I have to do my intake manifold gasket, while I am at it I am browsing for a cheap 2nd hand aftermarket performance intake manifold. The car is a 305 carb'd car and my main question is what kind of problems might I run into if I get an intake that doesn't support an egr valve? Car is a 1985 firebird no cats, no smog pump, etc.

 

Since you don't have those other emissions controls, then why keep the EGR valve? It just adds cost. It can be used to help mpg slightly, but only with the mildest cams.
I just bought an 86 from Idaho where they don't check for any of that, but I live in SLC where I need it to register the car, so that's why I'm having to sell a performance intake manifold for cheap to get an EGR one in time, before my temp tag expires.

 

Hey Cosmick, I wasn't sure what is any problems i might run into just buying an intake without EGR support and throwing it on. I wasn't sure if there was anything else I had to do when "deleting" the EGR valve from this 85. Switching to the performance intake because my intake gasket is leaking and if I have to remove it why not right lol and the non EGR are much less expensive it seems.

 

W/no smog requirements u have no limits for intake choices. Edelbrock, Weiand, Holley all have entry level sbc intakes that will make nearly the performance as each other. Heck even a stock GM intake doesnt perform all that bad and u can find late 70's 4 barrel qjet intakes in alum and u get the snowflake casting emblem also. And i like the GMPP intakes that have the Bow Tie casting emblem. I really like the ZZ4 intake #10185063 but has low rise for better clearance.
The Edelbrock intakes get taller with the air-gap and RPM styles and may not meet your hood clearance.

Hope this helps.

 

Just got the edelbrock performer intake and edelbrock carb after I got rid of all emissions crap

 

I was out this weekend doing my water pump and noticed this


Figure if I am going to remove it to fix the gasket I might as well put in a better performance intake.

 

The Performer is very slightly better than the factory aluminum q-jet intake. If you get a spreadbore type, you can keep your current carb (much, much better than an Edelbrock carb).

If you don't have the EGR valve installed/hooked up, the computer will set a trouble code but not necessarily turn on the SES light (weird, but that's what happened to me). Apparently the ECM looks for a slight dip in the MAP signal when it commands the EGR valve open, and will set the code if it doesn't see it.

But, if you don't have the EGR solenoid plugged in, it will turn on the SES light (you just need the electrical plugged in, doesn't even need the vacuum line hooked up to keep the light off).

 

If you haven't done headers, do those first.

You won't see much in gains on your stock engine with the intake change. If you had headers, i would say do cam and intake together

I like the ZZ4 over the Edel. 3701.

Deleting EGR to save money is great if you failed economics.

 

I have headers on the car, like I said only reason for the performance intake swap is cause the gasket is leaking and i need to pull it anyways, but thanks for the info. Thought about doing the cam but I'm holding off from doing too much that won't swap over to my 350 block that I will be building soon.

 

Cool. And understood.

A cam is fun fun fun if you have the gears to let it run.

I had a too-big crane in an L69.

Even without headers, it was money well wasted.

Matter of fact, cam + gaskets sounds like a plan.