Edelbrock performer (LG4 delete) with 1982 LG4. Ok so I have a carbed 1982 Firebird with a low output LG4. The mods it’s getting are an “RV” cam, different air cleaner, hooker 2460s and the matching y pipe (cat delete), Cam timing advanced and some mild head work. Would an Edelbrock performer dual plane intake give me any noticeable power improvement over stock? It would delete the egr and I read that could cause pinging (but I have low compression). Would this intake move my power upward and rob my low end? Hoping for a torquey low end engine. Thanks!

 

I would keep the factory quadrajet if it works good. Just change secondary rods out if looking for a little more power. I ran my factory carb on my 82 305 without egr valve and had no problems didnt even throw a code. I upgraded to 350 with same carb and still ran strong. Very easy to do mods not like fuel injection where you have to retune with any major changes.

 

sorry I meant edelbrock performer intake manifold, hoping to keep the quadrajet though

 

Most likely, you wouldn't feel any difference, except for your lighter wallet.
The design of the dual-plane intakes has changed over the years.


So you might see some small increase if you were to use a "modern" designed dual-plane intake like the Performer EPS.

 

is the stock lg4 intake made of aluminum? If you don’t think there’d be an increase I’ll keep the stock one then

 

My 85 stock lg4 intake was aluminum. Also I went with an edlebrock eps. I like it, but don't like the hood clearance issues it made.

 

Gotcha. My intake was aluminum too. I would have kept it on if I would have known that because I dont believe there would be any noticeable difference power wise. If you need to get rid of egr with taller valve covers or just to clean up motor they make egr block off plates for that.

 

I’ll probably just keep my stock stuff if you didn’t notice any difference. Probably will keep EGR I read it helps prevent overheating and supposedly doesn’t affect power

 

Keeping the stock intake will also save you from having to modify other things that don't end up in the same places as the stock intake because the aftermarket intakes move things around trying to get better performance from the runners. If you don't need to do it, save yourself a lot of trouble and don't do it.

 

After doing all the mods needed for my eps on my lg4, I would have kept it stock. However that wasn't an option at the time, my stock manifold was rotten at the rear coolant passeges.

 

the stock manifold rusted out? I thought they were aluminum?

 

Good point I guess I’ll save the time and keep the stock one!

 

If it was aluminum corrosion can definitely take place around the coolant passages.

 

It's called electrolysis...

 

It was severely corroded / pitted at the rear coolant passages. By the time I had I cleaned up I didn't feel there was enough sealing surface left to re-install it.

 

Performer RPM had a very noticeable power gain when I swapped it onto my 305 in my old G-van back in the day.

I would rethink the RV cam. Go with somethibg more like 218/218 @ 0.050. 305s love single pattern cams on a tighter LSA.
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was this from the previous owner running straight water or something?

 

unfortunately I bought the cam and installed it already here are the specs. It’s not too far off from the numbers you gave and it was recommended to me by somebody who owned multiple third gens.

 

its just a regular performer by the way, I was offered to use it by a friend but I’m going to keep the stock one since it wouldn’t be a real difference

 

What would that cam pull for idle vacuum?

 

As far as I know I'm the third owner. But as for the history previous to me I have no idea. When I bought the car it had coolant in it. But I bought it with a bad head gasket, when I pulled the intake the corrosion at the rear almost looked like it hadn't had the system flushed, ever. It was packed full of nasty krudd on both sides, had to scrape it out of the passages on the head. Didn't look like block sealer or anything , just years of build up.

 

Intake manifold alone is worth about 15-20 hp. Seen them tested time and time again. One car tested in the 80s dropped 1/2 second 0-60 with the stock cam.

 

That Performer intake would be a big plus. Used them several times they are a big upgrade over the stock stuff.

 

even though it’s a non rpm performer? I also have a low end cam so I’ve heard it would only help for a mid range or high end engine

 

cam is the proverbial rv type its ok....eliminating the egr gains you nothing. Those do NOT make your engine ping thats a wives tale

 

ok thanks for the info, I’ll leave it then! I’m not one of those people who just wants to rip off all the emissions parts just for the sake of doing it lmao. If it helps clean the environment slightly, so be it lol

 

Proper maintenance and tuning does more for emissions than emissions equipment does. My old 1995 Firehawk proved that fact to me. Put it on the emissions dyno at work (this was years ago) no cats, no air pump, no egr, all tuned out and tuned for power while otherwise largely stock and passed the sniffer without issue. All 3 checked gasses, NOx, hydrocarbons and CO, were easily under the maximum limits. If that stuff even works on your car anymore, they’re a bandaid to cover the compromise OE’s have to make to between emissions and fuel economy. The two don’t often play nice with one another.