What intake would you choose?

[37 truck]

I have rebuilt the 1940 flathead that came in my 1937 pickup, I have bored it .145, used Egge pistons, a max 1 cam, and Edelbrock block letter heads. My problem is which intake to use? It came with an aluminum intake for a single 97, I would like to go with something like the Edelbrock slingshot, but then I wonder about a 4bbl manifold, maybe even with EZ fuel injection. I want drivability, I am not looking to show this truck. Ideas? The tranmission is a t-5 with open drive line.

[Vergil]

A good four barrel carburetor of 500 cfm would be hard to beat (my opinion) with your setup. I am running efi's on my flatheads but a good four barrel is hard to beat and less to go wrong ...

Vergil

[19Fordy]

A Holley 390 would probably work well, if you decide on a 4 barrel.

[Jason in TX]

I agree that a lot of the guys like the progressive ability of the 4 barrel carbs. Since you are in a car with a hood, I think you are making a good choice about driveability

I guess I'm a glutton for punishment though. I'm running a single 97 on an aluminum intake.

[Vergil]

Originally Posted by Jason in TX

I guess I'm a glutton for punishment though. I'm running a single 97 on an aluminum intake.

Beautiful setup Jason, here is my punishment,




My friend has two av8's with four barrels, one a 390 cfm and one 500 cfm, both do great but at wide open throttle the 500 has the edge on the 390 (on his engines) neither engine is a stocker.

Vergil

[Jason in TX]

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Very nice Vergil! Glad you are keeping the fenders! That engine looks like a piece of art!

[19Fordy]

Vergil, All I can say is WOW! What kind of heads are those and what is that brass fitting on the thermostst housings.

[Vergil]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Vergil, All I can say is WOW! What kind of heads are those and what is that brass fitting on the thermostst housings.

Navarro heads, I drilled and tapped the heads for the water temperature sending units right below the thermostats. I used the temperature sending unit location on the head for the ECU temp pickup for the fuel injection, and thanks.

Vergil

[37 truck]

Vergil, that fuel injection is fantastic! I think something a little more conservative is in my future. Keep your ideas coming! Thanks

[4t8v8]

Using a 390 in mine. Max 1 cam and headers. Works great. Not the hassle of multiple carbs.

[Scott De Shields]

Same here; 390 on 8ba block with early style center water port heads. Had to extend the 390 up to clear linkage but works like a charm. Decided to run manual choke rather than electric one.

[Henry/Kokomo]

37 Truck -

Another thought, albeit a bit more conservative. Use a '49-'53 Mercury intake with the four bolt carb base. Fit a Rochester 2GC to it (bolts fit, needs a little passage smoothing and fitting with a die grinder). You get almost as many CFM's with the one Rochester as you do with two 94's, and only one carb to tune. The Merc manifolds were made in both iron and aluminum, so an aluminum one could be cleaned up to look good. Depending on which Rochester you get, there's a tapped hole in the base casting for a PCV valve installation. Just a thought.

[Zeke...PA]

Here is the Mercury intake with a Rochester 2-jet, going in my 37 Tudor, if I ever get done removing and replacing rusty body parts. Zeke.

[41LjH]

My 8BA is bored 0.80, Max 1, Red's headers, Mallory electronic, Offy .425 heads, Offy single plane intake, 390 Holley 4160.
The guys that race flatheads tell me a 390 CFM is as much as you need and that it is flowing more than duel or triple 97s without the hassle.

[Ol' Ron]

Allot to think of here. Considering the fact that you spend 90% of your time in cruise or part throttle and 10% of your time with your foot in it. Tuning becomes a problem. The most practical is the 2GC on the Merc intake. Have the manifold carburetor ports bored to match the 2GC this will really wake up the engine. Find someone with an A/F meter so you can observe the fuel curve in power and cruise. Your biggest problem is the ignition system. Here you can use a 42 crab make sure it has an 11A advance plate and the Vacuum retard is working. You should also check the piston the head clearance, shoot for .040-.050" The 258 is one of my favorite Flatheads. Good luck

[quickchange34]

Ive had good luck with the 390 Holley on engines without blowers. Blowen engines seem to like the extra cfm of the Holley 500.

[37 truck]

I am impressed with the number of people who like the 4 bbl, no one has pushed a multiple carb setup. Ron, I have a crab distributor on a two bolt, the points distributor was worked over by Bubba's. Anyone used a throttle body efi on a flatty?

[flatjack9]

I've got a friend with throttle body efi on a 276 inch flatty. This was maybe 5 -6 years ago that we built it. It was a Moon system and he had to do a lot of work to get it to run right. Runs great now.

[habbott]

I am also looking at intake manifolds for my 59A trying to decide which is better. What are the problems fitting a 4bbl carb to this engine? Which is best 4bbl or twin carbs?

[41LjH]

Offy or Elderbrock are fine. Don't know about the others. Holley suggests 3-7 PSI fuel pressure for the 4160. I am using an Airtex eclectic fuel pump at the tank. Don't know if the stock pump will produce enough pressure. I believe if you remove the fuel pump on a 59A you need to plug the hole in the block where the push rod goes.