[GoreMaker]

So... much... grinding...






I wanted a spreadbore intake manifold that flows well, fits under the low profile shaker of my '77 Trans Am, has the required bolt holes for an OEM-style AC compressor, accommodates my Q-jet throttle linkage, looks nice, and weighs less than stock.

I agonized endlessly, went back and forth multiple times, even bought multiple intake manifolds. I have a Performer, a Ram-Air IV/HO-replica, and a Crosswind on hand. So much money spent. NONE of these alternatives met all my requirements. Some were missing bolt holes to accommodate the AC or the throttle bracket, some were too tall and couldn't easily be shortened, some were horrendously bad casting quality, some weren't conducive to the power levels I was aiming for.

So finally I just chose to mutilate my stock manifold. I know it fits, all the bolt holes are there, and it can be ported to flow more than enough to meet my needs. With all the grinding and cutting, I've removed over 15 pounds of weight. And I can pair it with an aluminum water crossover, which weighs less than a pound. It's still significantly heavier than the all-aluminum manifolds, but that's a trade-off I can live with.

I wish someone would produce one of these exactly like this in aluminum and good quality casting.

Now it's off to SD Performance for CNC porting!