3 Steps to Choosing the Right Carbureted Intake Manifold

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Dual-plane intake manifolds, like Edelbrock Performer Intake Manifolds, deliver excellent power from idle through the 5,500 rpm range. Easily identified by the divided plenum, dual-plane intakes also offer good idle quality and low-rpm torque.

Single-plane intakes utilize a single plenum with short, direct runners to build power in the mid- and upper-rpm range. This Edelbrock Victor Jr. Intake Manifold, for example, builds power from 3,500-8,000 rpm, making it ideal for racing applications.

Air-Gap manifolds, like this Edelbrock Performer RPM Air-Gap Intake Manifold, are typically dual-plane designs with raised runners to keep the incoming air cooler.

Ideal for drag racing and wild street applications, tunnel ram intakes build power in the upper-rpm range. They'll also add an element of aggressive styling, making them a popular choice on the dragstrip.

Dual-quad and tri-power intake manifolds offer multi-carb options. Most have a low-profile design to fit under stock hoods.

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Friend 1: “Go across the bridge, through town, and jump on the expressway north.”

Friend 2: “No, no, no. Go under the bridge, hop on the bypass, and pick up the highway east.”

Chances are we’ve all had arguments about directions. Over the years, the age-old debate about the best way to get from point A to point B has led to heated discussions, marital strife—and the evolution of the intake manifold.

The sole purpose of your intake manifold is to provide air and fuel the best possible passageway from your carburetor (point A) into your cylinder heads (point B). Performance intake manifold manufacturers offer several different options—directions, if you will—to get air and fuel from carb to heads. The secret is choosing the right intake manifold for your specific application using these three easy steps:

1. Choose Dual-Plane, Single-Plane, or Others
Carbureted intake manifolds come in a variety of styles: dual-plane, single-plane, Air-Gap, tunnel ram, and others. Choosing the right design basically comes down to matching the intake style to your vehicle’s application and intended rpm operating range.
Dual-plane intake manifolds, also sometimes called 180-degree intake manifolds, have two separate plenums which accept air/fuel from the carburetor. Each one of the plenums, or openings, feed four cylinders on a V8 engine. This divided design ensures that each bank of four cylinders only sees every other firing pulse (or 180 degrees of crank rotation), so there’s less overlap between induction pulses. The result is a cleaner induction pulse, particularly at low rpm. Dual-plane intake manifolds also typically have longer intake runners, making them ideal for low and midrange power production. Choose a dual-plane manifold for:

• Low-rpm response and power in the 1,500-6,500 rpm range
• Good idle quality
• Street performance and mild racing

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Consider these dual-plane intake manifolds:

Edelbrock Performer Intake Manifolds
Offenhauser Dual-Port Intake Manifolds
Summit Racing Street & Strip Stage 1 Intake Manifolds

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Single-plane intake manifolds use a single open plenum, which feeds all eight cylinders on a V8 engine. Although this design doesn’t provide the dual-plane’s clean induction pulse in the low-rpm range, it generally allows for better, more equal flow distribution between cylinders. In addition, single-plane intakes typically have shorter, more-direct runners, so they’re able to move higher amounts of air from the carb to the heads. That makes single-plane intakes perfect for:

• High-rpm horsepower through 8,000 rpm
• Racing applications

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Check out these single-plane intakes:

Edelbrock Victor Jr. Intake Manifolds
Weiand Team G Intake Manifolds
Wilson Manifolds CNC Ported Intake Manifolds

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While dual-plane and single-plane intake manifolds are the most common intake styles, there are a few additional options available. Air-Gap intake manifolds, such as the Edelbrock Air-Gap Performer RPM, improve on the typical dual-plane design by raising the intake runners. By adding extra space between the bottom of the intake and the engine, the runners are kept cooler and the intake charge remains colder and denser. Choose an Air-Gap-style intake for:

• Enhanced power from idle-5,500 rpm
• Street performance

Tunnel ram intakes are dual-carb intakes that became popular on dragstrips in the 1960s and 70s. These distinctively tall single-plane intakes utilize longer runners than typical single-plane manifolds, effectively expanding the rpm powerband. Keep in mind, the dual-carb design calls for additional tuning, and the dimensions of the intake require more space. Choose a tunnel ram intake for:

• High-rpm power
• Racing and wild street applications
• Aggressive look

Depending on your application, you can also find a wide range of dual-quad and tri-power intake manifolds for multi-carb setups. Like single-carb manifolds, these intakes are available in dual-plane, single-plane, and even Air-Gap designs.

2. Find the Right Fit
Once you’ve selected the right intake manifold style for your application, you need to choose a manifold that fits your engine. Whether you’re shopping for a carbureted or fuel-injection intake manifold, consider the following factors:

• Hood clearance
• Cylinder head port design
• Carburetor/throttle body mounting

For street applications, hood clearance is a major consideration. If you want to retain the use of your hood, measure the height of your stock manifold and try to remain close to that dimension when choosing your performance intake manifold. You can accommodate higher intake manifolds by using a hood scoop, low-profile air cleaner assembly, or other means. But remember, this will result in added time and cost.

Cylinder head port design is also an important consideration. For example, big block Chevy heads are available with multiple ports designs, including rectangular, oval, and peanut-style. Always make sure the intake runner ports match up with the intake ports on your cylinder heads.

On the top end, you need to make sure your new intake manifold will work with your carburetor’s mounting pad configuration. Four-barrel carbs, for example, are available with three basic mounting pads: square bore, spread bore, and Dominator style. Check to see what type of mounting pad your carburetor uses and then make sure the intake you purchase matches up with it. If you’re buying a fuel-injection manifold, make sure the throttle body inlet works with your throttle body size.

3. Fine Tune Your Choice
Once you’ve settled on a general intake style, confirmed the proper port style, and verified the carb mounting pattern, you may decide to look at all the little details that separate each intake manifold. If you live in an area that employs special emissions regulations—we’re talking to you, California—look for a CARB E.O.-certified intake manifold. You can also compare port cross-section, plenum volume, and specific runner lengths to really narrow down your choice.

What’s the right way to get from point A to point B? When it comes to getting air/fuel from your carburetor to your cylinder heads, there are a lot of options. And while we know it’s against the Man Code to ask for directions, we hope this guide helps get you started down the right path.