Just curious how much better is a 351 C Performer RPM manifold compared to a FE RPM intake. That is the idea for having the adapter right or no.
Back in one of the early FE Power intake adapter threads Jay dyno did a back to back test of the Edelbrock FE Performer RPM and the Edelbrock 351C Performer RPM, and the results were nearly identical. He was pretty happy with that since it showed the intake adapter wasn’t a hindrance in any way. Maybe Jay will comment later, but to me the intake adapter itself isn’t just about more power, it’s about more versatility and opening more options. There are a lot of good Cleveland intakes that are still currently available, and many at reasonable cost, that give some more possibilities. The dyno testing has shown that the Weiand 351C tunnel ram is pretty hard to beat for a readily available intake that makes power all through the rpm range. We all know how hard and expensive it is to find an original FE tunnel ram. And even if you don’t want to go all the way to a tunnel ram even a common Edelbrock 351C Torker works real well for a single 4 single plane, and you can often find a used one for under $175 and even with the cost of the intake adapter have a pretty good performance intake combination. But it’s been interesting to see some of the intake combinations people have come up with using the intake adapter, a person probably see’s some more of the adapters in use on Facebook, maybe because it’s easier to post pictures. With the FE’s intake design of having a good portion of the intake under the valve covers, and the pushrods running through the intake, having that pre-made FE intake base available helps many come up with some unique intakes. And it opens up making some real high performance intakes, like the billet ones Jay makes, and the “sheet metal runner” styles others have fabricated. One of the other advantages of the intake adapter is the easy access to the valve train, something that is more involved with a FE. The Edelbrock FE Performer RPM is a really good all around intake manifold, and if you know that’s all you’re going to need on your combination it makes a fine choice. But we saw a good example of the convenience of having the valve train access a few years ago on Drag Week when one of our members had a couple lifters fail during the week, and he was easily able to change them in a short amount of time, and still get his dragstrip runs in and back in the road early. Maybe not a feature most will use, but handy when you do. Also, the additional versions of the intake adapters have made the same versatility available for some of the high port FE heads available, and the High Riser heads too. We even have a member with a Roots blown Tunnel Port, where else are you going to get a blower intake for a Tunnel Port?