Anybody familiar with the Edelbrock O4 D aluminum intake manifold for a 455? Picking one up for my 70 Cutlass. Never saw one before. Is it just an older version of the Performer?

 

make that a 04 B.

 

It's more of an "expanded version" of the factory intakes. If you look at the runners and how they make the turns out past the carb plenum the O4B has more factory-like turns.....in other words the runners out the the heads meet up with the runners from the carb/plenum at more severe angles like the factory intake.

Now...look at a Performer....Edelbrock "smoothed out" the turns...they are gradual and look more like CURVES in a road instead of intersections. Better flow is the reason I would think.

Still, the O4B isn't a "bad" intake and it does have a more "stock" look VS. the Performer. It would be cool to see a side-by-side flow test on the two to really find out what the differences are and how much better the Performer flows.

I like the look of the old O4Bs. They also made one for the small blocks - OL4B (the "L" supposedly stand for little...ie small block)....same cool old style look.

 

I like the O4B. I think it is a great street manifold. For the price it is a great manifold. i don't think you can go wrong.
They came in square bore and q-jet style.

Gene

 

I would like to a get a q jet verstion .

 

They will also work with all the OAI parts,and fit under a factory OAI hood,for 70-72.
They did make a few different castings.Most of the ones that I have seen that are machined for a square-bore,have the additional material to machine for a Q-jet.

 

I've ran the Edelbrock Performer, Torker, and O4B, and the O4B is my favorite for the same reasons as Patton's...

 

I appreciate it. I have it on the way.

 

I bought an O4B to put on my V Code '72 Supreme in a couple weeks. I am going back to a Quadrajet and the factory dual snorkel air cleaner, so the O4B was the best choice (compared to the 65+ pound stock intake). I wanted to keep the stock height and appearance except for M/T valve covers.
Terry

 

They are just the coolest looking aftermarket intake for these cars by a mile IMO. Old school, "hot rodded" look and stealthy if you want that as well (grind off lettering, etc).

 

Eric,

Make sure you check the crossover on that O4B for cracks. I recently found one on mine. Regarding using stock parts with it, since the O4B is slightly taller than the stock intake, the choke tube and heat stove pipe will not line up perfectly, though that's easily remedied - i use an electric choke. Also, if you have A/C, the bracket may not line up with the bolt hole on the O4B - mine didn't. Finally, if you're using a points distributor you might have to remove some material from the intake and/or distributor cap for clearance.

 

regarding the upper cast iron AC bracket not lining up with the mounting hole on the intake....don't let that sway you into opting for a Performer intake. Edelbrock has been consistent, if nothing else....

....same hole doesn't line up on the Performer either

Can require quite of bit of clearancing to get the holes to line up on that one. One guy here had a Performer on a 455 and had to have the upper cast iron bracket tab moved and rewelded to get the mounting bolt to go in straight. And you want it go to go in STRAIGHT as you risk cross threading the threads on the soft aluminum intake if you don't.

I have a '70 442 here now w/a Performer and it's requiring quite a bit of clearancing/elongating of that hole to get the bolt in right.

 

Really? Grrr. I ditched my Performer, got a nice O4B and spent a lot of $$ so that I can go back to a restored QJet, original distributor with Pertronix and my car's rare dual snorkel air cleaner with dual breathers and choke tube. It's supposed to come back together next week. If none of this will line up with the O4B, it looks like I may be using the original cast iron intake. That's disappointing since I thought the O4B was close enough to stock dimensions to make that work. Had to nix using my sweet M/T valve covers too. I think I need to buy a "non-special" 350 Supreme that I can modify a bit....

Terry

 

I don't think you will have a problem Terry.

 

I had to do a little grinding on the runner so my MSD distributor would clear, the a/c bracket fit with no mods.

 

I hope you're right Brian - We'll certainly do a test fitting with the O4B first and see what happens.

 

The regular points distributor should be fine.

 

Here you go, Terry. Yours might be different, but mine needed some "massaging". I was pretty happy with the O4B. When i get that crossover crack welded, i'll either re-install it or just sell it.

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