Al2011

Hi guys, I'm in need of your help since I' not sure and don't have experiment money.. I have a 1972 Cutlass S with the original hood. I'm about too swap the 350 to a 455 olds using the 350 mounts. If I get the Edelbrock RPM Air Gap will my hood be able to close with the proper air cleaner? I want to get the air gap vs the performer because I keep hearing the performer is the same as the stock manifold only lighter, is this a fact? My 455 I bought used so I don't know the cam type but it has Ga heads and was powering a Ford F-150 older classic truck. The car will not be raced but i want a fast street car that I can drive around as much as I like and want it to sound like a beast with 350 to 450 gross hp. Thank you for all your help!!

jo75olds

I wasn't aware this manifold was available for the 455 yet!?!

svnt442

Yup. It was FINALLY released about a month ago.

ziff396

From what I have heard, it is taller than the performer, and will basicly raise your rpm range. Unless you want to run above 5 say 5500 rpm, the performer will be fine. I like low end torque for the street. jmo.

cutlassefi

You don't need the RPM for that hp range. There are a few things you can do to the regular Performer to enhance higher rpm power.

Jmo.

firefrost gold

like ???

ah64pilot

Like gasket matching it to the head, porting, etc. If you only want 400 horsepower you're not asking much of that 455...the performer will be fine.

cutlassefi

Actually port matching isn't really necessary, but you're right the Performer will be fine. Just cleaning things up a little can make a real difference.
The best mod is to cut the center divider down about a 1/2 inch, then blend it to slant toward the deep side and bullnose the whole thing. It's worth 5-10 hp above peak (remember the bulk of the benefit of the RPM intake would be at higher rpms) with no loss below it. Well worth the effort. I have personally done this many times with noticeable results. It's cheap too!

Run to Rund

For that matter, the stock iron intake will work, or an old Edelbrock O4B. Sam Murray's 67 W30 D/Stocker ran a best of 10.82 at 122 mph with stock iron intake (casting 390390) back in 2006. The iron intake weighs about 56 lb. vs. about 19 for aluminum intakes, but is easy to seal to the heads, using the stock type "bathtub" gasket. Even in street trim, the iron intakes work. My 66 runs 11s with the Tri Carbs, which has the same runner design and is iron (57 lb).

bosch 68 442

I have the air gap on my 68 442 with 455, 950hp double pumper and 3 inch drop base air cleaner. fits under my hood.

507OLDS

The intake will fit.Depending the the type of carb,and if you are installing a carb spacer,you will need to address the aircleaner height issue.You will need some sort of drop base for the aircleaner.There are aftermarket ones,or some factory style bases,like what came in the mid-70's Corvettes.If you install a carb spacer or adapter,you need to correspond with the height of the filter.No spacer will let you run a taller filter.If you don't have any intake right now,and are buying a new one,I would get the new RPM intake.It's a nice piece.Even if your engine isn't quite deserving of that intake,you can grow into it.If you are on a budget,and want to buy a used intake,then you could just find a nice used Performer.

Vega

Lol, i like that "any intake will work" stuff, it always makes me chuckle. Yeah they will work but that wasnt really the question was it? hahaha. Anyways, enough of my bashing. Its pretty awsome that this is finally available, maybe the Olds aftermarket will start giving Pontiac a run for its money D: scary thought lol. Personally i plan on running the new intake, it may not see its full potential at first but id plan to swap heads to Ebrocks, raise compression, maybe swap cams, just gradually add to the motor over time so its more economical to buy the part i would end up with now rather than buy it later and have a tame intake sitting around collecting dust. This thread is interesting to me because i may run into the same hood clearance issues xD

firefrost gold

pontiac has it made in the shade Three aftermarket Block six different heads.

70olds455

The performer is not going to be the same as the stock intake. The performer intake is worth about 20 horsepower over the stock intake.

dejavu442

Now, that is information that is helpful as we all worry about the intakes fitting under the OEM hoods. Since the Edelbrock Air Gap has 6 inches from base to base of carb, do you think that you still have clearance left (say another 3 inches????) . The reason that I ask is that I have both the Air Gap and a modified Victor from Mondello that was milled to fit under stock hoods (advertised anyway). The measurement of the milled Edelbrock Victor from base to carb base is 9 inches. It would be nice to know that either could fit.

507OLDS

You have to mill a BBO Victor at least 3/4" & get clevor with an aircleaner set-up,for it to fit under a stock 68-72 hood.Been there done that.Some people won't run an aircleaner,but that's not a good idea.
Running a SBO Victor on a smallblock set-up is much easier,and will clear a lot of stuff.

bosch 68 442

3" more is cutting it too close.If your not using a motor plate and break a motor mount you most likely will damage your hood. I don't think I have that much more room under my hood.

oldcutlass

The main difference between an airgap and a performer is where it starts to build power and where it stops. IMHO the performer is the best all around manifold for a street engine. The airgap starts to build power in the 1800 - 2000 rpm range. The performer starts just above idle. If you are not going to run the engine above 5000 rpm, stick with the performer.

507OLDS

It is also important to have room above the carb,to channel the incoming air.You should have at least 1 1/2"(1.5") from the top of the airhorn to the underside of the aircleaner top.If your carb does not have an airhorn,then go from the base flange,up.

droptopron

I believe the school of thought that says that a Performer is same as a stock intake but lighter is for small blocks.
Can anybody shed light on this?

507OLDS

The Performer does have an improved runner design,compared to the stock iron intake.The older O4B intake is closer to stock,but still somewhat better.The W30 intake is an aluminum copy of the iron intake.
An iron BBO 4bbl weighs 56 lbs.Just weighed a bare one yesterday.That is slightly more than one cylinder head.

ziff396

On that note, I just went out and checked mine with the drop base and 3" filter. Checked out at 1.5". What is your experience with the K&N style open top air cleaner? Does it help or hurt with the carb air flow and performance? Thanks

firefrost gold

read my mind ziff was thinking the same thing.

380 Racer

I have one of those K&N lids on my set-up. Figure it can't hurt anything.

Vega

Hey Ziff, is that with the OAI hood? Not sure if the original poster is running an OAI but it'd be good to know for future reference. Also the OP mentioned he was running 350 mounts, which might make a difference on his vs yours

ziff396

Yes, that is with the oai hood. I set a cone of foil on top of the air cleaner lid awile back and closed the hood. I only have maybe 1" of clearance left. Soft clay works also. I am running 455 mounts, performer, and a quadrajet. 3" filter and a drop base.

507OLDS

I also run the filter top.When I had the carb set-up on my Supreme,it had a heavily modified & airgapped Torker,but still same height as a normal Torker.I had a 1" ported 4-hole Wilson manifold spacer,Holley 830,drop base,3" filter,and K&N filter top.My rocket spinner wingnut had a few light scuffs from rubbing on the underside of the OAI hood.The car also has 350 frame pads with 350 steel mounts.

Vega

Sounds good, now would there be a difference in height between the Torker and the Performer? Do you think the same set up would work with a performer? Ive heard the Performers are a little taller, maybe the same set up without the spacer? For the OAI hood of course

507OLDS

This is the intake I ran.Before this,I ran an Offenhauser Port-O-Sonic,with the same pieces,and the clearance was the same.The Performer is the same as well,so unless they made the RPM taller than the Performer,it will work too.If it is taller,then you can remove the 1" spacer.

72enginepic2004-1.jpg

DSCN2062.jpg

Vega

Sweet, thanks. Thats similar to the set up i was shooting for so im confidant in it now
Clean ride by the way