Anyone catch the Mopar Intake Manifold Shootout in the January Hot Rod? If I'm not mistaken, the 383 Mopar family of intakes will fit our BBB w/ the adapter plates that have long been available. Test motor was a hot 383 w/ Performer RPM heads, 263/267 .646/.648 cam, 10 to 1 compression, etc. Heads were ported to flow 323/244 cfm. Although smaller displacement, overall, this may compare well to a mild BBB race engine. Here's what caught my attention: The Weiand Hi-Ram Tunnel Ram produced 494 lb-ft@4900/540 hp@6500 over the Performer RPM making 470 lb-ft@5000/505 hp@6500 The Mopar M1 single plane compares well visually to our beloved SP-1, and made 468 lb-ft@5,100/512 hp@6400. Seems like the Weiand tunnel ram on adapters would make a great race piece, for a bunch less than a sheet metal tunnel ram. Anybody got any feedback?
Correct me if I'm wrong,but I think Rick and Cory had a Mopar tunnel working pretty good on Cory's engine in Rick's car...Fish
If anyones ever seen a tubbed silver 68 Lark at the Nats or BPG this year it has a Mopar Performance tunnel ram that we cut the flanges off of and welded onto Buick intake flanges. Works well.
I run an indy 440 intake on my car I also cut off the mopar flanges and added my own buick flange. I don't know if you can see it in the avatar.
Bobb I know some people that did some testing with the 383 M1 and it seemed the turn of the adaptors didn't let it perform so well. Using the 440 and making your own flanges seems like a better idea. Have you been able to test back to back with the Wildcat? Do you run the high port heads? Have a good holiday. Jim N.
Checkout my avatar, I was being facetious. You'll see a 383 mopar tunnel ram on my SE stage2. I have some of charlie's adaptors and a remote thermostat housing. The ports on the 'B' block are smaller than the stage2 port which requires porting all the way thru the tunnel ram untill it makes turns into the "D". Every other port lines up really well the others are off at least 1/8". You have to widen the port on the mis aligned side of the intake port. This makes it nice and smooth from port to port. With the tunnel portion off I can see the intake valves. Killer!!! The 14" intake track is almost perfect for the third reflection which gives RAM charge boost around 6200. I tell ya what, if I had it to do all over again I'm not sure it's worth the effort and expence. 30-40hp for a couple grand and alot of work. I was going for the old Pro street look.
Yep, we have a 440 tunnel ram intake to match up to Stg 3 heads. Took a TUN of porting to get it to a gasket match. It is the larger/shorter runner version of what David A is running. Cory has all the pictures of the motor so you'd have to wait until he gets back to see the pics of it since the motor was only in my car for a couple of weeks. Looked sweet and fit inder my 4" cowl with ease.
This intake is the Weiand high ram. I picked this one because of the 6400 rpm limit I was shooting for. I should have gone with TE heads to take advantage of the better 440 intake selection. One good thing about the adaptor plates is that they give you some material to transition into the buick port entry. Not side to side as much as matching the buick upward angled port floors. Mopars have a 90deg. entry while the buick heads have a upward looping intake port. I was able to blend in some of this mis match and used alittle epoxy to fix some, lets say creative grind marks. It doesn't have to be perfect, very little air follows the floor. The thickest 440 intake gaskets I could find are .060. This just barely sealed on mine. You have to cut the gasket openings to match the larger buick stage2 ports. Water flow is perhaps the greatest concern for me. Charlie had to position the water fitting low on the head water jacket. Fits fine on stock heads but the head or backside of the adaptor plate should be slightly modified. I removed some material from the backside of the adaptor plate to allow water to flow onto all of the 3/8 NPT hole. Otherwise 1/3 or so is covered by the head. 1/2" NPT would have been perfect but there is not enough room next to the intakes front mounting locations. I used stainless fittings from PST which have 3/8 NPT -> 5/8" hose nipples with the large .62" ID. In the past this motor has run hard with iron heads. With the stage2 heads and tunnel ram I'm expecting alittle more power. .008 over '72 455 block girdle, TA oil mods to mains SRE pan and pickup TA pump and modified cover venola pistons, 12.82:1 with these heads 308s cam with crower edge orifice lifters SE heads with 2.16/1.71 11/32 valves, ported Meziere water pump Mallory dist. firing the MSD box Quick fuel TR carbs supply the mix I expect around 660ft lbs and 700ish hp.
Have often thought and wondered why TA Performance hasn't made a decent tunnel ram setup for us guys... Afterall, Mike started the business based on Buick intake manifold production. Would bet there would be enough interest in the Buick Community to start such a project. Count me in for one. :TU: Maybe post a sticky in the Engine Tech's Forums to gauge the interest potential in a project like this...? Mike are you listening?:idea2: The "New Block" could surely use a big gas smasher like that. Graham
I know this would be more appropriate over on Street/Strip but why doesn't somebody make a Performer RPM Air Gap intake for the 455? The way all the magazines talk about it it would be great for the Buick. Great low end and doesn't give up anything until 6200 rpm compared to a single plane.
