FE Intake Adapter

[jayb]

Got a question for you guys.  I'm looking at more of the available 351C intakes, and some of them are listed for 9.2" deck factory block, while others are listed for 9.2" deck Dart, World, or SVO blocks.  I was figuring a stock deck (9.2") block was a stock deck block; why would a 351C intake fit an aftermarket block but not a stock block, or vice versa?  Thanks for any clarification on this - Jay

[chris_r]

The dart,world,svo  9.2 block is is w type block not a c type

[jayb]

OK, thanks Chris.  So please forgive my ignorance, but here is what I think I know about this.  The W (Windsor) blocks are completely different than the C (Cleveland) blocks, and with respect to the intake manifold, have the water jacket running through the intake.  Of course the Cleveland manifolds do not.  I have been looking at the manifolds on the CHI site; see the link below.  In the link, the first two intakes look like they could be made to work with my intake adapter.  Now look at the fourth intake.  This one says its for a Dart, World, or SVO block, but the manifold shown in the photo does not have a water jacket in the intake.  Looks like I could make that manifold work with my adapter too.  So is this just a bad picture on the web site?  More to the point, is it correct to say that every intake manifold installed on a Windsor style block has to have the water jacket?  Thanks for any clarifications.

http://www.chiheads.com.au/3v_manifolds.php

[68fecyclone]

   Looks like they may have used generic photos. I would think the winsor manifold would work, if it doesn't have the water cross over cast in it. The china wall on cleveland and windsor blocks have a different shape I think, which would not matter for what you are doing, unless it requires major surgery to clear the water cross over on the adapter.  Rob

[427Fastback]

I am curious how the 351C gasket looks on the rectangular port...Can the base be blended on the top side to the oval port..?? Is the 2V port size a better fit...

I am looking for thoughts on dealing with the oval to rectangular port transition.I guess i need to lay a 351C 4V gasket on my Edelbrock heads and look......Cory

[chris_r]

No i dont think its correct that every intake on 9.2 windsor style block has water. Some have water in the intake some have a external water crossover outlet. Thing i see on 9.2 windsor is you use sbf timing cover water pump and no water outlet on top of the block like the cleveland. I have build some of 9.2 windsor style block with cleveland style heads and i have always used external water crossover outlet but i have seen some with water in the intake at the track. I dont know how chi builds there intake but the pix do look generic. Different companies do different thinks i always have to call

[chris_r]

O ya Jay there is no ignorance to forgive there is just so many different configuration of 9.2 windsor blocks and cleveland heads,and intakes its crazy it will make you pull your hair out.  You have help me so many times,, i'm just happy to help out a little.

[machoneman]

Click on this link Jay and look at my May 15, 2008 post.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/119417/thread/1210823674/Clevor+templates

The links denote Ford's recommendations on how-to adapt the Cleveland  heads to a Windsor block. The part you need to see is where holes are drilled/plugged in the head's intake face and/or head side deck. In essence, whether it's an OEM "C" intake,  aftermarket 9.2" intake or an intake for a 9.2" Dart, FRPP NASCAR block, etc.........one can pretty much use any such intake on any 9.2" block....given close attention to intake-to-block water transfer needs. That said, the same should be true for adapting pretty much any 9.2" intake to your FE adapter, again given close attention to water needs and some end machining.

'Course, now that I said that.....................LOL!   

[jayb]

I am curious how the 351C gasket looks on the rectangular port...Can the base be blended on the top side to the oval port..?? Is the 2V port size a better fit...

I am looking for thoughts on dealing with the oval to rectangular port transition.I guess i need to lay a 351C 4V gasket on my Edelbrock heads and look......Cory

The plan is to handle the transition from FE port shape to 351C 4V port shape in the intake adapter.  Depending on the 351C 4V intake, some port matching of the adapter or manifold may be required; not all of the aftermarket 4V intakes have a port shape that perfectly matches the 4V port.  Some of them, like the Torker II, appear to be a little closer to the 2V port, although not quite that small, either.  I'll have to kind of work that part out when I get to the CNC porting part of the machining operations...

[jayb]

Click on this link Jay and look at my May 15, 2008 post.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/119417/thread/1210823674/Clevor+templates

The links denote Ford's recommendations on how-to adapt the Cleveland  heads to a Windsor block. The part you need to see is where holes are drilled/plugged in the head's intake face and/or head side deck. In essence, whether it's an OEM "C" intake,  aftermarket 9.2" intake or an intake for a 9.2" Dart, FRPP NASCAR block, etc.........one can pretty much use any such intake on any 9.2" block....given close attention to intake-to-block water transfer needs. That said, the same should be true for adapting pretty much any 9.2" intake to your FE adapter, again given close attention to water needs and some end machining.

'Course, now that I said that.....................LOL!

Thanks Bob, that makes it a little clearer too.  Looking at the CHI site I'll bet that their W and C manifold versions have the same runner design, and just use a separate water crossover to make the conversion to the W blocks.  For me, that makes half as many intakes to worry about fitting to my adapter

[427Fastback]

I dont mind doing some port work.I do agree that each manifolds port is going to be some what different.I havent sat down and chosen a intake (351C) yet...I am still stuck in the house recovering from my injurys and thinking seems to be my new hobby as I cant sit in a chair for more than 5 minutes or go play in the shop....Cory

[cjshaker]

It may be a good idea to leave some port transition left un-machined. That way it can easily be port matched to any of the endless intake choices for Clevelands. Or at least maybe offer a "rough machined" version that allows the end user to finish hand blending and port matching...if you haven't already considered that.

Also, it occured to me that this would be an excellent starting point for a custom sheetmetal style or similarly made intake. The ports could easily be welded to the adapter or a simple flange made (another marketing idea) so it could be bolted on retaining access to the lifters without disturbing the rocker system.

Just a couple of random thoughts. I find this whole process fascinating.

[jayb]

Great minds think alike, Doug    I've already got plans to offer an unported version for anyone who wants to carve their own ports, and a sheet metal intake version which will feature straight out FE ports and a flange that bolts onto the intake which can be used as a starting point for a sheet metal manifold.

[jayb]

So last week I contacted a local metal finishing company, and took one of the manifold castings up to show them, along with a typical new Edelbrock intake.  They took both intakes and said they would try to use one of their processes to brighten up my casting, so that it looked like the Edelbrock casting.  Today I got the manifolds back; here's a photo of the dipped manifold, the Edelbrock, and one of the original castings:



The dipped manifold is really, really bright, even brighter than the Edelbrock manifold.  It almost looks like it got a coat of white paint!  I didn't find it very attractive; what do you guys think?

When I picked it up I pointed out the differences between the dipped manifold and the Edelbrock manifold to the guy I talked to, and after giving the Edelbrock intake a good once over he pointed out that Edelbrock manifold looked a lot darker on the inside than it did on the outside.  Kind of looks like the color of my heat treated manifolds inside, pointing to a shot blast or bead blast process to get that nice appearance on the outside.  He didn't think that a chemical process could give the same appearance as the Edelbrock manifold, short of some kind of plating on the manifold.  Of course I didn't want that.

This weekend a local friend of mine is coming over, and he happens to have some Alumi-bright, so he is bringing it along and I'll test that on one of the raw intakes.  But I think that it may give the same appearance as the chemical dip on this intake.  If that is the case, then shot or bead blasting the intake is probably going to be my best option to improve the appearance.

[country63sedan]

Hey Jay, I don't recall any brand names, but we have acidized dump truck boxes at work in the past.  It WILL clean up any aluminum box/wheel/headache rack etc, but it does leave the bright white you describe. I would expect the same result from your buddie's stuff. It does look better than the dark gray though Would powder coating be feasible?  By the way, this project looks awesome so far. I could agree with the giving birth comment. Later, Travis.