Performer intake or stock cast iron?

[jg68]

I installed a performer intake on my 440 to replace the cast iron unit, did i go backwards? I here in some of the post that the performer is not that great & the cast iron will run better, is this true, its a spreadbore style intake, should i put it back on? i'm running a holley 750, so i'll have to use the adapter.

[myk]

I.....like to believe that the Performer is an aluminum version of the stock iron intake from the 60's.  Many will tell you that it performs less than the intake that it replaces.  From my own personal experience I can tell you that I definitely took a step backwards.  For example, with a cast iron intake my car would chirp the tires going into second under moderate to heavy throttle.  As soon as I installed the Performer, that chirp was gone. 

Once funds allow I will swap out to either a Weiand or a Holley, depending on which one will not require me to mess with aftermarket linkages and whatnot.  If you must stick to Edelbrock, go with the Performer RPM-I hear that those manifolds live up to their name...

[Chryco Psycho]

definate step backwards , the Mopar M1 dual plane or even better the Holley Street Dom part # 300-14 would be my choice

[Ghoste]

I have one that is now a door stop.

[jg68]

Well, live & learn they say .. I LOVE the street dom. that is one awesome intake.

[myk]

Were you able to use your stock linkages and stuff with the Holley?

[jg68]

Were you able to use your stock linkages and stuff with the Holley?

Yes, all i did was get that bracket for the carb, its from holley, i forgot the part #, the kickdown had to be tweeked alittle.

[is_it_EVER_done?]

Before everyone tosses their Performer manifolds away, try it with an open spacer under the carb. The Performer was designed (as was the stock manifold) for use with the stock open 3/8 insulator/spacer, and both will work even better with an even thicker one. Usually you can get a one inch insulator/spacer on without running into hood clearance problems.

Neither the Performer, nor stock manifolds have enough plenum volume without the open space under the carb so that opposing cylinders can "share" the volume. That's why later manifold have a portion of the divider wall cut away, partially due to the fact that the stock insulator/spacers were no longer produced and there use ceased as the supply dried up.

There are better manifolds out their to be sure, but the Performer with a spacer can be an excellent street performance manifold.

[firefighter3931]

The issue with the performer isn't so much the plenum volume as much as the runner volume.  The runners on the performer are quite small, even compared to the better 70-71 cast iron factory piece which is the best Chrysler ever made. 

I had a Performer and traded it for an old style Torker because my buddy wanted to go back to a stock look on his 426 street wedge. He's happy with the manifold but the engine is basicly stock with a mild cam and he never shifts higher than 5k anyway. For him appearance took prescedence over performance (showcar).


Ron

[jg68]

For now i guess i'll leave it on, this engine is stock with just headers, probably won't see over 5000 rpms.

[Ghoste]

I ran a 1 inch spacer on my Performer and it didn't make much difference.

[jg68]

I ran a 1 inch spacer on my Performer and it didn't make much difference.

Did you ever try a 4 hole or a tapered spacer?

[Ghoste]

Yep.  Four hole, open, tapered, different widths.  I got a pile of different ones here and the only that made any differnce was a four hole one inch and the difference was not significant.  It's just not a great intake with my combo and that's about all there is to it.
I have a Street Dominator now and that is good intake.