BATHTUB INTAKE
 

WANTED INFO ON THE REPRODUCTION BATHTUB INTAKE THAT WAS MADE IN THE 80S OR 90S HOW MANY WERE MADE AND HOW WELL DID THEY WORK LOOKING TO DO A CLONE 63 TEMPEST THANKS GEOFF 267 733 2690

there were actually 2 diff repos made.Dave Johnson and friends made the first ones that fit the 980 and 127 heads.They were better than the originals as they had a flat floor.Randy Williams made a version for the later heads in a few diff versions.Some with a V plenum and some flat.The Johnson version was less than 40 I believe.The Williams was a couple hand fulls at best.They work fine with heads up to RAIV port size but need lots of work for bigger.Tom

The Johnson intakes made 825HP to 850HP.

Calvin Hill
Hill Performance
708-250-7420

I still have pictures of the Randy Williams' "V-Ram" Pontiac Tunnel Ram.

I ran across the pictures two nights ago going through some other stuff.

The later RW Intake designs worked very well on Joe Zajac's car.

These intakes were RACE intakes and the runners shapes were much larger and more
refined vs the old Bathtub stuff.

Tom Vaught

I wish someone would reproduce these. I really want one for my car :(

I looked into this a while back and hit nothing but dead ends. The guys that are already casting aftermarket intakes/parts don't seem to have any interest in bringing the Bathtub intake back.

anybody remember what these intakes cost back then???

That is because they are using modded GUTSRAMS now.

Tom Vaught

ME TOO Got one 421 with 980 heads another with 127 heads but no bathtub. Don't really care about the performance. I just love the look.

the 2 I have I paid $1500,the last one I saw went for like $2500.Tom

They don't go up for sale too often.

But when they do, don't hesitate and be willing to pay the asking price:

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=627426

More pics: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=510948

I have access to one of the Bathtubs that fits late model heads and I checked on having it 3D scanned. I would receive a digital blueprint of the intake with exact measurements down to .0003" (about $1200 to scan it). The scan can be entered into a 3D printer and a mold created. I asked some here for advice on taking it from the blueprint stage to the mold/casting stage and no one seemed interested in the project so I gave up on the idea :(

Here are some pics of the one I had; TomS said he thought it looked like a Randy Williams version:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/23d1c1c7.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/b705d1b8.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/2e58bee3.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/7f6552b5.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/000_3033.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/000_3034.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/000_3035.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/000_3037.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/000_3038.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/000_3039.jpg

I believe we got it from Tim Benko.

K

The guy I got my M/T from here local years ago alsohad one at the time and I think he paid $1500.

BATHTUB
 

THANKS EVERYONE FOR ALL THE INFO AND PICTURES IF ANYONE EVER WANTED TO GET INVOLVED IN REPO I AM INTERESTED IF WE COULD GET ENOUGH GUYS MAYBE IT WOULD BE COST EFECTIVE I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN BOTH VERSIONS THANKS GEOFF:usa2:

I'd probably be in for one if it would fit late models and be able to seal some 2.3-2.4 tall ports.

Are the aluminum Tri Power water necks still around?

Quote by Keith Seymore: "Here are some pics of the one I had; TomS said he thought it looked like a Randy Williams version:"

ALL of the intakes I worked on with Joe Zajac and Randy Williams (that fit a "late head") were "V" plenum manifolds not "Flat Entry" manifolds like the original bathtubs.

The engine in Randy's 2 door 63 Tempest Wagon made over 800 hp with one of the intakes so I would disagree that the Williams intakes "did not work".

Tom Vaught

Tom,I tested 3 diff Williams intakes and they were all within 5 HP of each other on a 462 in engine.One was the flat floor,one with a V plenum with round to rec ports and one V plenum with rec ports all the way.They were not port matched to the heads,just as cast.Im sure the V was the best a high RPMs.Tom

The one I worked on had rectangular inlet openings and rectangular ports into the edelbrock heads.

Tom Vaught

The bathtub pictured is one of the ones Dave and I produced. All ours used 1/4" bolts to attach the top to the base. All of Randy's and the factory bathtubs used 3/8" bolts.
The bathtubs we did all had flat floors. Randy made one or two with flat floors but most were with "v" plenums.

here are pics of the intake Dave sold to Fulper and was run on Tyrees injected E headed motor.I bought it from Fulper and had it converted to late heads.I bought a repo 66 alu tripower intake,cut the water X over off and had it welded to the bathtub.You can see DJ on the port.Tom

Skip,looks like there is room on the top of the port,bottem looks like it would need to be welded which is what I have found on other 61-64 intakes.Also looks like the is plenty of meat to open up the roof of the runners.This intake made a great HP increase with stock SD AFBs with my 290 KRE Dports without any port matching.Joe can give info im sure from the history of the intakes on their cars before the intakes had huge plenum changes.Tom

Bumping this 8yo thread back up since there has been allot of interest in these intakes lately.

This concept interest me. Did you ever have it scanned?

With all the additive mfg machines like the Matsuura Lumex 3D metal printing CNC machines I think this could be done.

I dont have the one I converted anymore to even get scanned.Tom

I would be interested in one of these bathtub intakes. Late model flange only. If someone wanted to set up a poll, I bet over 25 of these could be sold rather quickly. Not sure how many it would take to make it a feasible project.

I will work on trying to get one of Randys to scan.Just not easy to use a early one as the valve angle was changed and the ports have to be welded on the bottom and very little left on the top when port matched.Then you have to get a alu 66 tripower intake,cut the water off and then have it matched to the flanges and welded.Not for the faint of wallet.I have been trying to do this for years and have never got enough interest at the $3000 range to do them.Tom

You can see the one I did back on post 20.Tom

With enhanced height ports & '65+ flanges, thinking towards marketability, how would one proceed:
- cast with a plenum with a v shaped bottom
- or one with a v shaped bottom design to accept a cast insert to reduce plenum volume for lower horse (500-600 horse) builds?

Yes, I can see the time and effort it took to make that happen. I can also see how a 3K price tag would lock out allot of potential customers. By the time you had a working intake system with carbs and air cleaners, you would be near 5K. That's a sizeable investment, although the look is hard to beat.

We have one of the re-pops that has been ported to match our 340cfm E-heads. I’ve been planning to welded it up and port it to match our 425cfm KRE HPs, then have it shot blasted back to a cast look.

The question I have, is the market a race manifold or a street manifold?

Calvin Hill
Hill Performance
708-250-7420

Id bet it's more street/strip. Serious racers i don't think will be interested unless there is plenty of meat for porting. But resto guys on up to mild'ish race guys (850hp maybe 900hp engine builds) i bet would be interested.

You could do the std W intake just like I did with the early bathtub and it would look great on a street car.Again,have to buy the after market 66 intake,cut and scarf it in but also would need Larry to make or mod a top to take AFBs or 4150 holleys inline to look worth a damn IMO.NOTHING has the look of the bathtub though.Tom

KISS,stock flat floor like the DAVE JOE repop.The serious guys will use a W or a sheet metal.At least if I did it.By all means if anyone thinks they can get one done it will save me a lot of headaches!Tom

For $3000, serious racers will go custom sheet metal.

Eric

Calvin, is yours the 65-up pattern or a modified 64 back?
Anyway you can post some pictures of it?


Here is the Matsuura Lumex I was thinking of for something like this. Not sure if this would better for a small run vs casting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY_hTzO4WzQ

First bathtub I saw was when I was in college. One of my freshman biology grad students saw me racing my 409 Impala at the big IHRA Nationals in Dallas. He was from Dallas and a big Pontiac guy with a 64 GTO(reverb unit for the radio. He had one, pretty cool looking loved the looks of it. His name was Phil Baumann. He did the environmental stuff for the nuclear power plant in North Texas.

I'd still have some interest in one for late model heads.

Street/Strip for me

Never seen a bathtub in person, but in pics the bottom section of the warrior looks like an improved bathtub base. If one wanted the bathtub look may just fab a top.

Was fortunate to meet Phil several times in the 80's. Learned a ton out of his Classic GTO Newsletter during the same time.

Have serious interest in a bathtub with '65+ flanges for street/strip build

For me, the interest would be a mostly street performance engine. 500 or so CI. 600-650 HP. Something pretty mild and streetable. Thinking about the Arrow Injuneering IRON replacement heads if they happen. What a great looking combination that would be.

Well im on it.Going to be 30-45 days before I know much.Tom

Having a 63 Tempest 421 with 980 heads and a 61 tempest wagon with 127 heads a Bathtub intake is on my bucket list.

Gary,I for sure wont do a early version.Go shopping for new heads!Tom

I'm in also. Street/ strip

This guy is making some cool 409 intakes and heads especially his Z12 stuff. Might be a source to check with.

https://www.mcquilleneng.com/

Quick story -

I just noticed the other intake in the background of this photo.

When I grabbed the bathtub from under Dad's workbench it was sitting on a piece of plywood. That low rise 2X4 intake was under the plywood.

I didn't even know we had it.

K

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...7&d=1545923153

Sounds more like a "bathtub list".

;)

I THINK IT SHOULD BE DONE :D

Having a 63 tempest 421 with 980 heads and a 61 wagon with 127 heads a bathtub intake is at the top of my bucket list.

Gary,have had the bathtub on my 980s for 22 years now!Tom

Tom, have you been running this manifold with air cleaners and does it all fit under a stock hood? I'd be interested in a bathtub for street/strip but I don't want to cut a hole in my hood.