I figured this might be the best place for this post.

I'm going to put an engine (mild 350) into my '83 Z28 5 speed car (LG4). I'm planning on keeping it looking completely factory. This means no chrome, all emissions stuff intact, exhaust manifolds, etc.

My plan is to get my hands on as much of the factory L69 components as I can. I'm in the dark about the intake manifold from an L69 car though.

Is it different from the LG4? I've inferred that it is. If so, is it better? What does it compare to? (performer?) What type of rpm range?

This car is going to be a driver with longevity/dependability of key importance. Help me out if you can. If I went with an aftermarket intake, I'd have to paint it black to keep with my theme (I'd rather get a cheap used factory piece though)

Are there any visual cues that give the L69 manifold away?

thanks
Clem

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Clem
SCCA TransAm Series Race Mechanic/CrewChief
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1983 Z28 with LG4, 5 speed, and (unfortunately) T-tops
1983 Z28, NO T-tops, (unfortunately) Auto Transmission (hopefully not for long)

 

AFAIK, the L69 and LG4 intakes are identical.

You'd be much better off getting an EGR Performer or Action+. Or, even a ZZ3/4 take-off like I found - it was already painted black.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4. 2.93 limited slip. 2-1/2" cat-back, ZZ4 intake, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (ported World 305 heads, Crane PowerMax cam, Hooker 2055 headers, 3" Catco cat & 3" catback w/dual-opposite Flowmaster, restalled TC, Spohn SFCs).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7 CR forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Holley 750VS w/4150 conversion, 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).

 

I used the intake that originally came on the mid-80's 305 H.O.cars(not sure what the engine code is..)It looks just like any other 4-barrel intake exept it's made out of aluminum.Once painted,few can tell the difference.You get a huge weight savings,no hood clearance problems,and everything looks stock.For mild motors like yours and mine,they flow pretty well up to about 5000rpm,or so i've read.The best part is i only paid 15 bucks for for it,i'd of paid over 200 bucks for an edelbrock egr performer that might have flowed a little better over 4000rpms,and i doubt i could've closed my hood.

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86'Camaro Berlinetta SC,former 2.8,now 350 cid,4 bolt main.94'TPI 350 heads(pocket ported),420-442 lift summit cam,cloyes double roller timing set,Modified q-jet carb(e hanger,ch rods)700-r trans(rebuilt)3:42 gears,t-tops,b&m megashifter,grant wheel,fresh headliner,Macewen white face gauges,American racing wheels..Dedicated to those who enjoy scrounging through junkyards more than throwing money for new stuff...

 

Performer RPM is the one you want to avoid for hood clearance reasons... the plain Performer should have no problem with clearance and it is good for A LOT more Hp than the stock L69 manifold. It will only gain probably 10 Hp (can't verify actual figure) over the stock one on a stock motor.

 

the lg4 intake was aluminum also (surprised me) but, the performer will cause you grief if you have a hood off of an LU5 optioned car...

 

My LG4 intake wa iron! Must have weighed fifty pounds easy

 

I thought Lg4s were iron too, it probably depended on which year LG4. I ported my aluminum L69 intake for my L69, but a performer seems like a wiser choice. Grind of the edelbrock badges and paint it black if you're going for original.

 

musta depended on year, cause sure as sure, mine off my LG4 was aluminum...although maybe the prev owner swapped...who knows, i know he put in a shift kit, but it might not have stopped there, but i doubt he swapped it, cause he sold it cause he couldnt figure out a miss, which was caused by a chafed plug wire...so anyway, mine off of my Lg4 is aluminum

 

My LG4 stock is alum.

JamesC

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Yes, my LG4 is a stock aluminum piece and so are a few others I've seen. I didn't know that there were any iron ones.

I might try to get a part number off my LG4 intake to compare with somebody's L69 part number and see if they're the same.

thanks
Clem

 

Apparently, Canada got iron for a few years at least (an non-CC). My '86 LG4 was (is, actually, in the garage attic) also aluminum.

 

Interesting. Explains that incredibly heavy thing that came off my car! I haven't the slightest hint of smog gear on my 86 Sports Coupe

But did you find an aftermarket aluminum intake to be an improvement over the stock LG4 aluminum you took off?

 

See https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/...ML/000961.html .

The real changes needed to take advantage of the intake are in the sig. Should have it hooked back up and running this weekend (after I get home from this business trip).

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4 (restalled TC). Ported World 305 heads, Crane PowerMax cam. ZZ4 intake, oil pump, pan & baffle. Accel HEI SuperCoil & module. Hooker 2055 headers, 3" Catco cat & 3" catback w/dual-opposite Flowmaster. 2.93 limited slip, Spohn SFCs. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily year-round driver. Best ET, speed TBD...
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7 CR forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Holley 750VS w/4150 conversion, 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 @ 700 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).

 

The performer RPM manifold fits fine under my hood (Formula or Knight-Rider style), there is a regular Holley on top though.

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1984 Trans Am, Goodwrench 350, TES Headers, Performer RPM Intake, Flowmaster 80 Series, Holley 600 cfm & vacuum advance, and T5 with short shift