On a basically stock 455 other than weight, do you guys see any improvement in using an Edlebrock Performer over a factory
4 bbl intake? Thanks

 

You get a cool sticker with the intake. Buy one, buy one now!

Really though, I've heard that the Edelbrock Performer is a clone of the stock intake, the only difference being it's aluminum and not iron. If you're looking for fast HP I suggest a cam and dual exhaust before buying an intake.

 

You have heard incorrectly. The factory W-30 intake is a clone of the stock iron intake. The Performer has different runner geometry. It's not a massive difference, but it is different. Biggest difference is the "T" intersections in the runners, as is obvious in these photos. Not the best for flow.

W-30 (stock iron is the same shape):



Performer 455:

 

I still suggest a cam and dual exhaust over an intake. You need a highly calibrated butt dyno to notice the difference an aftermarket intake manifold will make on an otherwise stock motor. Then again there's always the sticker...

 

Increasing HP requires increasing airflow through the motor. That means that EVERYTHING needs to be matched - intake, exhaust, cam, carb, etc. Any one change may make a small improvement, but these changes leverage each other. Evaluate the most restrictive part of the airflow and fix that first. Then move on to the next, etc...

 

100% on the spot. Getting the performer intake is a good place to start.

 

The BBO Performer is noticeably taller than the factory intake. The SBO Performer intake is much closer to stock. Longer runners and better plenum area mean more power. When Edelbrock added the non EGR SBO Performer intake, they should have copied the BBO version for carb height.