Thread: R-3 Intake Manifold

Good video Tom!
And thanks to John Erb for trudging onward!
Jeff

(Question: The stock cast iron intake is 31+/- pounds... Is this really only 10/11 pounds?)

Is that a mod of a LS intake? Cool stuff.

nate

Didn't John Erb buy LS inventory and business? My Avanti has an aluminum intake from LS that was installed by Mike Myer. Mike ported the intake manifold by hand using a drexel tool (see pic)

Hi Jeff, it weighs 7 lbs without the carb attached. Ports are big all the way. Standard gasket will not seal or cover them.

IIRC, weren't the LS R3 and R4 manifolds available in two different versions to fit standard heads and R3 heads?

More details as to what John Erb is doing to improve them would be greatly appreciated.

We are all very fortunate someone with John's experience and ability stepped up to take over the production of LS parts.

jackv vines

Hi Jack, He placed some unique radius swirls, special sharp cuts and steps in certain areas to better direct the air to the cylinders that suffer from poor distribution and fuel separation from the air. I hope to track test it Friday if this heat wave will break. Then later try some filler in the transition section of big port to small port. I was surprised at how good a response it is in raw form despite the current port mismatch to my heads. It didn't seal on the first install and really whistled hard. Finally got it sealed but took some end hole enlargement and slight shifting along with special cut gaskets for each port. I've got to decide on how to jet it now. I think it will do ok because it offers a large funnel to small funnel taper on the entire port runner now. Will see.

Remember that high temperature ceramic filler I put in my heads. That stuff works. When I pulled the iron intake the crossover section is still white, solid hard, and sealed. Not a soot trail anywhere.

Thanks for the clarification. Is this a one-off or is this what will be offered for sale soon?

jack vines

Don't know at this time. Right now I would say it is one of one. But see no reason it couldn't be applied to either the ones already cast or a mold change to future castings. I wet flowed it and got equal coloring down the entire port which I interpret as a good sign of balance flow. That test was made with an AFB carb as the mixer. I think the sharp edges and cuts in certain locations are kicking up the fuel and keeping it suspended. I am planning a rwhp dyno pull later on but waiting for this heat to back off. The humidity is heavy here this year. (tom c)

Pulled the AFB system and converted the manifold for Holley base to see if it would respond to the changes. So far so good. (tom c).







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEvZ6OruO4Y

Made the first test. Engine and car set a new low 1/8 and 1/4 et. Nice drop. Good response through out the power band. Ran the 1/8 @ 9.323 @ 74.38 and 14.65 @ 91.66 for the quarter pull. Air was hot and muggy evening. Really like the weight savings and response of this intake despite the large port to small port mismatch. Just performed fine with no throttle fuss. Fuel is 90 octane. (tom c)



Carb air temperatures in the filter container at idle. 106 degrees in the run itself.

Hi Gordon, that's a model 4010 vac secondary rated at 600 cfm. Standard steet model carb and not viewed as a race carb by many for some reason. First time I showed up at the track a racer rubber necker called it a piece of junk. I replied, it may be junk but it works for me. Very simple carb and good stock of replacment parts. That carb has gone 127 mph and in the 10's in the white Avanti. Not bad for junk carb. Does not have side bowls like the other model Holley, made of aluminum and you jet it by removing the top section like on the AFB's. Base though is wider and it want fit unless you widen the stude intake base studs. I used the spacer as a centering marker for the studs. My tools and skills are limited here but it did ok. My iron intake flows better than the factory intake because of the plenum changes. The R3 intake has some similar changes in the plenum and the port area is much bigger. (tom c)