Experience with the Performer intake?

[MrC1]

I've got a stock 402 in my '72 C20 now, but picked up a Performer 2-0 (regular Performer) intake at a swap meet recently. It's called a "stock replacement" by Edelbrock. It appears everything (linkage, etc.) will bolt up easily, but should I expect any performance improvement over the factory manifold?

Anyone have any experience with this?

I realize the aluminum will dissipate heat a little better and will be lighter, but what about power improvements? I'm not looking for high RPM increases, just improved performance in the range that I'll use it as a pickup: idle to about 5200 RPM.

[highboy_04]

they dont really provide much in the performance area. they dont flow much better than a stock intake. they just weigh less

[motocrosschump]

The is the perfect "TRUCK" manifold. IMPO. It makes better power down low.

[70rs/ss]

It will increase torque down low where you need it and carry you through %k rpm, which is where a stock BBC will be happy. Great manifold and if it a little taller (more Rpm) than stock, but not so tall you run into clearance issues.

[jimmydean]

I love mine. The dual plane Edelbrock stuff is very nice. A lot lighter and perty

[Pug}{maN]

i had a Performer on a sbc, its just like the stock Z28 one, good intake for towing or fun street car DD.

[matthufham]

it's ALOT lighter, i never drove with the original intake though.

[Billla]

Originally Posted by MrC1

I've got a stock 402 in my '72 C20 now, but picked up a Performer 2-0 (regular Performer) intake at a swap meet recently. It's called a "stock replacement" by Edelbrock. It appears everything (linkage, etc.) will bolt up easily, but should I expect any performance improvement over the factory manifold?

Anyone have any experience with this?

I realize the aluminum will dissipate heat a little better and will be lighter, but what about power improvements? I'm not looking for high RPM increases, just improved performance in the range that I'll use it as a pickup: idle to about 5200 RPM.

Any performance improvement would come from other changes to the engine that the manifold would support - it's the "gatekeeper" to the engine, so the key is not to make it a limiting factor. If you haven't upgraded heads, cam or exhaust, then it's doubtful your OEM manifold was holding you back much if at all.

It should be a bit taller than your stock manifold, which *may* provide a slight increase in torque low in the RPM band. A 1" spacer can help even further.

The big benefits are a) cool looking and b) ready for other engine changes if you make them.

[msgross]

I have always heard that the key to the intake is the cam that is made to go with it. When you combine both then you will see Edelbrocks perfromance output. You can use either by themselves but they work even better together.
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[Billla]

Originally Posted by msgross

I have always heard that the key to the intake is the cam that is made to go with it. When you combine both then you will see Edelbrocks perfromance output. You can use either by themselves but they work even better together.

Well, it's true that it's about matching components, but it's more than just the cam and intake. If the head won't pass what the cam will deliver, then you're still choking things off. This is why a lot of the "power packages" include intake, cam and heads.

[trkklr77]

this is a 77 truck[peanut port heads] 454 with a performer, holley carb and headers, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruqgvfFb6FA. [im going to pimp this clip as much as i possibly can]

they are not th etop of the line intake but it will give you some omf.

the stock intake on mine sat super low, the carb base was about even with the valve cover gasket and ive heard a lot about fuel pooling in the intake because it has to go uphill to get to the head. that low stance also put it right on top of the lifters so it splashed and bathed in hot oil all the time, the performers lowest point is the end seals, add a splash guard and your intake will stay as cool as it possibly can.

[Billla]

Originally Posted by trkklr77

ive heard a lot about fuel pooling in the intake because it has to go uphill to get to the head. that low stance also put it right on top of the lifters so it splashed and bathed in hot oil all the time, the performers lowest point is the end seals, add a splash guard and your intake will stay as cool as it possibly can.

Fuel pooling is often discussed but IMHO never seen except on hardcore NA drag engines. The temperature in the intake is such that IMHO it's not possible to have non-vaporized gas...especially on a street engine. ALL gasoline vaporizes at < the boiling temp of water...and clearly the intake is always hotter than 212 degrees F except at cold start.

A lot of HP factory intakes have splash guards but it's useless on the Performer as it has an exhaust crossover - so there's exhaust passing underneath the center plenum constantly anyway. In any case, the HP lost by heating the intake charge is very small and I wouldn't worry about this in anything making less than 1.5 HP/CID FWHP. I also don't recommend blocking off the heat riser with a metal plate gasket unless you live somewhere the temp is > 65 or so year-round.

The end seals on the SBC always suck This is why gaskets should never be used - just a nice bead of RTV.

[MrC1]

Thanks guys!

A few questions/comments...

1) I should be able to plug the heat crossover at the intake gasket, right? I believe this s an option with most gasket sets.

2) It appears to be the same height as the factory piece, so I'm hoping it will allow my 700R4 linkage to line up right.

3) I plan on adding some small tube headers and maybe a cam in the future. It will all be mild stuff though since I want to maximize low-end grunt.

4) Where can I get a splash guard?

[Frizzle Fry]

Good question wolf, and I'd like to hear some opinions too. I was just at the parts counter picking up some things for my Burb (396) and I was torn between the regular performer and the airgap. The main reason I was hesitant to go with the airgap was because it is an "RPM" series and moves the torque curve up about 1000-1500 RPM. But it is still a dual plane intake and I figured the colder charge might make up for some of that lower end trade off. So I said f-it and went with the airgap. Either way a performer will spank the torker II that's on there now.

[wolfthing2000]

Frizzle, I tend to agree with the RPM theory, seems like a cool looking manifold for sure. I am sure you will be happy with it. One advantage is that you can run coolant from back to front of the manifold externaly and let the engine move some of the coolant from the "dead spot" at the rear of the engine. That alone might be worth using one!!!

Any more opinions or theorys????

[409biscayne]

I put a Performer on the 68 w/396 this season , i thought i might see a drop in e.t's , wrong . Very little , if any change over stock cast iron intake . My engine is stock with the exception of Hedman headers , sure looks alot better though . I bought the intake at a swap meet for $60 , add a set of gaskets and a saturday morning , pretty decent swap i think , and when i add a mild cam it should work a little better . Go for it .

[wolfthing2000]

ttt

[Jim_PA]

My performer pulls good up to 6000 RPM's. Has snappy throttle response, and great low-mid range feel.

This is on a 350 with performer RPM heads, Comp cams 270H, and a stock Qjet.

I don't know what it would be like with the performer RPM EPS air gap , maybe someday I'll find out, but this one I got for 30.00 works great.

[MrC1]

Too bad there's no such thing (as far as I know) as an air gap Performer. The RPM is simply too tall for this motor. I want the power band as low as possible.

[wolfthing2000]

I looked in the Summit catalog and I see the "Performer" air gap for idle to 5000 and the "RPM" air gap for 1000 to 6000 RPM. So there is a Performer model for the low end range Hmmmmmmmmmmmm?????

[wolfthing2000]

ttt

[MrC1]

The Performer RPMs are generally for 1500-6500+, depending on how many cubes you've got.

The regular Performer is more of a stock RPM, about idle to 5500 from what I've read.

The RPM is quite a bit taller, too, which makes linkage an issue sometimes. It certainly would with my 700R4 linkage. Then there's hood clearance of course.