Has anyone got these lately and how was thier quality? They look to work pretty good and were/are the best runners out there. I see/read that edelbrock is second best ones to use.

 

The base is the most restrictive part.

Why bother when there's the FIRST manifold now? Excellent support and for $1k it includes everything - base, runners, plenum, throttle body, and fuel rails.....

GD

 

I agree with GD. Much as I LOVE the AS&M stuff, and it IS high quality stuff. It simply can't come close to the First in terms of flow while retaining the TPI long runner benefits.

AS&M runners are typically $500. Add in a $500 base + Porting cost and other associated parts, and you are at the cost of a First TPI system.

 

I have had my AS&M runners installed for about a year now. The fit and finish are top quality. The guys @ AS&M are great to deal with also. As posted above the First is better on the performance end but for me I wanted to retain my stock plenum, TB and base. They are a little tight on the passenger side VC.

 

Ken at FIRST is working on bringing a 2" runner version to market at some point. The existing manifold has already shown capability to 650 crank HP on some of the larger small blocks. It's an ABSOLUTE steal of a deal for $1k considering what you are getting and it will fit both standard and Vortec head patterns. Modifying stock TPI is just a waste of effort that will never do what an as-cast FIRST will do. There's not enough material to port the base out large enough to compete.

GD

 

The problem is the FIRST sorta looks like TPI in a cartoon kind of way. The AS&M runners can almost pass for stock. They're a compromise between keeping the stock look and increasing performance. The FIRST is better for performance, but it's never going to pass for stock.

 

Do you know how many times people have called my GTA a Camaro?

They'd never know the difference between First or aftermarket OEM type TPI.

 

Those that have owned a TPI car before might notice it's not stock but that depends on how long ago they owned it, or if they currently own one. I know when I had the FIRST on my old IROC only one person asked, "Those runners aren't stock are they?", and the way he asked I don't think he was sure. So based on my experiences, I'd have to say they share enough characteristics that someone that's never owned a TPI car probably won't know it's not "stock". Now, if you're at a car show or at the track and other stock/stockish TPI cars are there, yeah, people SHOULD be to be able to tell something is up.

 

@daferris recently purchased a set. I know he had to wait a few months to get them.

It may be hit or miss. AS&M probably wait until they have enough orders to ask a foundry to cast them. They probably over order, fill their orders and put some on the shelf. After the inventory is depleted, the process repeats. Just a guess.

 

Were always top notch quality. My old Siamesed runners I bought back in the day.

 

that is a nice looking runner. Do they still offer the siamese version? FYI, I have that same exact patio table 😂👍🏻

 

They aren't on their website, so I doubt it. Considering that the Siamesed runners as you can see required fabrication to make.

They might do a custom order, but I doubt its going to be cheap or anywhere near cost effective. You'd have to want them, and be willing to pay, for the nostalgia.

 

Those are really cool!

 

I got to see @daferris runners yesterday. First time I had got to hold onto them. These are not castings like I had though. I know SL's are as I had a set of those, but the AS&M are extruded tubes bonded into a milled flange. There is some welding, but the primary construction seemed to be the adhesive. They are super light and had a very stock casting look on the outside. Looked to be quality construction.

 

AS&M runners are super fragile because the walls are so thin. Very easy to dent them if not careful.

 

Yes, they felt very fragile, but definitely larger ports

 

Just like with stock runners you just need to take your time with the bolts to avoid denting the runners... I thought about a First intake but in the end I decided to go with a aftermarket base and the AS&M runners as they are plenty for the power I plan on having. If I were building a max effort SBC then yes the First intake would be a better way to go. In my case I want the stock look and not too have to mess with fabbing the fuel lines and throttle cable.

 

I do not recall the AS&M runners being cast. I went there in 1991 and talked with them for an afternoon. Nice bunch.

 

i bought mine a few years ago and got them pretty quick from as&m .. with afr heads and a tpi big mouth base and small cam the car ran real good and looked stock ..

 

Considering the costs of the entire upgraded TPI setup vs a First, I would go First every time.

I'd also go HSR over TPI any day of the week. I like my high revving LT1 which is basically like a mini-rammed SBC when the party starts at 5000rpm.

 

corrected by my follow up

 

I would tend to agree with this except for the fact that besides the mechanical change$ needed you really need to upgrade the entire computer system for tuning. I am sure you could make the OBD1 system work but to get the most form the First you need a minimum of an EBL flash system, $500 or a Lynx or similar which could run you as much or more than the First intake itself, up to $1300 or so. You still need the knowledge of programing/tuning of these upgraded systems. With a TPI big runner, base and plenum upgrade it was not bad to tune the OBD1 through one of the tuners on this board.

 

He has been EBL for a while. He convinced me to go that route as well.

 

Everyone out there who has gone down the rabbit hole of porting and welding SLP runners is drooling...

 

Well, the person who bought them used from me got a smoking deal.

I think I sold it for $500 complete ported plenum, runners, and base. I sold it to switch over to a HSR. Which cost me about $600 total to make the swap happen.