That old hot rodder at the local car show set me straight on my intake manifold

I was running a single plane intake on my 350 for years, thinking it was the hot setup. Some grizzled guy in his 70s comes up and asks if I ever actually drive it on the street. He pointed out my torque curve was flat as a pancake below 3k rpm and I'd get better daily drivability with a dual plane. Swapped to an Edelbrock Performer RPM last spring and the car actually pulls from a stoplight now. Lost maybe 15 peak horsepower but gained way more usable power where I actually drive. Has anyone else had a veteran builder change their mind about parts they were dead set on?

2 comments

2 Comments

ryan_kim634d ago

Know exactly what you mean. Had this old guy at a swap meet years ago, must have been pushing 80, saw me drooling over a set of aluminum heads for my small block. He just shook his head and pointed me toward a set of cast iron factory heads sitting under a tarp. Said aluminum is great if you're racing every weekend but for a street car you want that heat retention in the cast iron for better fuel atomization and throttle response. He was right, that engine just runs smoother and more consistent. Never would have believed it if I hadn't talked to him.

oscar3904d ago

Totally agree, those old timers know their stuff from real experience.