Is there a factory cast iron intake manifold for a 440 that is more desirable than others? Let's say if you were running in a truck pulling class that essentially allows unlimited cubic inch, but limits you to cast iron manifolds. All I have right now are truck manifolds to work with (port). Just wondering if there is a more desirable OEM single 4BBL cast iron intake to be looking for. Thank you.

I think the 72 TQ manifold would flow the best.

Sheldon

I have run 11.96 with a T-Q intake and an 800 D-P spreadbore Holley
Gus

the 70-71 6bbl would make the most power but I assume your talking single 4's. What I dont know is why the baddest man in downtown TerreHaute with a rotary pump is talkin bout gas engines?

I think the biggest advantage of the thermoquad intake is the larger plenum. I think other than that they all would be pretty close.

Yep: I assume the adapter is legal to run a squarebore Holley?

Sheldon

When Bill aquires this intake, should he machine out the center part and make it a "single plane" manifold, or just port and smooth out the internals.

Yes, he is just allowed a 4 barrel intake, or else we would be six packing it.

Anything else you want me to disclose about this build via the internet? Or do you want to keep it top secret, Bill?

Michael(the other first gen guy in the room)

If you're not going to be running a thermoquad, quadrajet or a spreadbore holley, then I think you're probably no better off than with one of the factory square bore intakes. I don't think those adapters are any good for making power.

Think plenum volume though.

Sheldon

I doubt that there is much difference in any of them. Back in the eighties i ran a spreadbore intake with a 3/4 inch adapter and a 750 vac carb. I removed quite a bit of iron out of the plenum, left the divider at about half it original height. I ran it for a while until i swapped it for a square bore intake. A friend wanted to run a thermoquad on his car so we traded intakes. I took a fair amount of material out of the squarebore intake but left the divider at full height. And had a 2 inch spacer on top. This was on a mild 440, high 13 sec 71 RR. Car ran virtually the same ET and MPH with either intake. Not very scientific i know. May not be a very valid comparison,considering the difference in spacer heights, etc.

Didn't Indy make a cast iron intake at one time? Dave

If you can modify the plenum, use spacers, and any carb, all of the hp intakes would be equal.

Sheldon

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and cast iron heads, and manifolds.

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i would be asking questions about this. i take this part as meaning cast iron exhaust manifolds. most rule books will say intake if thats whats meant

The 440 didn't get the TQ until 1973. All the 4bbl big block intakes suck. They have poor transitions and sharp edges. In FAST a few have made some big smoke with them but only after a MAJOR reworking of the iron. The rest have chucked them in favor of a six pack. I would think the TQ manifold would be the best junk to start with. Be easy on the cubes it will only make the manifold a bigger restriction.

Maybe use a six pack intake without one of the outboards and a 500 cfm center carb?

A few years back an aluminum intake painted blue to match the rest of the engine worked fine for me.Believe me unless there is a Mopar tech or another Mopar racer in your class no one will ever notice.