I'm looking for suggestions on intake manifolds and 4 barrel carbs.

 

Not as many out there as we'd like perhaps, but since most of these engines are going to be used in trucks and big cars that need lower to mid range power development, the usual suspects are just fine.
Edelbrock is likely the most popluar, with a couple of offerings. But I think Weiand has some as well. No idea if Holley has a manifold, as I have not looked lately. I ended up with an Edelbrock 400EGR model so I could retain my smog equipment for the best clean running setup I could have.

I don't believe that the Edelbrock carbs are the best, but they sure do tune and tweak nicely and easily. And are readily available.
A good old Ford Motorcraft/Autolite 4100 or 4300(?) series are considered to be great all-around carburetors. I'm sure there are more and more specialized carbs that would do the job (Holley Truck Avenger maybe?) but my experiences are more with the old-school Holley stuff and the Carter/Edelbrock stuff.
Would love to try a Quadrajet someday too, but my next step is TBI/EFI so I'll probably never get the chance to try the Q-jet on a Ford. Had them on old GM vehicles (Buick 430's and such) but never an odd swap like a 302, 351W or 400.

Good headers and a reasonably free-breathing exhaust go a long way to happiness in the power department too. Headers can be problematic sometimes with the 4wd trucks anyway. Not as much clearance as it looks like, between the engine and the body and the frame.
A good 3" single exhaust is what I'll have exiting the 400 in my truck. Duals are still cools, but I'm a singles kind of guy. Leaves a lot more room under the truck and breathes more than sufficiently for my needs.

Good luck.

Paul

 

Agree with Edelbrock intake. I'm running a Edelbrock Performer 400 intake manifold and Edelbrock Thunder AVS 650 w/ manual choke. It was a major improvement over stock. Edelbrock now has a Thunder AVS2 carburetor. It has annular flow boosters which atomize fuel much better than a standard squirter type booster.

 

I sure wish they'd do stuff all at once instead of piece-mealing the improvements over the years. They've known about annular discharge for over 40 years! You'd think they could have added that to their list of upgrades when they started making these things years ago.
And the double-inlets of the AVS series should be stock on ALL Edelbrock carbs. Either that or do what Carter used to do and offer left OR right inlet orientations.

Paul