If a dual 4 manifold that fit a 360 -340 properly was available
would it sell?;
A 340/360 intake for dual 4bbl.'s would sell at a low rate. But would be real nice to have for a wow factor. Biggest problem is a single 4bbl is known to be a bigger power maker with todays intakes as years back, such intakes were not on the market and multi carbs was the way to do things.
What would be the required features to make it a sellable piece?
High rise? Low rise?
To stand toe to toe with the current RPM/Stealth offerings on a performance level. Dual mountabilty like the Crosswind intake would be a big help and cost cutter in the long run.
The amount of rise would be nice if under hood instalation could be done without hood interfearance. If the amount of height didn't allow for under hood installation, marketabilty would drop. Many do not want to cut a hole in there hood and/or have a carb stick out of the hood. Sometimes local law men frown on these things just on sight alone, But I myself would use a saw and a nice scoop ontop.
What I would like to know is:
1: Of the offerings that are now available by other manufacturers
what are best and why?
Theres only 2 low rise intakes being sold. Edelbrock and Weiand. Weiand has 2 versions, a low rise and hi rise, which is just a low rise with more carb pad adding to plenum volume.
These intakes take a different approach to each other. The Edelbrock as 360scamp posted a link to is a dual plane. Some runners are long, some are very short. Not a fan of a long runner short runner. There has to be a lean/rich cylinder problem here. Note at the front and rear theres 2 runners, easy to see, that wrap around and "S" bend alot? How about the 2 inside the plenum you can see easy. Direct short runners right to the heads port.
We know how runner length plays into RPM tuneabilty and band of power operation.
The Weiand, both intakes have a short runner. The intake is a split single plenum design. This probably lacks a little low end torque, but I'd bet it makes more power and tunes a bit easier. Save 5 & 7 cylinders. Unless they did some work before they released it to help out.
2: What would you change to make a better manifold.
Such is the difficulty in makeing a better mouse trap. When one sees it, they try to incoroparate the new and better designs and ideas into there new trap. (Food for thought sentence.)
3: Any special features that would benefit or make such a manifold
interesting or valuable to a racer or street car driver.
Racer or street driver? A street striper may want the abiltys of some race intakes without needing to take advantage of them or mandotory useage of the race intake has built into it. But, somethings like;
Air Gap design with a sunken area that runs deep into the lifter valley area. While this will require more material to use when casting, the added clearance will be helpful when;
You can tap the middle of the intake for plumbing the middle of the head for extra coolent removal. Cool heads are happy heads and make more power.
Tapabilty at the rear ends as well. That would be a nice extra.
Portable runners. Sometimes, a stroker will require more, but in itself is a problem with a yet unknown design. The old LD-340 and current RPM do preety OK from what I'm told ontop of strokers Both intakes have good size (Near port matched) runners.
Things like holley vs. eddy, distributor clearance, hood clearance, choke, water passages, port sizes, things of importance to a potential owner.
The smallest detail or need should be addressed.
Things like dual mountings, sideways or in line would be nice. On a street stripper, I think in-line would do fine. A low rise intake as compared to a true tunnel ram wouldn't really need sideways mounting would it? I do not see a need myself.
I think being able to tap a hole for an older carb would be nice.
I myself would like to be able to use a T-Q, single carb intake or dual in line carb intake, yes a pair of T-Q's on top. Grinding away at the intake is no big deal at all. Just haveing the room for it seems to be these days.
The water cross over at the front. I like the Victors raised passage. But being able to tap left and right sides would be very very cool. Raised passage or not.
Ease of intake bolt installation. LOL!!!!!!
Having enuff height in the runners so that IF they run the lower section of a dual plane do not dip below the heads port inlet. Creating a "S" bend as view from the front, not from above. This adds a height problem.
