used a 4bbl from a 62 T-Bird. Didn't have a problem finding the larger t-stat or housing for it. You can use a freeze plug on both the road draft tube and oil fill hole. I opted to keep the oil fill tube.
I bolted it up to the D2TE heads on my 390. Didn't worry about port mismatch. Runs great, no problems.
Anyway, FWIW, I used a 4bbl from a 62 T-Bird. Didn't have a problem finding the larger t-stat or housing for it. You can use a freeze plug on both the road draft tube and oil fill hole. I opted to keep the oil fill tube.
I bolted it up to the D2TE heads on my 390. Didn't worry about port mismatch. Runs great, no problems.
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