Since I'm rebuilding the carb over the winter, and the intake is right now, I might as well switch it from stock. So which intake should I get (Mod's in sig)?

Also, I was thinking. All an intake is is a piece of aluminum. So I should be safe to grab a used one them, and just clean it up?

Also, what kind of price should I be looking at?

Any comments/suggestions/intake donations are more than welcome.

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Trevor
87 Z28 - LG4 - 305
Hedman Headers, Y-Pipe, Dynomax Exhaust, K&N Open Air Filter

http://immortaltk.tripod.com/z.html

 

Used ones are fine, you can find them in the Bargain Finder all the time. Usually they're around $100 for squarebore or $150 for spreadbore. Just check it out a bit before you buy it, make sure all the threads and gasket surfaces are ok. Clean it up as much as you can and then spray it with some aluminum engine paint (or any other color) and it'll look brand new.

[This message has been edited by Apeiron (edited October 27, 2001).]

 

Trevor,

An Edelbrock Performer should provide 15 or 20 more hp. A Performer RPM will give more but requires a dropped base aircleaner to fit under our hoods.

 

If you have to stick within smog test limits, a performer is a good manifold. Its available with all the nec. ports and all stock acc. will bolt on.

Even if you dont, the performer is a good choice unless you plans show for better heads/cam/carb at a later time, then I would get a perf. RPM.

As far as price, a new perf. costs $120.00 from summit, an rpm costs $149.00.

I've never paid more than $50.00 for a used one around here at swap meets, just look real careful at all the thread holes, used manifold are notorious for stripped threads/broken bolts.

------------------
ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up
1981 corvette
1995 Kawi ZX6R
and 2 POS commuters...

R.I.P. #3
"He can see air"

[This message has been edited by Engineboy (edited October 28, 2001).]

 

I researched it a little and found that many people who tried both Weiand and Edelbrock preferred Weiand.

I bought a used Weiand Action Plus and love it. There is also the Weiand Stealth intake.

The price is about the same. Buying used is a slight roll of the dice. I did it and came out fine.



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http://www.gruveb.com/z28

 

I've read quite a few articles on Weiland vs Edelbrock and they're usually pretty close, but more often than not the Weiland outflows the Edelbrock. I got an Edelbrock though, and I love it. They're cheap enough new that you don't have to buy a used one. It's not always easy to find one for sale anyway. I've seen dynos that gained as much as 25HP just by changing the intake manifold out. With a moderate buildup I'd expect to see 10-15HP over stock type. If you buy used, look for signs of warpage or where they may have been ground down on a surfacer, or you may have a leak problem. Sometimes they may have been ported out also (which I'd suggest porting your intake and heads to the gasket to get the free HP and reduce carbon buildup), so just be careful if you go used.

 

I don't have any emissions to worry about up here, so I'd like to get a non-EGR one (I assume I have EGR and it should be easy to remove? If it wasn't already removed with my headers?)

Could you explain what a "dropped base air cleaner" is and how it would differ from my open element 14x3?




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Trevor
87 Z28 - LG4 - 305
Hedman Headers, Y-Pipe, Dynomax Exhaust, K&N Open Air Filter
2 - 8" MTX Black Golds, Clarion 6x9's, Boston 4x6's, Sony Deck

http://immortaltk.tripod.com/z.html

 

Dropped base aircleaners are just that; the base or bottom section drops down an additional inch or so, compared to the stock one. That gives you back the room between the hood and the cleaner that a Performer RPM uses up because it is a taller manifold.

Some people don't like the idea because it reduces the air flow section between the lid and the top of the carb, in their opinion negating the power obtained from the RPM's superior hp performance.

Really, you would have to dyno the car to see if this is true or not.

 

Engineboy, your prices are correct, but your money is the wrong color.

EGR uses the exhaust crossovers in the heads and has nothing to do with the manifolds, so its possible you still have it. About the only reason for you to get rid of it would just be to eliminate some of the mess of hoses under the hood, and not even much of that really.

A dropped base air cleaner lets the bottom of the air filter can sit lower than the top of the carb.

 

you don't need a dropped base air cleaner to fit under the stock hood. I had one and it worked, but you still have to get an adapter that raises the sircleaner anyways. Now I have a 9x2(cheapest one I could find since my distributer got in the way of the 14" and I didn't feel like playing with it to get it out of the way).I'm going to get a k&n 11x2 non dropbase coming up in the near future.

also, I got my performer rpm for $115 at Auto Zone.

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'86 IROC 5-speed
305 LG4
edelbrock performer rpm intake
edelbrock 600 cfm carb
msd pro billet hei distributer
'95 3.23 rearend
hotchkis rear suspension
PST front polygraphite suspension
"speed kills. buy a f@&d, live forever."

 

It's worth mentioning that I spoke with some people at Edelbrock about EGR and non-EGR manifolds because I thought there may be some differences in airflow and how tall they were. As it turns out they are the same all around. Going without EGR does not improve airflow because the EGR plumbing does not afect the internal runner sizes. So actually, dropping your EGR will not help your airflow at all. Dropping your EGR will however cause detonation sooner due to the higher combustion chamber temps, so you won't be able to run as high compression ratio as you could with EGR (about a point or so). If you've got it, keep it. If you don't don't worry about it. L98 aluminum heads and LT-1 heads I believe don't come with EGR passages, the EGR is plumbed into the intake from the exhaust manifold.

 

Actually, the reason that I ask about EGR is because I was looking at a Summit catalog I had, and noticed the EGR one's were $30 more, so I was just wondering if I needed that.

But it sounds like EGR actually has a really important purpose in the car, so I guess I better find out if I have it and keep it if I do.

I don't suppose anyone here has an intake for sale?

------------------
Trevor
87 Z28 - LG4 - 305
Hedman Headers, Y-Pipe, Dynomax Exhaust, K&N Open Air Filter
2 - 8" MTX Black Golds, Clarion 6x9's, Boston 4x6's, Sony Deck

http://immortaltk.tripod.com/z.html

 

Also, do I have to worry about clearence with my hood?

And what about the spreadbore vs squarebore (I think that has to do with the carb right) on the intake? I need one that'll work with my stock Quadrajet (At least for now)...


Thanks again guys for all the help

 

Cars ran just fine before EGR was invented, go ahead and get rid of it if you want to.

You'll need a spreadbore intake to fit the Quadrajet unless you use an adapter which takes away hood clearance. Most spreadbore intakes have holes to mount either style of carb, so it should be no problem going to a squarebore carb in the future.

 

if you get rid of the EGR, the timing should be adjusted acoordingly. Used intakes might be machined for rebuilt engines. That will cause a bunch of headaches. Unless you know the used intake is almost like new, just get a new one.

------------------
-Tas
'89 Formula WS.6

 

You can run without EGR if you aren't running higher compression. EGR allows you to run higher compression than without it because it lowers the chamber temps, effectively reducing detonation and spark knoc (if you're running a computer). You don't have to use it, but it doesn't hurt either. It doesn't affect the airflow of the manifold one way or the other, so if you wanted to buy the EGR manifold and block it off it won't hurt either, then you'll have the option to go back to EGR if you want. The Edelbrock Performer is the same height as the stock GM, but the Performer RPM is higher.

 

all i have to say is get the edelbrock perfomer, its all youll need for a 305. i dont care how many soup up part u throw at it, it cant justify usin a perfomer RPM. and the perfomer is cheaper. while u have the intake off u mine as well toss a cam in there to get the most out of your 305. Just my $.02

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when the green flag drops the bull$hit stops

pulled the 350 to make way for the 406 wich is in the machine shop. got a comp 282S bump stick with 1.6 rockers. looking at differnt heads right now.Perfomer RPM and holley 650 DP, headers and 3 inch exhust. 3000 stall converter and a built 700r4. shotin for mid 12s next summer

[This message has been edited by GOLD85 (edited October 31, 2001).]

 

I paid $10 for an RPM and I'm glad, I love it, and recommend it even for a 305. I don't see what harm it could do, and it gives me a few more ponies, especially up high. I love being able to safely rev to 5500 without choking for air. It still has more after that I'm sure but that's as high as I want to spin that thing.

 

Are you running a stock hood with your Perf. RPM? Their powerband is 1500-6500 where the Performer's is idle to 5500. You will gain flow above 5500 by sacrificing lower RPM flow, but the question is will you run above 5500? You should have your cam profile and powerband decide where you need your power. Most cams below 230 degrees intake have peak HP below 5500. What cam profile are you running?

 

Here's a secret: Everybody thinks the EGR
system costs Horsepower and prefer to eliminate it especially when they change manifolds. So nobody wants a used Performer
EGR. EGR has no effect on full throttle performance and only increases drivability, gas mileage, while reducing emmisions. You should be able to pick on up used for less.
The thing to watch for on any used intake is corrosion around the thermostat housing and stripped thermostat bolt holes.

 

This article on my site should help www.inter-scape.com/ray/305buildup.htm

It's a LG4 buildup, baseline is almost identical to yours, stock LG4 with headers. The Performer picked up 19 hp and 20+ ft-lbs over the stock intake. The RPM picked up an additional 15hp and really lost no torque. Check out the graph. Peak torque was at the same RPM, and the lowend torque was just barely down and it quickly matched the performer's torque all through the midrange and beat it out up top. The RPM still destroyed the stock intake for low end torque, and obviously murdered it for hp and torque throughout the rest of the RPM range.

I'm running the RPM on my 87Z with a drop base cleaner under the stock lid. Wingnut rubs, so it's real close but it fits... Some say the drop base degrades performance compared to the regular non-drop though. Although it may, I can't see it counteracting the 15+hp the RPM is worth over the Performer...

------------------
Ray87Z
-Vortec headed 350.
86 IROC w/ a cammed 305 TPI.
Formerly Ray86IROC.
www.inter-scape.com/Ray

 

Should I go with the Edelbrock Performer or the Weiand Stealth intake?

I have a bone stock LG-4, but i plan on adding:

Hooker Comp. Headers(Jet hot coated) 1 5/8 into 3 in. collectors
3 inch in/out Catco high flow cat
3 in. Flowmaster American Thunder cat-back
CompCam 264H hydrallic roller cam
K&N air cleaner

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1987 Camaro Sport Coupe 305 V8 LG4-rebuilt-All Stock.

Future Mods: Flowmaster American Thunder 3 in. Cat-back, Catco High Flow Catalytic Converter, Hooker Super Comp Shorty Headers Jet Hot coated, K&N Air Cleaner, CompCam 264H, White Paint, IROC wheels, Alpine CDM-7871 CD player, Polk Audio speakers, Grant GT Rally Steering wheel,New Fuel Pump, Ground Effects, B&M Megashifter

[This message has been edited by MetKiss316 (edited November 01, 2001).]

 

man your bolt on look good except for your headers, there a bit big for a mild 305, your gonna lose some low end torque if u use 1 5/8 headers.

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when the green flag drops the bull$hit stops

Gold 85 Camaro with no motor, pulled the 2.8 to make way for a 350 wich was pulled this summer because a 406 will replace it. The 406 sports a stock bottom end with ARP bolt holding it togeter, flat top hyper pistons. Comp 282 solid cam(.528 lift with 1.6 rockers) Savin up for my Sportsmen 2 heads right now. still Have the perf RPM and 650 DP i used on the 350. Headers and 3inch exhust. Shooten for mid to low 12s next summer

 

Hmmm Hmmmn. I noticed no increase in power between the stock intake+ adapter vrs the action+, of course this was on a 305 with a jacked timing chain but still. On a 350 the action+ gave me a good 400rpm more on the top than the stock intake. On my friends car he put one of the chrome edelbrock performer clones on it and gaind nothing over the stock manifold.

Wieand "claims" wider power bands than edelbrock and as far as I can tell they make more power than edelbrock in our non scientific tests AKA butt and rpm dyno . If you can get an stealth or excellerator these are the only two manifolds ive actually seen a worth gain of power with. I had to get a cowl on the camaro to fit the stealth but people around here have them without AM hoods.
SSC

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85 Camaro, 355/400 "drag car" in moth ***** 13.1@ 101mph on its last season run.
Plans: Possibly add N20 for next season.
82 Firbird, getting a beef injection 355/700r4 3:42 powertrax system.