Aluminum Cylinder Head And Single-Plane Intake List

hows about a thread JUST pertaining to this intake project/money/gameplan - NO CHIT CHAT - comments etc could be at this thread . people involved in the actual building/planning process can keep us updated and we can commit $$ and information needed to go to the " account " . we need quick basic info concerning intake design , rpm range , dimensions etc that will be stuck to and so investors can make their decision . and that will be a good sized chunk of change and we need to be careful / legal there so there are no problems in the future . i'm already on the original list here . thanks . del

 

I can do the Intake. I can come up with the money. But lets do a real mans Intake. Not a Chevy or a Mopar knockoff. My motor is 10 yrs old. It's time for a redo.

 

I am in for a intake.

 

I did read that you wanted heads. I'm not angry at you or anyone else for that matter. I simply see this thing a bit differently. If I have misunderstood something about this please let me know. I'll speculate that the intakes we have now make similar power is because the limiting factor is the heads. I agree and already said that after you port the heads a bigger intake is needed. The way I see it there are few people out there that are willing to spend the money it takes to make a SBB produce 500+ HP. Those are the people that really need the new intake. Those people have already spent the $1,500 to $2,000 it takes for a good porting job and then some.

If you're going to spend the money to make your heads flow, why not lose 50 lbs(guesstimate) while you're at it? I'm thinking aluiminum heads would be somewhat similar in price. We all know less weight means better acceleration. It's also weight off the front so you'ld have a better percentage of front to rear weight which balances the car. I've also read on this forum that our SBB heads are prone to cracking. True? Iron heads also cost more to ship back and forth. They also are not ready for some of the aftermarket parts, like better valve springs and roller rockers, that are currently available. That means more machine work(money) to make these parts fit. The redesigned head could be designed to accept stock and aftermarket parts without extra machining. So what would you rather have assuming the price was similar. Ported irons or aluminum?

In summary, the market for the large single plane intake is limited to people that own ported heads. True? Maybe someone needs to start a thread/poll to see just how many people have SBB ported heads? I'm going to speculate that a large single plane intake bolted to stock heads will kill the low end torque and slow the car down. Good heads just bolted on with current intakes will benefit pretty much anyone except the guy that wants 500+ HP. He most likely will want the new heads ported. If my theories are true, heads have a larger market. After heads are available, the market for the intake increases. Both parts are clearly needed but I disagree with the intake first theory due to its limited market.

If an intake could be made that would make significantly more power with stock heads I believe the market would be a lot better. Is this possible? Maybe Jim B can shed some light on this.

While all this talk is sort of fun, its all pretty much a dream IMHO. Maybe I'm just too impatient. o No:

 

intake when?

Dave/Jim/all,

What kind of time frames are we looking at? This winter? Next summer? Next winter? I would be willing to buy one IF I knew more of a timeline. It is pretty easy to come up with the $$$ for an intake, but I can't see shelling out the big bucks for heads. At this point, I am looking at doing the unthinkable and putting a small chebbie motor in my '72. I have one in pieces in my garage but haven't wanted to disgrace my car with it. Maybe that time has come. I think that there are others that feel the same as me about wanting to know some realistic time estimates.

Thanks for keeping this thing going!!! :TU:

Darrin

 

The limiting potintual of the 350 buick for drag raceing has been the intake. A good single plane 7000 rpm intake for automatic transmition cars will spark a new found interest in the SBB. There are lots of bracket racers that would be interested in a intake that can be bolted on their 350 and pick it up a half a second on the track. The stock heads would have no problem going 7000 with good springs and good valve job without porting. Once the interest is there then the market for heads would follow. I would not be interested in expensive aluminum heads if there was no intake to take advantage of better heads. The intake and the aluminum heads should be a direct bolt on replacement to the stock 350 heads and rockers system. With the stock configuration the street stock cars could just bolt their stock rockers on and have the aluminum head setup. KISS keep it simple sam. It wont be long after the intake is made that every one will be taking the Chevy out and intalling the SBB instead of the other way around.
Dan

 

I had no idea there were so many people drag racing sbb's (at least 100 that will buy intakes). Also, I didn't know the stock rotating assembly would reliably turn 7000 rpm. So Dan, will you get all these guys together and collect the cash?

 

You guys can count me in :TU:. If you are gonna follow through with the intake then my money is your money :Brow: :beer

Me, Bill, and probally many more people can use a nice intake with our supercharged cars :TU:

-Joe S.

 

Andy it looks like I am not getting much of a responce from Drag racers who race the 350 Buick. Lets see how many have a true interest in the intake manifold. You have made a good point on the real interest in the intake. Now if the heads have the same amount of interest you then see why it may be very difficult to get these parts made. I have no need for the aluminum heads. It would be nice and really cool and je wizz and boy that would be swell. I could say I have aluminum heads to someone and they will say thats cool. I acually been though this very thing. Way back when the small block chevy came out with the alumnium heads I had one of the first sets. At the local bar no one bought me even one beer because of the heads. You are right we need 100 interesed in the heads and the intake before there can be any one interested in makeing these parts. You go ahead and yet a list of head guys. Gee what fun this is.
Dan

 

I'm going to chime in here to update some of newer posters to this thread.
I've been working on this "quest for parts" for almost three years as some of the members know. I've spent many, many hours of time and travel trying to get this done. I've been in contact with just about every manufacturer regarding both heads and manifolds. This is what the results are at this point.
Yes. We can have our manifold. It will run somewhere in the $800 - $1000 range. Tall runners, air gap, open plenum. Strictly a racing manifold.
Same deal with the heads but much more dollars.
This I feel is not what we were looking for when we started this thread. As you can see from the responses, not everyone is looking for a race engine setup. You can have a custom manifold built for just about the same price.
What we are looking for is the option to buy parts just like the big block guys without having to take a second mortgage on our houses.
Eventually, one of the manufacturers will step up and take the chance. We can only hope.
As a side note, many of the manufacturers watch this and other boards to see what is needed. That is why it is good to keep these threads ongoing.

 

bm : thanks for update . although no $$ news may have been good news . please fill us in with any info . del

 

Yes. We can have our manifold. It will run somewhere in the $800 - $1000 range. Tall runners, air gap, open plenum. Strictly a racing manifold.

Do you think this may fit under the stock hood with no modifications to the hood? This is a reqirment in super stock.
Have you had positve feed back from a manufactuer? I would like to get started on a motor over the winter.
Thanks for you help on this.
Dan

 

Dan,
A tall runner manifold puts the carb anywhere from 4-6" higher than stock.
Depending on the vehicle - clearance varies.
As for the manufacturers: Not a good chance one will risk the time and dollars to produce a run of manifolds that will have to sell at high prices for such a limited market. Loosing proposition.
I think the deciding factor will be when some of the small block racers with the power adders post some impressive numbers. Then maybe someone will perk up and pay attention.
We can only hope for now! :3gears:

 

I have ran an 11.87 with a 125 shot of nitrous. I also just found out that my MSD coil was bad at that time also. I just installed a 200r4 and new driveshaft and I think I can get an 11.50 out of it during cooler weather. I would like to at least get the Intake, port the heads some more and a bigger shot of nitrous. 10.99 could be possible. I also weigh in at 3800 lbs with me in it. The Alum. heads would be nice also. :beer

 

I think the deciding factor will be when some of the small block racers with the power adders post some impressive numbers. Then maybe someone will perk up and pay attention.

Bill.
Thank you for the info and your hudge amount of work and money that you have already invested in this project.
It looks to me like we are not going to have enough serious 350 buick folks to pull this off. I rememer that some one had a intake already made with adaptors. Could this person provide me with the dementions of the spacers that was used to make the intake work? I need the thickness, length and width of the adapter to get started on this project. Also the manafold brand and what moter it was for.
Do you remember who has this intake?
Dan

 

On the first page of this thead there is a list of who is interested in the heads,and intakes.
of the 30, 26 was interested in the intake. 16 in heads and intake.
6 in just heads. 2 in intake and posibly the heads.

This indicates that there is a real stong desire to have the better intake.

But we stll would need more than this. Any ideas on asking in more places than just on this web site?
Dan

 

That manifold was a "0ne of" custom that was made probably 10 yrs. ago.
It was borrowed to use on Rob Magel's (TuBBeD) engine while it was being dynoed at Jim Burek's shop. I don't know who it belongs to but maybe someone will chime in here.
If you are seriously thinking of doing a mockup of one, try contacting Mike T. at T/A. He may be able to supply you with a blueprint of the Stage 1 manifold to give you a starting point.

 

Guys, I am currently working on a set of adapter plates for our 350"s similiar to the ones Charlie Evans sells for adapting a Mopar to a BBB. I will let you know as soon as I get any update from my machinist that is doing it. Unless you see pix of me on the news for beatin' his butt. The interest in a intake isn't there obviously. I want something NOW, so I am going my own way. If I can offer them to others when completed, all the better...........

 

adapter plates are a good idea :TU: any idea how much they will go for???? and small block or big block mopar????

 

dave, how come you didnt tell me you were doing this................

john