SIX PACK SUPERBIRDS PRODUCED WITH ALUMINUM INTAKES FROM FACTORY?

[Mopar John]

I have an aluminum Edelbrock intake manifold on my SIX PACK Superbird and it's been there since I bought it way back in the mid seventies. That doesn't mean it was on there when it was built. I have heard stories both ways on this and am wondering if there are any Birds bought new that had an aluminum intake on them? Is there any documentation on this? Could it be on a broadcast sheet or window sticker? All help is welcome! I don't want to switch this intake if it is correct for my Bird!
MJ

[Ghoste]

Although I'm not going to say "no way" I don't think it would turn up on the broadcast sheet or fender tag.  I'd even be surprised (but not ruling it out at all) if there was any factory document onit.  My first guess would be using up an old one that was laying around and my second guess would be a dealer added one (both guesses of course assuming it has been there since day one).

[maxwellwedge]

A bunch of documented original 6BBL birds had the aluminum intake from the factory. Galen even makes note of it in his white book. It will be the original Edelbrock/Chrysler style though - not the one Edelbrock sold to the speed shops. I'll post a link to help identify an original (same as used on the A12's). Have a 440-6 Challenger with an original aluminum intake as well. Edelbrock had back-ordered a bunch to Chrysler (which was probably why Chrysler decided to tool up their own....but in cast iron) and at some point Edelbrock shipped the back-order....so Chrysler put them on.

There will be no code or documentation on a b/sheet or window sticker identifying this.

[Ghoste]

And there you go.  
Were they leftovers from the 69 1/2 run?

[maxwellwedge]

And there you go.  
Were they leftovers from the 69 1/2 run?

They may have been - not sure on that.

[maxwellwedge]

Still looking for my pics of original factory installed aluminum 6 pack intakes.....John, in the meantime, do you have pics of yours?

[Mopar John]

Jim,
I don't have a picture of my intake. But I just looked at it last Thursday and it had the Chrysler part number up top near the front and the firing order numbers cast onto the runners.
MJ

[FJ5WING]

I never realized there was any question about the possibility of aluminum intakes making it onto Birds?

I didn't buy my car new so I don't know but heres what I have on a pretty much unmolested 41K mile car.

[Ghoste]

Cast iron was supposed to be the order of the day in 1970.  It seems there are a bunch of aluminum ones though.

[b5blue]

Check the numbers on the carbs, are the outboard's metering blocks rectangle or six sided? My six pack is off a very early production 70 GTX (I met the original owner of the car it came off of.) and it's like yours. My metering blocks are rectangle and the intake is aluminum with the Chrysler part number. How early did Superbird production start? 

[Beep Beep Dave]

I never realized there was any question about the possibility of aluminum intakes making it onto Birds?

I didn't buy my car new so I don't know but heres what I have on a pretty much unmolested 41K mile car.

This is an original 69-1/2 intake.

Dave

[maxwellwedge]

I never realized there was any question about the possibility of aluminum intakes making it onto Birds?

I didn't buy my car new so I don't know but heres what I have on a pretty much unmolested 41K mile car.

Apparently there are some people that don't think some '70 model year cars could come with aluminum intakes....which they did. It is not a widely known fact and I guess the same person or people have questioned John on his. The pic of your intake is the assembly line version and is 100% good.

John - If yours looks like the one in the pic - you are good to go! And if anyone wants to argue with you....send them to me! 

[Mopar John]

Thanks Jim!
My six pack intake looks identical to the one in the picture on this post!
It has Edelbrock logo up front, the Chrysler part number up top and
the cylinder numbers cast onto the runners. I am going to stick with it!
MJ

[pettybird]

Apparently there are some people that don't think some '70 model year cars could come with aluminum intakes....which they did.

I'm one of those people!  I figured that the very early '70 models used them to clear out stock but didn't know you could get one as late as 'bird production.  Do you know how big the delivery shipment was, or when it was released?  It had to be pretty big if you have one on a Challenger, too--the means multiple plants had them.

[maxwellwedge]

Well - All the big block engines were built at the Trenton Engine Plant, intakes included, and were shipped to the various car plants. So all the intakes would have been shipped to Trenton. The Challenger I have was an Oct SPD.

And let me add this - I am not talking 1000's of the aluminum's made it on F series vehicles....it was sparse - but more than a few Birds got them....probably by coincidence at the engine plant when the last of the back-order showed up. They had to build those Birds in a hurry - so they were probably keying in on the engines for them as well.

[Ghoste]

I'm another one who obviously didn't know.  Always a good day when you learn something.

[maxwellwedge]

I did say that it isn't a widely known fact....just a tidbit of Mopar trivia.

[pettybird]

Well - All the big block engines were built at the Trenton Engine Plant, intakes included, and were shipped to the various car plants. So all the intakes would have been shipped to Trenton.

Well, I should have spent a few more seconds thinking about that.  Somehow I confused intakes with carburetors...

[Ghoste]

I love the Mopar trivia.

[maxwellwedge]

Well - All the big block engines were built at the Trenton Engine Plant, intakes included, and were shipped to the various car plants. So all the intakes would have been shipped to Trenton.

Well, I should have spent a few more seconds thinking about that.  Somehow I confused intakes with carburetors...

Doug - As long as you don't confuse males and females you'll be in good shape! 

[BROCK]

Wow!  The old short story has a 2nd chapter
Sure, the 69 1/2 A12 cars got the aluminum Edelbrock
6 pack intake.  Then, all the rest, like any model that
a 440 was offered in, starting with the 70 models could
have the iron version of the 6 pack.  Who knew the only
reason Chrysler went to their own iron version was the
backlog at Edelbrock   Why wouldn't Edelbrock
go ahead & finish out the order - despite being too little
too late?  Cool stuff

[Ghoste]

My guess would be that Chrysler made an inital order which didn't anticipate demand and possibly compounded by Edelbrock trying to look after their other business interests.

[maxwellwedge]

Someone once gave me a factory letter copy that states that Chrysler will start making the intake.....I think it was Roger Gibson - I'll see if I can find it or get another copy..