Should I replace the stock 360 intake?

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Stephan D

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My Lil Red 360 (EH1) is finally in the workshop for a complete rebuild, the shop owner recommends to change the stock intake for a Edelbrock Airgap intake and keep the rebuilt Thermoquad in place.

Googling around I see quite a lot of postive comments on the stock intake.

What do you guys say?

My stock intake on the picture below.
20201022_100831.jpg
 
The stock intake is a very good piece. I wouldn't consider changing unless you are going with headers and a bigger cam. There are some pretty fast purestock cars using that intake.
 
The stock intake is a very good piece. I wouldn't consider changing unless you are going with headers and a bigger cam. There are some pretty fast purestock cars using that intake.
spend the money on 2.02 J heads if you dont have them already,port match it and dial that thermoquad in and fool the crap out of people//it still good factory stuff...I think the thermoquad was an under rated piece//cam,timing and get that secondary air door right and enjoy that 360 torque !!!
 
My Lil Red 360 (EH1) is finally in the workshop for a complete rebuild, the shop owner recommends to change the stock intake for a Edelbrock Airgap intake and keep the rebuilt Thermoquad in place.

Googling around I see quite a lot of postive comments on the stock intake.

What do you guys say?

My stock intake on the picture below.
View attachment 1715617834
is this guy a CHEVY person ??? carb isn't going to fit !! what "other" big hammer idea's are there??!!
unless your going with a M1 intake and then you will need a carb with an electric choke
 
is this guy a CHEVY person ??? carb isn't going to fit !! what "other" big hammer idea's are there??!!
unless your going with a M1 intake and then you will need a carb with an electric choke

No, he is a true Mopar guy with a lot of cards up his sleeves, his own historic racing 318 puts out a reliable 500 hp:

20201022_104142.jpg
 
I would remove the egr jet and install a plug in the intake runner /you all ready have the egr bypassed
 
Most dual planes work best from low-rpm to mid.
Single-planes usually cover the top, by giving up some torque at low rpm.
The AG is touted as a full range intake, and has proven it's worth

But it is the cam, for the most part, that determines the operating rpm of the engine. So if you have a stock cam, The AG won't do a lot for you, that the factory intake can't.
The only way I would put an AG on a stock engine is if it was the only 4bbl intake I already owned.

Gearing makes it worse.
If you have 3.23s and 28" tall tires, and a stock 4bbl cam, top of first gear might be 5500@52 mph. On the 1-2 shift, the Rs will drop to 3250, and this gear will hit 65=3650, and won't get into the meat of the AG until say 4500@73 mph.... but the cam is done at about 5000@81mph.
Can you see how the AG is out of it's best zone most of the time.... whereas the stock one is in it's best zone all the time.
In first gear;
if the tires spin, it don't matter what intake is on it, cuz yur only gonna be in first for about 3 or maybe 4 seconds.
But if the tires don't spin, the AG is too much intake anyway.
I suggest;
to put your money into a good hi-stall TC, instead; you will be way further up the performance curve. And after that, get you some more serious gears..... Once your tires spin up no problem, and they stay spinning, you'll forget all about the AG.

But if your engine is not a stock 4bbl engine, well then, all this goes right out the window.
 
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My Lil Red 360 (EH1) is finally in the workshop for a complete rebuild, the shop owner recommends to change the stock intake for a Edelbrock Airgap intake and keep the rebuilt Thermoquad in place.

Googling around I see quite a lot of postive comments on the stock intake.

What do you guys say?

My stock intake on the picture below.
View attachment 1715617834
I wouldn't.
 
Keep your money in your pocket... Ask him why he doesn't have one on his historic deal!!!
 
Wouldn´t an spreadbore-adaptor plate hurt the perfomance gains of the Airgap?
A lot depends on the rest of the engine and drivetrain combination. There is also the lack of a choke well to operate the choke. Perhaps your engine set up will never require a choke?

If you need a operational choke, then there are these two options below. The TA was offered over the counter at parts stores with an electric choke & small primaries as well with ether a Chrysler or Chevy (pictured) throttle arm. There is also the older race versions with a bracket for a manual choke, both of those have the big primaries. Rate at a true 850-1,000 cfm.

Race version first, they also have a clockable throttle arm & will use a Rochester fuel fitting on the rear of the crab facing downwards.
Second, the electric choke w/a Chevy throttle arm.
These are hard to come by and there tuning kits are super hard to find as well as a bit expensive. You will still need an adapter for a squarebore intake. But it does solve particular problems.

It is difficult to get a stock carb to work with a choke cable. If you still need it.

5F1D7AB4-E065-425F-9628-0CB8435C8DDE.jpeg
EF38EBBE-0295-4773-A5AD-4E189A3A7D7C.jpeg
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Sounds like I should stick with the original intake.

I have not got the suggested specs. from the builder yet, but I told him I want a fairly stock engine, he will order a new camshaft as the old one had a few lobes that was a bit rounded.

Here are some pictures from the disassembly, parts seeing daylight for the first time in 41 years:
20201022_101258.jpg
20201022_102800.jpg
20201022_102437.jpg
20201022_101824.jpg
 
If your not looking to increase the engines power above 360 hp, then I would not bother replacing the intake. The factory part is pretty good as cast and does really well if you port it.
 
Running 11.80’s with a 68-69 340 intake and the thermoquad is better intake.
 
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