Have any of you either looked at or used the repop W30 aluminum intake that's out there? I want to cut down/out the center divider and don't want to do that to my original piece. It might be a good candidate for extrudehoning too? :laugh: Any info much appreciated.
I think Tom Miller bought one.....hopefully he catches this post. As I recall he had nothing good to say about it. "Rough, casting flash, miss matched POS".......as I recall. o No:
:laugh: well, you are obviously talking about the taiwan made intake from The Parts Place. Having a buddy that works there, he was able to get a 70 and 71/2 version for us to take to the Olds Homecoming Show earlier this year. I later took them with me to the Mondello race in Byron, IL (buddy went to Tahoe that weekend to visit another friend so he didn't come with me). As far as being identical to an original, it really isn't. The font that makes up the part number and other raised numbers is completely wrong. You can also see an outline from where it looks like they just changed a plate with the part number on it in the mold so they could make the 70 intake now the 71/2 version. As far as fitment, I haven't a clue. As a side note, it was amazing how many people at the Mondello race in Byron had no idea the intakes were repro'd
Chris I agree with that change you referenced but I would not be ashamed to have one on a car. I think overall they did a good job. I have looked at a number of them.
Jim, I understand. If I were contemplating what dirtysanchez was doing, without a doubt I would buy a repro and not alter my original. It really depends on what the individual looking at buying the intake is interested in doing. I can't remember what the asking price of those repros were. for some reason $499 or $459 sticks in my head. At the Mondello race (or was it the Homecoming?) I had a guy come up to me and offered to sell me his original 71 W-30 intake for about $600 or $700 IIRC. I believe I still have his name and number somewhere if anyone is interested.
GM would demand licensing if they used their part number. If you want a discount on a repro send me a PM.
Thanks for the info guys. Wonder what a guy can get one to flow with extrudehoning........ :bglasses:
I've got my own opinion......... But my mommy told me that if I didn't have anything nice to say, that I shouldn't say anything at all :laugh: If your building a W-30 clone, and you need one to look the part, go ahead and get one, but I can tell you that without a doubt that a 455 will run better with a factory cast iron intake than it will with that Chinese repop ou: It might look okay from the outside bolted on an engine, but wait until you get a look at the port's Mine was covered with machine oil and shaving's brand new in the box, plus the aluminum was all discolored so I had to bead blast it to "try" to make it look nice Oh Yeah, I almost forgot, be ready to heli-coil all of the carb mount hole's. A real nice piece :Smarty:
Hmmmmm. Not building a clone. Got the real deal. :3gears: I just don't want to modify my original. Sounds like the ports are, shall we say, "rough"? Add 6 bills for extrudehoning....ouch! I'll have to think about it. Really don't want to take the divider out of mine though...... Thanks for the info.
Extrude honing is not the best bang for the buck for sure. A little port matching with the die grinder, make some nice radii from the plenum to the runners (1/2" radius atleast), drop the divider about a 1/2" and you will be far ahead of a cast intake. If you could pick up a cheap used repop, then this might be an economical mod. You dont want the cast iron weight penalty if ya can help it. JMHO. Respectfully Neat Car Ads...
Not sure if Extrude Honing an intake is the way to go....I had an original cast iron 6 pack intake on my Road Runner. It was untouched..Not even port matched. The car ran a best of 12.38. I spent $300.00 on a new aluminum 6 pack manifold then spent $500 to have it Extrude Honed. Guess how much faster the car went after removing 50lbs of weight from the switching to aluminum and then having it ported????? NOT ONE BIT! Greg Gessler was even concerned that the smooth finish of an Extrude Honed intake may be HURTING PERFORMANCE. I think that on a "DRY INTAKE" such as a late model fuel injected car it can help, But on a "WET INTAKE" I don't think it's the hot ticket.
I've been concerned about the same thing Mike. Everything I have seen and heard recommends a "rough" finish on the intake side to help keep the fuel suspended in the air. I guess fuel can puddle in the polished runners. Thing is, how does a guy get into a dual plane intake to open up those runners to get more airflow? Supposedly the stock W30 intake flows 260 cfm, but the guy didn't say which runner that was. I have no idea if they are all close or vary greatly. Kinda kicking around the idea of a FAST legal W30, but I'm trying to figure out just what is possible. It's not hard to get a bit over 500 cubes out of one, but you have to feed it. And get all that exhaust out.
The runners on the olds intake do not flow equally (Same as most factory dual plane intakes), some runners will be good and other will be poor. Of course the poorer flowing runners need more attention. Don't sell the Olds short, the W/Z exhaust manifolds are not bad in my opinion. For some info on these manifolds CLICK HERE An Olds 455 would be a great addition to FAST.
FAST has confusing information floating around on the web. Like rules changes to x-pipe, stock fuel pumps...or the "stock sounding cam" rule. I think for a FAST Olds, if you have to run a stock fuel pump (no hidden electric) your probably outta luck. Stock fuel pumps barely satifiy a Pure Stock car.
Not me, Mike. I assume you're talking about cars that can run in the low 11's? It's just that you're limited to only a few that could be made semi- competitive and if your car isn't one of them, you're S.O.L. Forget any of the small blocks with the single exhaust/crossover pipe manifolds. They're where they belong mopping up big blocks in Pure Stock. Headers could easily put them in the high 11's, though. Anything 455 that came with W/Z may have a shot at high 11's/low 12's, doubt anything faster. I think you could almost do that in Factory Stock, though. W/Z came on 69-72 442's & Hursts only. If you've got one of those you're in luck. If you built specifically for F.A.S.T., a plain Jane 70-72 W30 post car would be my choice.
Dave, Just out of curiosity, why do you think the Olds 455 would only be able to run a high 11? Is it just the exhaust manifolds or are their other components that you think are holding the car back?
My opinion .... Just because it hasn't been done, doesn't mean it can't be done .......... :Smarty: Someone that knows what they are doing should be able to make it happen. Unfortunately, no one has stepped to that plate yet with an Olds. o No: Too many folks in Olds circles focus on the *traditional* ways of making HP with Olds power. Fortunately, this is 2004. Those folks can continue to live in 1977 while the other brands are driving circles around them ....... JMO
