Typhoon 343 4v Intake Manifold - Upgrade

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I've asked similar questions in the past but this will be more straight-forward. In regards to intake upgrades, what would you recommend for a daily driver/street machine?

As far as I can tell:

Performer won't fit.
RPM Air-Gap performs badly in cool weather.
Torker is for racing applications.
R4B is for racing applications, and it's far more expensive than others.

So... anyone have any input? I'm giving myself headaches thinking about possible upgrades.

Edited by 68JavelinSST - Jan/12/2009 at 7:51pm

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68JavelinSST Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Nov/26/2008 Location: Loveland, CO Status: Offline Points: 453	Post Options Post Reply Quote 68JavelinSST Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Typhoon 343 4v Intake Manifold - Upgrade Posted: Jan/12/2009 at 7:49pm
	I've asked similar questions in the past but this will be more straight-forward. In regards to intake upgrades, what would you recommend for a daily driver/street machine? As far as I can tell: Performer won't fit. RPM Air-Gap performs badly in cool weather. Torker is for racing applications. R4B is for racing applications, and it's far more expensive than others. So... anyone have any input? I'm giving myself headaches thinking about possible upgrades. Edited by 68JavelinSST - Jan/12/2009 at 7:51pm

bigbad69 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jul/02/2007 Location: Ottawa, Ont. Status: Offline Points: 6668	Post Options Post Reply Quote bigbad69 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jan/12/2009 at 8:17pm
	Performer will fit - it's a little taller than stock, so may require drop-down air cleaner. Air-gap does have the heat crossover blocked so it will have poorer cold weather characteristics. Torker is a higher RPM intake better suited for racing. R4B is an excellent street/strip intake, but falls off around 5500 RPM, so it's not really good for race-only. It is an inch taller than stock, but can be made to fit without a lot of difficulty. Unless you want an original AM part number piece, it's not overly expensive.
	69 Javelin SST BBO 390 T10

68JavelinSST Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Nov/26/2008 Location: Loveland, CO Status: Offline Points: 453	Post Options Post Reply Quote 68JavelinSST Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jan/12/2009 at 8:51pm
	Sorry, I forgot to specify that I have a '69 engine. So it indeed will not fit without machining. Every R4B I come across ends up being $350+ plus shipping. Maybe I just have bad luck.

PHAT69AMX Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Jul/07/2007 Location: West Virginia Status: Offline Points: 5919	Post Options Post Reply Quote PHAT69AMX Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jan/12/2009 at 8:51pm
	Going with nominal stock dimensional values, a '70 & up Performer would need to be milled .033 on each cylinder head side and .046" on the horizontal end front and back and 2 additonal center intake to cyl head mounting holes drilled or the existing holes slotted, using the intake valley pan gasket as a template, to fit the '70 & up AMC Performer to the .033 shorter deck height early AMC 343 block. The Performer is a decent intake manifold unpgrade from the stock cast iron intake. There are used intakes out there by Edelbrock, Offenhauser, etc for the early AMC, just not easy to find, and always a question on condition. A reputable engine shop should have no problems machining a '70 & up Perfomer to fit. Idealy, they'd probably like to have the stock Intake on hand before machining the Performer. The sheet metal PCV baffle will need to be removed from the stock one and installed on the Performer. Whoever machines the Performer needs to make sure and NOT machine off the PCV Baffle Mounting Ledges on the bottom of the Performer while machining the rear horizontal surface. A shop used a "fly-cutter" to machine a Torker, and "accidentally" removed a portion of the PCV Baffle Mounting Ledges on one that I had done. PCV ledges where "re-instated" by welding at the cost of the shop. May I ask if you have a copy of "Performance American Style" ? In there is where information on machining of the Intake for proper fit is located. Wonder if Dan Curtis here could "broker" a deal where the shop he deals with could get the manifold, machine it for you, and send it on to you ? Another forum memberhere, Menance S/S ( I think ?) works for Edelbrock. Maybe he has been busy and has not visited the forum for awhile. Hard to believe there's not an off the shelf bolt on aluminum intake for stock '68-'69 AMC V8. Wonder if BullTear might consider brokering the same kind of deal, or Barry Allen, Hemi Adkins, or Herman Lewis, or somebody. If I had a Performer on hand, I could check into what cost would be to machine it. Thing is the .033 amount is based on assuming the width is stock to start with. Probably not a safe assumption with an aftermarket manifold. Edited by PHAT69AMX - Jan/12/2009 at 9:01pm
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68JavelinSST Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Nov/26/2008 Location: Loveland, CO Status: Offline Points: 453	Post Options Post Reply Quote 68JavelinSST Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jan/12/2009 at 9:18pm
	It would be great if someone could indeed look into getting me a deal like that somewhere. This upgrade is not necessarily urgent but it is on the horizon once the car is driving and the engine has been checked out. Performer does seem like the best option for me. If that is what I decide to go for, would the cam and carburetor from the Performer package be the best option to supplement the intake?

PHAT69AMX Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Jul/07/2007 Location: West Virginia Status: Offline Points: 5919	Post Options Post Reply Quote PHAT69AMX Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jan/12/2009 at 9:57pm
	Would say "Best" is a relative term, but that Edelbrock has done their homework, and the Performer Intake, Cam, & Carb would work well together.
	Link to a Short YouTube Burnout Video

scott Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Jul/10/2007 Location: Wildwood Pa. Status: Offline Points: 3501	Post Options Post Reply Quote scott Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jan/13/2009 at 8:20am
	Offenhauser makes an aluminum "360" series manifold specific for the 69 & older AMC V8. Check Summit for new http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=OFY%2D5771&autoview=sku, used they are in the $120.00-$175.00 range. I had a used Offy 360 a few months ago. It was a very nice looking piece, Offy seems to be high quality. All the bolt holes were spot faced. The pcv pan was an exact fit, not off like on an Edelbrock. I offered it in the 4 sale section here for a while with no serious takers. It went on ebay. Edited by scott - Jan/13/2009 at 8:27am

68JavelinSST Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Nov/26/2008 Location: Loveland, CO Status: Offline Points: 453	Post Options Post Reply Quote 68JavelinSST Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jan/13/2009 at 11:26am
	I knew the Offy 360 could work but I wasn't sure what kind of application it was for so I didn't mention it. Is it a streetable intake or more for racing as well?

whizkidder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Mar/03/2008 Location: North Georgia Status: Offline Points: 2972	Post Options Post Reply Quote whizkidder Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jan/13/2009 at 12:03pm
	I've got a dual-port Offy 360 (dual plane) on my 390, and I like it on the street. No driveability issues...
	Ron Frost marne1ancient @ gmail.com 910 nine two two 0563 "There is no limit to what a man can do, so long as he does not care a straw who gets credit for it. Charles Montague

68JavelinSST Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Nov/26/2008 Location: Loveland, CO Status: Offline Points: 453	Post Options Post Reply Quote 68JavelinSST Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jan/13/2009 at 4:36pm
	I've seen people with Torkers, R4Bs, Offy 390's, and Performer RPMs that drive them.... but those are for 390 cars. Those seem overkill for my 343. I think I'll try for the machined Performer option, if I ever find someone to help me out with that.