1983 intake manifold

[pavil58fep]

How does the stock intake manifold on the 1983/302/4bbl stack up against aftermarket offerings?

Working on a Capri and it still has the original intake. Since it's only a mild tune I wonder if there would be any value in looking at options.

Thanks.

[cb84capri]

I noticed a good gain in seat of the pants swapping mine for a Professional Products Typhoon, but I had worked over heads on the motor already to make use of it.

Cale

[mcfairmont]

The factory 83-85 5.0 4 barrel intake manifolds are pretty poor. They are very low, with tiny ports. I have gone 12.3ET s with the stock E4 intake manifold in my 85 Mustang NHRA M/Stocker, which requires the use of almost all the factory components, but once in testing, I bolted on a Edelbrock Performer RPM, and with no other changes, ran 11.7s. I did this to see how poor the stock intake was, I found out its pretty damn bad! Even an Edelbrock Performer 289 would be a noticeable improvement.

[erratic50]

Look at the flow bench tests on your intake vs aftermarket. It's not AS pathetic as the 86-93 EFI front and rear runners that only flow 110 CFM per port but it is as bad as the other 6 runners that only flow 130. 83 heads are a little off the pace in terms of flow numbers vs the E7's but they are not a pathetic 130/cyl.

YES! An intake will help you. And primarily up top where the power is. Don't go off the deep end with a single plane on a 302, but a dual plane with your existing 600 CFM carb rejetted will help you big time!

While le you are at it, how is your carb?

Personally, I grew to hate some things about Holley carbs, like the power valves that love to break when a cold engine leans out and pops out the carb. I rigged lights to preheat the carb bowls to help but it wasn't a complete answer. I went a bit too high rise on my intake choice which was part of the problem. Back when I ran a carb on my 351W I had DOOE fuelie heads and a 360 degree Offenhauser *under the hood* of my Galaxie with a mild cam. I threw a 650 double pumper Holley aside after the 10th time I fixed it and went Carter AFB. (Same as Edelbrock today afaik) I never looked back. That old gun boat blew the doors off of a few early 5.0L mustangs, but was too heavy to outrun an HO with a talented driver.

[vxr500]

I have an 84 with stock heads and cam. I changed out my stock intake to and Edelbrock performer rpm for the hell of it when I got the new Holley 600 carb. Noticed more power above 3500 rpm. Could have been the new carb I guess, but I really think it was the intake.

[Mgino757]

I swapped out my stock intake manifold with a Weiand Street Warrior while also using the same 4180C carburetor to keep it a fair comparison. I really haven't noticed a difference at all. I think the stock intake manifold works well for a stock motor, but I could definitely see where it would become a restriction when mated with hot heads being thumped with a healthy cam.