...about the LG4 intake manifold being an okay piece.

My 140k+ mile gaskets were leaking water, so I finally got around to pulling the intake to change them. I saw that ZZ3 intake sitting there, so thought, "Why not go ahead and install it now?" Well, I did. It's 5/8" taller than the LG4 piece, that didn't cause any major problems, but it's majorly different inside. I also installed the oil splash shield from the LG4 intake (required drilling holes for the rivets - drill press recommended).

Even with all the other LG4 parts still on there, including the air cleaner, it definately runs better. Now, I don't know how much of that can be attributed to no more leaks (and it did appear to be sucking oil from the valley into the intake ports) and a completely plugged EGR port. But, I do believe it's not just all in my head. Perhaps soon I'll be able to get it out to Bandimere and confirm that.

It obviously needs a better air cleaner, cam & exhaust (it's in the works, see sig), and the rods & hangers aren't quite right, but I was pleasantly surprised that it ran any different at all.

Okay, I'll shut up now. Well, at least until the "work in progress" is completed.

------------------
82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, ZZ3 intake, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam, ported World 305 heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat & 3" cat-back).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7 CR forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlocks, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, MegaShifter, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Idles smooth @ 600 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).

 

LOL Dude, that was like my first mod... Just wait until you feel the improvement from installing an open air element!

------------------
1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...

-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

I borrowed that piece from the '57 last summer while it was out of transmission. I started the season running the Camaro with the stock air cleaner, then put on the open element after about 3 weeks. I gained about a tenth with that alone.

Since I've got an emissions situation, I need a factory-type cleaner at least for that operation. I also noticed in stop-and-go driving last summer that the open element wasn't quite as good. Overall, though, it was an improvement.

If I can't find one of those dual-snorkel cleaners that people say are "all over the place" (including CHP in their August issue), then I'll go open element. Also, the Camaro is just about old enough to qualify for 5 year plates here, which means no more emissions!

 

I was expecting more of a revolation but some interesting info instead that warents some questions Were bolth of the manifolds aluminum? Did the manifold you replaced it with come off of that 87 in your sig? Im very curious cause I can pick up stock intakes all day long for 5/10$ My action+ took a dump and I had to return to the stock 82 intake for now and well it sucks.
As far as the dual snorkle Call up Burt Chevrolet, they could get them a while back so they probably still can.
SSC

 

That's good to know. I swapped in a 350 but ran out of money (engine died 2 weeks after having my trans rebuilt ) and still have ALL the LG4 crap on it, air cleaner, intake, carb, exhaust, ignition, everything. It currently runs like a total dog. I guess the computer just doesn't like the 292 cam in it, or the 13 in of vacuum. Either way, new stuff is on the way (to the rescue???) including a weiand stealth intake.

 

The intake came off a ZZ3 crate. The guy was going Bigmouth so the intake was never fired. It happens to be the same guy that sold me the LB9, but that's not the engine the intake came from (LB9 is TPI). Both intakes are aluminum. I believe the ZZ4 intakes (same as ZZ3) go for about $175 from the dealer, but I'm sure there are plenty of take-offs like mine out there.

Last I heard, new dual snorkels were in the $200 range. Ouch. CHP said they picked up two used at $15 each.

At this altitude, I'm running less than 13" vacuum, and the computer doesn't seem to mind. I assume you are eliminating the CC with the Stealth.

To repeat the disclaimer, I don't know how much the condition of the LG4 intake (leaking gaskets and plugged EGR port) were affecting the way it worked, but I don't think it would have been as much difference as I've seen. And, I don't feel like cleaning it up, buying another set of gaskets, putting it back on and finding out.

 

Unless you get hard numbers showing a gain i'll stick with my contention that the stock intake is far from a restriction on a near stock engine. Going way back in time, my buddy swapped a GMPP intake (prolly same as the ZZ4 intake, looked the same visually when he later swaped to ZZ4, didn't check #s though) onto his 87 monte carlo SS and he ran dead nuts the same et/mph (IIRC was 14.8 @ 93ish). At the time he was basically stock except gutted cat and dynoflax muffs.
...ed

 

Hence the disclaimer. SOTP is certainly not the best dyno out there.

What I'll try to do is go back to the configuration I ran last summer - timing, air cleaner, rods & hanger - and run at a test & tune (none scheduled until next month, and I may be out of town then). Since last summer, I've also gone from 3.08 open w/25" tires to 2.93 posi w/24.3" tires, but I'm not changing that back! We all know how hard it is to get back-to-back comparisons, but I kept good records last season.

I'm still surprised that it ran any differently, even if only SOTP.

 

not sure if it will help but 82-85 mustangs(eeegaa did i say that word?)5.0 came stock with dual snorkels..and here in ohio you can find them everywhere in junkyards here...they do fit and i think they are a little larger than the gm ones.

 

Yea, but they dont clear the HEI. Unless your running a points distributor with some funkish linkage than it would work quite well since they are alot larger than the GM dual snorkle.
SSC

 

I believe that a moderate/mellow cam swap would have been immensely beneficial to that intake swap. Intake alone not worth much and when it's off, you are already at the half-way-apart point of a cam swap, essenatially... Even if a $79 cheapo cam/lifter set was used just to check it out... IMO

 

If this was the engine I was planning on running, I'd agree that a cam change would have been in order. But, I was fixing a leak for the short term, just decided on a whim to change the intake while I was at it.

A cam change involves a lot more than what I was trying to accomplish (even though it involves everything I did). The REAL cam change occurs when this intake goes on the "and-on" engine that is currently on the garage floor awaiting the heads which are awaiting my die grinder (I'll post my sig again so you don't have to go back up to the original post).

After another day of commuting, I'm still amazed at the improvement in driveability - it just snaps off-idle now, mid-range is better, spins up seemingly much quicker when you get into it. I haven't even gotten to the rods yet (now CH w/B hanger, ran DR's borrowed from the '57 on an H hanger last summer, which it seemed to like better). Again, I don't know how much to attribute to just the change in intake, and how much is because everything is clean and sealing well. But, I will attempt to get Ed's hard numbers.

I'm also amazed at the interest this post has generated...

------------------
82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, ZZ3 intake, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam, ported World 305 heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat & 3" cat-back).

[This message has been edited by five7kid (edited July 17, 2001).]

 

Oops, discovered last night I had already put the DR's back in (haven't kept close track because I'm not running it at the track currently).

I did the "poor man's" open element, put a 14" lid on the 15" cleaner (1/2" opening all the way around). That helped. Still some tuning left in it, though. But, I'll get your hard numbers, Ed, before I go any further.

 

WTF is that! You mean you can get a special plate after 5 years and then no more e-check!?! I think a 1984 car would qualify...

------------------
1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...

-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

57, I just swapped the same intake on my LG4. Big difference in throtle response which is a gain just a SOTP opinion. I hope to have hard number soon too....

------------------
86 SC, 305 LG4, TH700R4, SLP headers, 3" cat and exhaust. Mild cam 204/214, .423/.442. SLP shift kit, richmond 3.73's w/limited slip. Suspension Techniques Sway Bars, Globel West Wonderbar, Poly everything bushings, Metco LCA's, Lakewood Panhad Rod. 16" ROH, with Toyo 245's. For autocross, 16" IROC's w/bfg R1's... Nothing easy can be fun...

 

Colorado has a deal for older cars where you pay 5x registration and they'll give you a plate good for 5 years (they call it a "collector" plate). As long as you renew it before it expires, you don't have to have it emissions tested. I need to find out if that is 20 or 25 year old cars (I hope 20, of course). I have such a plate on the '57, but it's clearly old enough, and doesn't need emissions anyway. Only downside is you can't get a personalized 5 year plate (what collector would want a personalized plate?).

If you stick with 1 year plates, you have to have '82-newer cars tested/inspected every other year.

[This message has been edited by five7kid (edited July 18, 2001).]

 

Man I keep coming to the carb board and this post is alway stuck on the top.

5,7 your looking 5 more years for the collector plate I just got mine on my 76 last month and its 25 years or older. But I though Denver and surrounding area had the 20 year mark where one did not have to get emmisions checks? Or am I thinking Colrado Springs?
SSC

 

In reply to the original post: I replaced my stock LG-4 intake with an Edelbrock Performer(#2101) intake, and man my engine runs sooooooooooo much better. Not so much a power gain, but just an improvement in the way it runs. It accelerates smoother, has alot more power at high RPMs, and idles alot better. I also put a Holley an there, but I think the intake is what did it. Anybody wanna buy a old LG-4 intake and CC Qjet? HA!

------------------
---Grady---
1984 Berlinetta.
LG4 305
Holley #1850 600 c.f.m. carb.
Edelbrock Performer intake.
TH-700R4.
Flowmaster 80 series/ 3" cat-back pipe.
Accel Superstock Coil.
7.5 10-bolt rear/ 3.08's.
Edelbrock Pro-flow air cleaner.
Pioneer head unit, Pioneer front 4X6's, Cerwin Vega rear 6x9's.
Daily Driver.

Personal Quote: "The Rice-Boys all tremble with fear when the old American V8 draws near."

 

Amazing, huh?

Confirmed, it's 25 years old for the 5-year collector plates. And, emissions in the Denver metro area are for '66-newer vehicles.

 

Update: Made 3 runs yesterday afternoon (before going back home and getting the '57 for more seat time in it).

For both:
14x3 dropped base, open element air cleaner; Accel HEI Super Coil; base timing advanced 6 degrees; DR rods on an H hanger.

Before:
w/LG4 manifold and similar air (from records from last year); tires were 205R75x14 (25.5" dia) front, 265R50x15 (24.4" dia) rear, 3.08 open: mid-16.9's to low 17.0's typical (often started the evening in low 17's, got into 16.9's as air cooled off). Best all year was 16.71, but that was a back-off break-out run, and I really wonder if something broke the beam before I did (like a rabbit - it happened one other time). Throughout the year, anything in the 16.8's were something to cheer about.

After:
w/ZZ3 manifold: Tires 225R60x14 all around (don't have the 205's anymore, too lazy to put on the 265's), 2.93 posi: Runs of 17.02 (floor mat under the accelerator), 16.86, and 17.06 (tried holding it in 1st, valves floated at 5200 even though I started the shift at 5000). The air temp was 83 degrees for all three runs.

Okay, this isn't back-to-back, and there were uncontrolled variables. For instance, yesterday I didn't do enough runs to get a consistent methodology (which I had last year because I ran the Camaro for the whole season). And, the reason I didn't just leave it in "D" this time (like I did all last year) is because in the first run it pulled above 4500 like it never did last year - I thought there might be a few more RPMs up there, but the valve springs proved me wrong.

Perhaps someday somebody will have enough idle time on their hands to make true back-to-back runs between the two manifolds. For now, I remain convinced that the ZZ3 improved even what is otherwise a stock, 140k+ mile LG4.

Got to get that other 305 together...