MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Ford 302 intake choice

Those that have done carburetted 302sbf conversions - what is the consensus for choice of intake manifold?
My limited research points to three good dual plane intakes for the general street enthusiast - Edelbrock Performer #2121, Edelbrock Air Gap #7521, & the Weiand Stealth #8020. The Edelbrock 2121 has the lowest profile @4.13" vs 4.90" for the 7521 and 4.97" for the 8020 - all important for hood clearance issues. I believe Larry Embrey has run a 2121 - Steve Carrick on the other hand runs the 7521 which has the added benefit of isolating the charge air mixer in the runners from the hot engine oil in the valley (Gil Price mentioned in a recent thread that fuel vaporization was an issue on his conversion and this manifold design might help that condition) - the down side is the extra height requiring a hood bulge.
Any feedback from sbf fans?
..........Sorry Dan, dual quads are out of the question and not up for discussion!
Graham Creswick

Graham,

I also used Edelbrock Performer # 2121, with Edelbrock 4 barrel 600 cfm on my 302 set up.

So far I have not experienced any vapor lock issues. But I do run cold air/ram air set up which does help keep the incoming air/fuel charge cooler.

Pete
PJ Mantell

Graham Creswick wrote:

"Sorry Dan, dual quads are out of the question and not up for discussion!"

I agree with you 100% on that! The dual-quads I have on my 302 do not perform as well as a good single quad setup, no doubt about that. As I mentioned in the Ford 302 tech session at the British V8 2003 meet in Townsend, this is the car I designed in high school study hall. The dual-quads are all about nostalgia, not performance (one tends to do things like that when one gets old <G>). The Edelbrock intake I have is '60s technology - way outdated, almost as outdated as me.

For my 302/MGBGT, however, I have taken a different route. I am using an Edelbrock computer controlled multi-port fuel injection system. Interestingly, the air cleaner flange on the throttle body is exactly the same height as the flange on the Road Demon carburetor with Edelbrock 7121 air-gap intake that Steve Carrick is using. We measured them both the last time I was up there.

I don't know for sure, but I expect I'll get just a bit more oomph out of the FI vs a carb. I have a photo of the FI unit on the 302 if you'd like to see it (can't send attachments to the list).

You need to check the newstands on a regular basis and look at the many magazines that cater to Ford 5.0 engines. They often run comparison tests on various components, such as intakes, heads, etc. I know they have runs tests on intakes and carbs, but I didn't save any of the issues. In spite of the fact that Chevy engine are far more popular than Fords, there are many more Ford magazines than Chevy.
Dan Masters

I use an offy low profile 360 part # 5493. I dont think you can find a lower manifold.
Steve Nightingale

Yes I used the 2121. It is the only one I could get to fit given my engine location. There is a stealth out there that should fit, but I never got a good part number on it. I THINK it was an older model, but I saw on and it was very low profile..

The only time I had vaporization issues was when I was racing, course I was sill and was hotlapping making a drag run every 5 -10minutes.. She did not like that to much after the 6th run...
Larry Embrey

I also used the 2121 Edelbrock intake and have just installed a #9266 heat insulator gasket between carb and manifold--in first tries it seems to help the vaporization issue and doesnt raise the carb enough to affect hood clearance--I will feed back more after more time.
I dont have louvers in the bonnet -hood- may have to go that route --also ceramic coating of headers would help too. I do have rather large holes in inner fenders that allows alot of heat out and have the rear of hood as high as possible to let out heat and no rubber seal on body at the rear of hood opening.
Gil Price

Graham,
First look at your engine!!! If you have one with the GT-40 heads the 2121 won't work. The ports on the intake are not high enough to cover the head ports. The 7521 has the larger ports and will bolt up to the GT-40 heads. I don't know if this holds true for aftermarket heads or not.

steve
Steve Carrick

Steve, I have to differ on that. I have GT40X alum heads, and the 2121 fit them just fine for me, everything lined up perfect in fact. Mine was the 2121 Performer 289, maybe the 302 edition is different? Maybe just the factory gt40 head are different? I have heard rumor of that fitment issue before but have not seen it in person..
Larry Embrey

Thanks guys for the feedback. Steve brought up a good point on port matching, so I E-mailed the Edelbrock tech rep and he advised that the 2121 should have no problem mating with GT-40X heads. He also said that for better performance the Performer RPM Air Gap is a better choice. As I posted earlier, the 2121 is the lowest profile and lowest performing intake - better performance comes at the expense of reduced (or no) bonnet clearance. Decisions!....decisions!.........
Graham Creswick

I was in the same boat Graham. I chose stealthyness over highest performance. I mean in our cars they cannot put down all the power a 302 can make anyways, not without substantial reworking/upgrading oof the rear suspension and axle assembly. Ten factor in the limited tire size..

I am hoping that my car can handle the cam I have in the car this year. I need to get the 8.8 done and in there, then I can flog on it properly to see what happens!!
Larry Embrey

This thread was discussed between 13/08/2003 and 16/08/2003

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical BBS now