383 Inlet Manifold

[XBRIT]

I have nearly finished the build on my 72 Challenger and having carburetor problems. The motor is a rebuilt 1970 383, 727 tranny and a Edelbrock 1806 650 cfm and a mild cam. I anticipate use to be Cruising not dragging Their seems to be a vacuum leak in the carb, so I have returned it to Streetside for replacement.
While the carb is off I would like to know the forums opinion on my choice of inlet manifold, I have a Edelbrock Torker or a Offenhauser. The latter seem to be a smaller aperture than the carb.
Any input would be most helpful.
Cheers,

[Moparal]

That offy is a spread bore manifold. Is the carb a spread bore?  If not, are you running an adapter plate for a square flange carb? It would leak at the flange to base if not.  I always prefer an Edelbrock over an offy myself. A street driver would like an edel dual plane. Your torker is a single plane and can take away some of your low rpm driving ability. 

[Chryco Psycho]

I would use the torker over the offy , the Torker was decent even though it is a single plane intake

[Supercuda]

My choice would be the Torker with a 1/2", 4-hole spacer (wood or phenolic resin), to help get back the throttle response and low-end torque. That would work really well on a street engine.

[XBRIT]

Thanks for your help.... the 1/2" thk. 4 hole spacer, does that follow the hole pattern of the carb bores?
Cheers.

[Chryco Psycho]

yes , the 4 hole spacer lengthens to bores below the carb

[Road_Runner]

You didn't mention what rear gear or the stall speed of the torque converter you are running.  If stock, the rear is likely a 3.23 which will be OK with the Torker off the line but it will be its happiest at higher rpm.  Same with the torque converter, I think stock it was a 10.5 or 10.75" which you can power brake up close to 3000 rpm off the line.  I ran a torker on a built 383, stock converter & 4.10 sure grip Roadrunner and it ran great.  So if you're running otherwise stock trans & rear, your 383 will be happiest mid-range & up rpm-wise. 

100% agree on your leak, I'll bet the carb was fine, the issue was your spreadbore intake.

Later, Jim

[XBRIT]

The rear end is an 8 3/4  3.23 sg and a stall of 2200 to 2800.

[Road_Runner]

The rear end is an 8 3/4  3.23 sg and a stall of 2200 to 2800.

  Should be a great down the road combination, not brutal coming off the line but if you're not racing it who cares?  Plus if gas mileage matters at all, 383's can be awful thirsty with steeper gears.  I'm going to go with either a 3.23 or 3.55 in the Barracuda with the same torque converter as yours because I want a car I can drive more than just to weekend cruises.

Later, Jim

[XBRIT]

I have decided to go for a dual plane Edelbrock which I will make a purchase on next week. I really need low end torque to make it drivable in traffic.
This site is so good for the likes of folk like me with limited knowledge on these vehicles.
Thank you all.

[Strawdawg]

If your converter has the stall you stated, I doubt you will tell much difference at all between the torker and the Edddy....

[XBRIT]

What is the torque spec for torquing down the alloy Edelbrock Intake Manifold? Also I had to Helicoil one thread.. no problem but when I snapped of the Helicoil fixing tab it fell down the bolt hole!!! will that be a problem??
Cheers,

[Moparal]

if the tab fell down the intake and it was installed    yes it will do damage. You have to get it out before you spin your engine over and suck it into the valve and piston.   about 35 ft lbs with a washer. 

[XBRIT]

It did not fall down the intake, as the tab snapped of it when down the blind hole of the hole I was helicoiling.
Cheers,