"Air Gap" Intake Manifold
#2
Pro
Bob
#3
Race Director
Purpose is to make $$$.
IMO it is much worse than the RPM. Hard to drive/warmup below 60F. And it connects the high and low plane so it will draw in lots of exhaust at low rpm during overlap, with a performance cam. it might run awful at low rpm. Might not, it depends on the whole combo.
IMO it is much worse than the RPM. Hard to drive/warmup below 60F. And it connects the high and low plane so it will draw in lots of exhaust at low rpm during overlap, with a performance cam. it might run awful at low rpm. Might not, it depends on the whole combo.
#4
Melting Slicks
My motor is an Edelbrock Performer 350 which includes the Performer Air Gap intake (among many other things.)
I believe another of the benefits of the air gap design is a cooler carb, reducing vapor lock issues. If so, it seems to work as we've run well in some very hot temps.
I believe another of the benefits of the air gap design is a cooler carb, reducing vapor lock issues. If so, it seems to work as we've run well in some very hot temps.
#6
Race Director
#7
Race Director
My motor is an Edelbrock Performer 350 which includes the Performer Air Gap intake (among many other things.)
I believe another of the benefits of the air gap design is a cooler carb, reducing vapor lock issues. If so, it seems to work as we've run well in some very hot temps.
I believe another of the benefits of the air gap design is a cooler carb, reducing vapor lock issues. If so, it seems to work as we've run well in some very hot temps.
Fall is here. How does the airgap work out on a cold start, say 45F? Can you still drive off normally with a cold carb? How is the MPG? I find my mpg drops a lot on cold starts. And i sure don't sit there waiting for it to warm up. That would be ZERO mpg. If i still lived in NJ i'd want the heat riser connected. Winter is right around the corner. So it depends on where you live, and how you drive. What intake will work best depends on many factors.
Last edited by Matt Gruber; 10-07-2012 at 09:35 AM.
#8
Melting Slicks
That one does NOT have a cut down divider. So it will not narrow the power band like the RPM can when used with a higher overlap cam. To keep any carb below the boiling point of gas, i've found that a $3.50 fan and duct works best. The carb can boil about 1 hr after shut down, hood closed. So unless you re-start it then, you might not notice it. It could be the air gap helps, in that case
Fall is here. How does the airgap work out on a cold start, say 45F? Can you still drive off normally with a cold carb? How is the MPG? I find my mpg drops a lot on cold starts. And i sure don't sit there waiting for it to warm up. That would be ZERO mpg. If i still lived in NJ i'd want the heat riser connected. Winter is right around the corner. So it depends on where you live, and how you drive. What intake will work best depends on many factors.
Fall is here. How does the airgap work out on a cold start, say 45F? Can you still drive off normally with a cold carb? How is the MPG? I find my mpg drops a lot on cold starts. And i sure don't sit there waiting for it to warm up. That would be ZERO mpg. If i still lived in NJ i'd want the heat riser connected. Winter is right around the corner. So it depends on where you live, and how you drive. What intake will work best depends on many factors.
As for cold temp issues, I don't really have any. It won't see winter but it does see some cold weather driving (for example today the high was just 46F.) Fortunately it sees a lot more warm temps than cold, so overall the design suits my requirements just fine.
#9
Dr. Detroit
Member Since: Mar 2012
Location: New Braunfels Texas
Posts: 9,962
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The runners on both manifolds are near identical....
One benefit of the air gap is it is easy to hide a pcv in the valley....and things like wires and sensor lines for mechanical gauges can be routed through it for a clean look.....but is that worth $75?
A much greater benefit is had by insulating the carb from the manifold...
and keeping engine temps around 175 degrees....
Another thing to keep in mind is that an open spacer absolutely destroys these intakes.....run four hole spacers only on these....
Jebby
Jebby
#10
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Not sure......the manifold...Air gap or not is huge heat sink and the water passes through the front....eventually it will heat up....
The runners on both manifolds are near identical....
One benefit of the air gap is it is easy to hide a pcv in the valley....and things like wires and sensor lines for mechanical gauges can be routed through it for a clean look.....but is that worth $75?
A much greater benefit is had by insulating the carb from the manifold...
and keeping engine temps around 175 degrees....
Another thing to keep in mind is that an open spacer absolutely destroys these intakes.....run four hole spacers only on these....
Jebby
Jebby
The runners on both manifolds are near identical....
One benefit of the air gap is it is easy to hide a pcv in the valley....and things like wires and sensor lines for mechanical gauges can be routed through it for a clean look.....but is that worth $75?
A much greater benefit is had by insulating the carb from the manifold...
and keeping engine temps around 175 degrees....
Another thing to keep in mind is that an open spacer absolutely destroys these intakes.....run four hole spacers only on these....
Jebby
Jebby
Think of situations where an engine designer has the option of keeping oil temp fully independent of coolant temp.
#11
Dr. Detroit
Member Since: Mar 2012
Location: New Braunfels Texas
Posts: 9,962
Received 3,891 Likes
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to the hot heads...and both get splashed from underneith....
The only way to separated the two is to have the manifold be two piece.....have a "pan" made of low thermal phenolic...then a aluminum
"manifold" bolted to that....
Jebby