Found intake Info
- Thread starter rockfla
- Start date
tubman
Well-known member
That's an Edmunds "Racing" intake for 4 bolt carbs. Someone seems to have ground off the identifying script. I had been looking for one for a long time. I found one a couple of months ago and overpaid for it. Here's a link to a thread I started on the H.A.M.B. about it : https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/edmunds-racing-manifold-for-the-8ba-flathead.1352618/.
There were some interesting responses. In my opinion this would be the ultimate 8BA manifold, but there seems to be little history or information. I'm gonna find out.
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petehoovie
Well-known member
sidevalve8ba
Well-known member
That is truly an interesting intake. Denny, keep us posted on anything you happen to find out about it
Bored&Stroked
Well-known member
Definitely an Edmunds . . . nice find!
tubman
Well-known member
I have had a couple of three bolt 97's that were marked "LZ" that were for Zephyr's, but they were almost identical to the Ford 97's. I had a friend that had a '37 Studebaker President with the straight eight that had what looked like a four bolt version on a 97, but my knowledge stops there. I think Tim is correct that these manifolds were originally made for Holley 885 carburetors that came on early fifties Mercury's and Lincoln's. That makes sense as the 885's were quite a bit larger than the contemporary Ford carburetors (Holley 94's). Another possibility is the Rochester "Turtleback" carbs that came on early Olds Rockets.
In any event, the bolt pattern is the same as the aforementioned carburetors, as well as small base Rochester 2G's and Carter BBD's. I am planning on running a matched set of small base 2G's on mine. I currently don't have two identical carbs, so I have purchased a set of Chinese Carter BBD clones to get going. Two of these new were less than the cost of one decent small base 2G core and seem to run well. At the price, they can be used as "throwaways" until I can get a proper set.
As an aside, there are two versions of this manifold. Your manifold and mine have an extra boss cast into the carburetor bases that will accommodate an additional stud for a three bolt carburetor. I believe these are later castings designed to use the larger three bolt carburetors such as Holley 2100's and 2110's. There are earlier versions without this boss with will accommodate only 4 bolt carburetors, which we all that were available before the big Holley 3 bolts.
Additional information. There are other 4 bolt two barrel carbs that will also bolt on. "Carb King" on the H.A,M.B. recommended Stromberg WW's, but I'm not getting into a whole different type of carburetors at my age and station in life. Other series of Stromberg's and Carter's fit as well, but I don't know enough to be specific.
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The three bolt LZ is like 160 CFM to the 97's 150 CFM if my memory serves me right.
Robert, there was a WW Stromberg 4 bolt base carb used on "big" American cars like Packard, Auburn, Cadillac, etc. in the '30's-'40's, but they predate this intake. Plus, those carbs are big bucks since they go on big dollar cars.
I know somewhere I recall a catalog listing this intake with the air cleaners. I'll dig around.
Either way, like Tubman said, the Merc 4 bolt or small base 2G's will work. Holley 2100's will work as well.
tubman
Well-known member
Are you sure? As I remember, the bolt pattern is a lot bigger. I ran one on my vintage dirt car for a while (500 CFM Holley) and needed an adapter (they are available).
As far as the 4 bolt Stromberg's are concerned. I believe the later models were called "WW"'s and were original equipment on Studebakers and a few other makes, so they're not that rare. I just don't want to get deep into anything that didn't come on the "Big Three">
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I'm pretty sure about at least a version of the 2100, but it may not be all.
I'm thinking of the 2100 used on VW BugSpray set ups. I seem to recall the carb base pad was the same size as the one on the Edmunds intake.
Gene1949
Well-known member
What a gorgeous intake.
From the carb placement I really believe it is strictly a race only application. If somebody was gonna try to put it on the street chasing the “cool factor” it would be extremely hard to tune on a relatively stock motor at lower RPM. The airflow At low RPM just isn't there on that size of carburetor X2.
From the carb placement I really believe it is strictly a race only application. If somebody was gonna try to put it on the street chasing the “cool factor” it would be extremely hard to tune on a relatively stock motor at lower RPM. The airflow At low RPM just isn't there on that size of carburetor X2.
tubman
Well-known member
Sorry, I was thinking Holley 2300 (I have late model replacements on the brain). As I have already mentioned, my manifold had the third stud, which I believe was for a 2100/2110.
tubman
Well-known member
You're probably right, but I gotta do it.
The commonly quoted flow rate for a small base 2G is 265-275 cfm, so a pair is well over 500 (and a bit more that 4 97's). I have found that 1 2G is about right for the mildly modified 255 Merc in my '51. I'm going to try this first on my "Hot Rod Motor", a fresh 258" with an Isky cam, Edmunds heads, and a Mallory dual point.
Gene1949
Well-known member
Ohh, hell yes. Glad to see someone else who believes in the Oregon mountain boy philosophy; "if it's running good it's time to screw with it"You're probably right, but I gotta do it.
I've been told by one of, if not the best, flathead builders/racers from CT that a flathead is one of the motors that CFM can be misleading. His research and actual usage has showed that the flathead can take a lot more CFM than an OHV. That is why a 4X2 intake actually works on a flathead. Don't be afraid of going big with CFM.