Well once again I have experienced a setback in my quest to upgrade my engine. I had a hell of a time with getting a new carb and when I did it ran like crap. I finally got another carb and it works fine. Now, I am in the market for an intake manifold, an Edelbrock Performer PN# 3706. I was given this PN by Edelbrock themselves. So I call around to order it and they say that I can get it in a day or two. No problem, that is until they call me back and tell me that it is on back order and they don't know when they can get one in. After calling a few places they also tell me the same thing. Apparently Keystone is a major wholesaler in Canada and they say that they cannot get it in stock . I called Edelbrock Corp tonight and they gave me a place to call in Toronto. Have any of you T.O. guys dealt with Performance Improvements? Are they really expensive or are they reasonable?
Ahh well, the quest for more horsepower continues, as always.

 

I used to get alot of stuff from there. They are on the expensive side, yes. Probably around 5-10% or so higher than other shops.

Try summit or Jegs?

 

BTW There is a Performance Improvments in Hamilton and I think London. I also thought they had one in Kitchner at one point

 

I called Jegs today and they can ship it to the border for $215.00 USD, but after that it will cost an extra $75.00 UPS brokerage fees and taxes from the border to my house and it can take 7-10 days. I figured that with the exchange rate, I would be looking at about $450 + CDN. OUCH!!

 

Try these guys first before going to PI:

Performance Cellar
141 Highway 8
Unit 1
Stoney Creek, ON
(905)664-3671

Ask for Lorraine or Venice...this is where I've got all my aftermarket stuff.

 

If its Edelbrock,try Canadian tire..I got a performer intake for my truck from them..Took them 2 days cause its in stock..3 weeks if not..Still faster than if Performance Improvements would get it..They say 3 weeks then gives you BS stories for another two..The fastest they can get it is 2 weeks if its in stock in their US depot(takes a week to get here and at least $30 more than Canadian Tire
Daz

 

Canadian Tire also told me that the price of the intake was $292.00 and that it would take 2 days to get it in. Then they checked out the availability of it and discovered that the price was now $515.00 and that there was no stock on that item. How they came up with that price is beyond me. I also talked to Part Source ( which,I found out, has the same supplier as CT) and they came back and said the same thing. Keystone is their supplier.In their listing book it says that the manifold is for 1987-88 305-350 SBC. Not a popular item.

 

Hey Chris, I talked to Lorraine and she quoted me $449.00+tax. She didn't know the availability of it and because it's a long weekend in the U.S., she won't be able to find out until Monday. I then talked to Performance Improvements and they quoted me $484.00+tax. I can order it from Jegs for less than that.
I am starting to wonder if I can get away from the EGR and go with a non-EGR base. Has anyone removed their EGR and passed emissions? I think that it is illegal to be running without one, if it came with it originally. I still have 2 tests to go with the next one by March 2004.

 

You'd have a hard time passing emissions without an EGR.. your nox levels would go through the roof. The e-test is done around 2000-2500 rpm which is 2nd gear usually and in that range depending on differential. That is the exact RPM the EGR commands operation because at those RPM's the torque is pretty decent so for some odd reason the design of all chevy small blocks do the high combustion chamber temp dance of 7000+ (could be higher I'm just basing that on the fact nox are formed at around 7000 degrees).

As for getting stuff shipped from the states, the best way to do it is to get it expedited to you. It will charge you for shipping, but it will cost less than the brokerage fees.

I would never recommend PI as they overcharge big time. I asked about the underpulleys and they were gonna charge me $273 plus a week wait where I got mine from Jegs for $170 after brokerage fees. (I didn't learn about expedited shipping until I got the pulleys already)

 

if you get rid of the EGR it will save you loads of money. the perfromer EGR intakes are ridiculously over priced. i am sure you would most likely be able to find a nice used edelbrock performer intake; seeing as they are likely the most common small block intake. i found a real nice one a year ago (the previous owner had had it glass beaded and it looks pretty good, granted its dirty right now). hopefully you can get by the emissions testing with the "hot rod/enthusist (not spelled right)" vehicle status.

 

I might of had a break tonight. I had been trying to get ahold of Brant Performance and if anyone from outa town has tried, you will appreciate how difficult it is to get through during the early afternoon hours. I left a message for them to call and they finally did when I was at work. My wife talked to them and told them that I wanted the intake and they said that they can get it. They said that they deal with a small supplier from the U.S. and that they have 8 instock. I know that their price is about $350+tax. I need to call them tomorrow, but they only order once a week and that is usually on Thursdays. Cross my fingers....