RPM air Gap problems?

Edelbrock started advertising a Magnum verson if the Air Gap in early 2005, or maybe 2006, I'm not sure. I tried to buy one for my 360 Magnum, several places in the summer of that year, and was told, by those places that that manifold was not available, yet. due to "casting problems."

So, I waited a couple of more months, all the while lusting after that manifold in Edelbrock ads in magazines.... it was JUST what I wanted!!! Even read a Car Craft article that tested the Air Gap against several single plane manifolds; it only gave up ONE HP to the best single plane, tested.

My car was ready to roll, except.... no intake manifold... still, no Edelbrock Magnum Air Gaps being shipped.

I saw an ad for a Professional Products "Air-Gap-style" intake for about a hundred dollars (at that time) less that the Eddy unit.

I NEEDED an intake manifold, and no Eddy units were being sold, yet, so I ordered the only "Air Gap"-style manifold available to me at the time.

I don't know about port alignment; it looked okay with the gaskets glued to the mounting face; there was no apparent port misalignment, and it bolted on with no problems of any kind. Only when I tried to install a Holley 4150, 750CFM Double Pumper, with float bowl extensions, did I have a problem; the rear accelerator pump arm hit the manifold's screw-in, vacuum fitting, big time.

I alleviated that problem by some judicious grinding on the fitting, but there was no excuse for locating it where they did.

I finished the engine, and took it to a Chassis Dyno shop where it made 445 rear wheel HP and 470 rear wheel torque, according to the computer printout (that's from a basically stock 360 Magnum (except for the hydraulic roller (OEM-lifters) cam.

That's approximately 525 flywheel HP, if you believe the 85-percent theory regarding rear-wheel HP vs. flywheel HP.

I've have had zero problems with this engine (and manifold) since the installation.

I may replace that manifold with a single-plane, one of these days. An M-P manifold, probably.

I would have preferred to utilize the Edelbrock manifold, and it may, in fact, be faster, but I've been pretty happy with this Chinese manifold, so far... and the Eddy just was not available, when I needed one.