421 SD Bathtub intake
 

I thought I would start a new thread with the interest from board members.I just got the intake I bought.This is a diff version from any I have driven.Randy Williams built this one for the Pontiac racer and collector Bill Blair.It is a lot like one version I had dyno tested for him.The originals had a flat plenum floor,this has the V plenum.It has a lot more meat in the intake runners where it mates to the heads.Going to get it scanned and look into have some casted.Tom

This version has the 61-64 water pattern.IF I do them they will have 65 and up!Tom

Good looking piece. Very cool project!

Pontiac started the tunnel ram craze with a killer factory intake. Very cool!!!

Very very cool piece. I would love to have one myself that fits 65 and up..

Keep me posted on this project. I will be happy to put a news item in the magazine about it.

Only you could answer this Tom, but is their anyway to have a single manifold that would accept either water pattern? I ask this because if possible, it would satisfy every ones need with a single casting. I also assume you are considering having them 3D-printed in aluminum rather than a sand casting. It would be interesting to see what the cost factor would be with all the new 3D technology exploding. I have 2 3D metal capable shops withing 20 miles of my house. I would be happy to help if I can. Feel free to PM me if I can help.

I dont want to go that road,IF I loose my mind and decide to do this it will be 65 up water pattern.If someone wants to run it on early heads they would need to remove the water Xover and use a early one along with getting the port work to match the ports.I will have the intake made with RA IV size ports and location with enough material to make bigger.Tom

Well, that would certainly work for me as I have not really worked with the early heads anyway. Are you thinking sand casting or some sort of 3D printed finished product? Or have you not moved to that point yet?

Have not got that far.Have to get this one converted to the late water X over first.Have a ad out for a 66 alu tripower intake before ordering a brand new one.Baby steps.After that is done will get it scanned and then start the process.Tom

Tom, I have no skin in this game, but I think its pretty damn cool that you're doing this!

You have allot of people cheering for you on this project.

This pic will give a better look of the miss match with a stock 69 gasket.Tom

I traced out the mismatch on an Edelbrock head when I was contemplating modifying the heads to match the Bathtub repro (‘64 and earlier style) I owned awhile back.

The addition of a little weld material at the front of the head to allow the water passage to seal and plugging the round coolant hole in the head plus a little machine work would have made it possible.

As a point of reference, I purchased the intake pictured (Dave Johnson reproduced it) for $2000 back in 2007. After playing with it for a while I sold it for $2500 a few years later to a customer of Rick Johnson who was building him a 421 Super Duty. I was no longer pursuing my project and moved it on to someone who needed it.

I did a 859 that way but I think it is more EZ to just use a 66 alu tripower X over to do the Bathtubs.Did one a few years ago this way.Tom

The nice thing about this intake is the runner walls are .400 thick all around so plenty of room the make bigger taller wider ports.Tom

I have decided to have this intake scanned as is before I get it converted.The top for either will be the same anyway but I will have 2 intake bottoms if enough interest is there for both.Tom

That is a great idea because you have a manifold that is correct and fits now for the older heads. Having a digital file of that design could be used at anytime in the future. These parts are so rare, and being so tightly hoarded, getting them in digital form opens them up to many who could never afford an original part. Very appreciative of your efforts.

The intake is out being scanned.Will have it next week and will get it out to get a quote for 3D alu intake.I would like to have anyone that is SERIOUS about getting one for the $2500-$3000 price to PM me with interest in 61-64 or 65 and latter with RA IV size ports.Im told that making molds for just a few would not be price friendly.Im learning way more about getting small run intakes than I wanted.Im told to do molds I would need to make like 20 to be worth it.I will get a price to 3D with alu,carbon fiber and also fire retardant thermal plastic.I think carbon fiber would be REALLY cool.Now we will see who are contenders and who are pretenders!This will be my last effort at doing this.I will have the intake I wanted no matter what.Tom

Don, you could start a column in your mag, titled, What’s Tom up to, today!
The cool things he gets his fingers into, are usually off the scale! Even if it was something he started on and decided not to complete, it would be very worthy print to ALL of us that get your magazine, which includes me! You missed a nice get together this year at Great Bend! Jeff Bolton
Attachment 553896

I got to talk to Arnie’s awesome daughter, Rhonda for a while, at Great Bend, Arnie’s doing well, for all the crap he’s been on through in the last year