Don Terrill’s Speed-Talk

So whats todays equivalent of the Edelbrock C454 Intake?

The Performer doesnt look like it flows enough to live up to the hype I have read about the C454. The Performer only flows 280 CFM out of the Box, I have no clue what the or Air-Gap RPM flows but its casting doesnt resemble the C454.. The Performer RPM kinda looks close to the C454..

The C454 just looks like it has huge runners..

The C=454 was very over rated by some people.. It was NOT AS GOOD as the GM factory L-88 manifold. I was at Edelbrock back in 1969 when they first made that manifold== The L-88 was 15 HP BETTER with the same carb== Dont hold your breath.


JOE SHERMAN RACING ENGINES

Joe, you sure your talking about the same manifold? I believe he's refering to the 4500 pattern one, not the 4150 like the L-88 manifold.

Did you modify the L88 manifold to fit the 4500?

Yes the 4500.. Its runners looks much larger then any other "factory" intake I have seen.

I didnt get to look at the C454 to long, it also lookd like the runner walls might be thinner vs a newer intake.

I was looking for a good flowing dual plane, something I can improve with porting if necessary.. Looking like an RPM AIr-Gap would be the choice..

The 4500 carb would make more Hp if you were over 620 horsepower, but the basic design was not as good as the L-88 manifold. without lots of rework, the dual plain is not too good over 600 HP. A super victor might be as much as 40 or 50 HP better up at 7000 RPM


JOE SHERMAN RACING

Thanks Joe.

Seems that my only option is a dual plane if I was trying to gain more TQ down low in the RPM.

I have a Vic JR 454-R. I was going to save that for a EFI conversion later. But should I go ahead with it now?

Dont waste my time with the Dual Plane C454 or Air-GAp??

My setup is a 496, 11.1 CR, .650/.678 Lift Solid FT, 252/260 Dur. Heads flowing 360CFM at .650 lift.

Thanks again.

What are you going to use this engine for ?? Is it street only, or street racer, with some drag strip ?? WHAT.. When someone is worried about bottom end power, to me , that means they have not ever had any real stong engines.. If your combo is anything like it should be, you will have way too much bottom end, and wish you could trade some of the low RPM power for more top end, because the traction is soo bad. I hear this all the time from callers, but I NEVER have that problem with the engines I build.

JOE SHERMAN RACING

Got ya. I wasnt even thinking about it right.

It will see 200 miles (AT most) a week on street and then AT LEAST every other weekend at the track( If Weather Permits).. Eventually wanna try out the power tour.

I was just concerned about this motor being in a 4000# truck with a heavy 4L80 transmission. Oh and these are Rec port heads.

Thanks Again Joe.

C454 manifold performs well on the street or track
I had one of these in takes in 1982. With the 1050 dominator on a 396 375 It had an old Milling. C 427 P camshaft course closed chamber 2 19 172 exhaust 11 to 1 compression 3500 lb Camaro with driver car ran 1158 118 miles an hour On the street this carburetor and intake combination pulled like a freight train. I thought the intake was very good.

I once saw a new in the box oval port Strip Dom. topped to fit the Dom. carbs.

I looked down into the plenum and it was like looking in a mop bucket, that large and open.

For a more, "TAME", combination, how would the old BBC 8005 Weiand dual plane work. I had a new one in the box and went back and traded it for a new oval port Strip Dom. for standard square carbs for my 496. I wished I could have kept the 8005, it was quite, "muscular", looking when looking at the runners!!

pdq67