The Oldsmobile Connection

blonzz · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 56 Location: AZ Desert

What is the best method for blocking off the exhaust crossover ports on a BBO Torker intake manifold?

I understand that just installing the supplied cast iron plugs will cause rattling and doesn't completly seal also.

Thanks,
John

88 Coupe

Hi blonzz, hello all

The crossovers in your heads should have been filled when you had them ported. The heat would go out the exhaust, nowhere near your torker and if done right it should be an easy 40 HP.

Filling the manifold might not stop the discoloration of your manifold and you could gain as much or more power from a phenolic (or wood) carb spacer.

Wait: I just realized you have edelbrock heads and its already been done for you.

Regards, Norm

blonzz · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 56 Location: AZ Desert

88 Coupe wrote: Hi blonzz, hello all

The crossovers in your heads should have been filled when you had them ported. The heat would go out the exhaust, nowhere near your torker and if done right it should be an easy 40 HP.

Filling the manifold might not stop the discoloration of your manifold and you could gain as much or more power from a phenolic (or wood) carb spacer.

Wait: I just realized you have edelbrock heads and its already been done for you.

Regards, Norm

Hello Norm,

Yes i do have Performer RPM heads installed. An exhaust crossover port does not exist on these heads? This is nice to know.

I am also planning on switching from the Performer intake to the Torker. What are your ideas on having it powder coated before installation as far as heat dissipation reduction? I was planning on dressing up the engine a little.
Would I be better off having it Ceramic Coated? I would lose out on color choices. Or just having the intake smoothed and polished?

Can I also take the intake to a competent shop and have it ported? Or is that necessary with my buildup?

Also some have mentioned that it is a real pain to fasten the bolts that fit between the runners. Some have left them out when installing. I noticed on the Edelbrock site "We’ve removed the intake bolts between the runners, ..." on the Victor 455 manifold description.

Is this alright to leave them out on a on the Torker installation even though there are provisions for them?

Thanks,
John

Turbocharged400sbc · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 318

double check that the Performer heads do not have the crosover as my E brock catalog lists them as CARB approved-meaning they are oem emissions compatible- the pic in my catalog doesnt show the intake face so i cant tell wether it has the crossovers or not-double check! and if it does just install a small piece of 22 gauge steel inside the (ex X-over)opening on the intake gasket.
Powdercoat your intake to your hearts content! (polishing without a clearcoat is a pain to keep clean!-Vicktor Jr on my 73 Nova) most powdercoating is capable of 400 deg or higher and your intake wont get that hot! (maybe 250 deg on the underside with hot oil splash) as for disipating heat dont worry about that as you arent trying to get every little bit of power from the engine that you can. the heat dissipation of bare aluminum is way better than steel/cast iron just in surface to air comparisons, however as I have learned painting a suface a flat black allows it to conduct heat to the air better (allot better on steel/iron but less so on alum-but it still improves it-look at a NASCAR engine and youll see what I mean!).
as for the bolts most aftermarket manifold have thick mating surfaces/flages that reduce distortion so if they are not needed you probably dont need to (factory optional!) but if you have small head 12 point intake bolts it's probably not that difficult to throw em in.
the SBC has a vortec setup that uses different angle threads in the two middle (of 6) bolt holes on their heads and I have seen racers with the early intake bolted onto the vortec heads and instead of modiffying the holes-they left them out-havent heard of any issues! just get a good manifold gasket. also check if a company called Cometic gasket has the olds head gaskets they are great! (MLS multi layer steel shim head gaskets!)

blonzz · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 56 Location: AZ Desert

heads

Turbocharged400sbc · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 318

Performer RPM's totally different than performer! deff no heat passage there! sorry, hope the other info helps though!

88 Coupe · Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 3:12 am Post subject:

Hi blonzz, hello all
Quote: I am also planning on switching from the Performer intake to the Torker. What are your ideas on having it powder coated before installation as far as heat dissipation reduction? I was planning on dressing up the engine a little.
Would I be better off having it Ceramic Coated? I would lose out on color choices. Or just having the intake smoothed and polished? Not my department. I prefer the low key approach, flat black engine paint and I generally only lift the hood to show its an Olds and not a BBC.
I will say that you had a first class operation going until you started getting carried away with all the usless aftermarket shit that that draws the eye away from the beauty of the car itself. Quote: Can I also take the intake to a competent shop and have it ported? Or is that necessary with my buildup? Edelbrock has already done it for you. Quote: ..... some have mentioned that it is a real pain to fasten the bolts that fit between the runners. Some have left them out.......Is this alright to leave them out on a on the Torker installation even though there are provisions for them? It's nearly impossible to torque those bolts without damaging the manifold. When I put it on the second time I left out the four bolts and epoxied dummy bolts in the holes. I ran it for 12 years and no one knew but me. The next time it came off I replaced it with the Victor that is now on my 425. I have a Holley Street Dominator on my most recent 468. Power wise the SD is about equal to the Torker, I think it looks better, and its nearly impossible to damage the manifold in the areas of those four bolts.
Regards, Norm

blonzz · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 56 Location: AZ Desert

Quote: ...will say that you had a first class operation going until you started getting carried away with all the usless aftermarket shit that that draws the eye away from the beauty of the car itself.

Hello Norm,

Killjoy! :lol:

Everyone has their own opinion in taste. At least I am not puting a wing on the trunk and blue neon lights along the frame!

Quote: When I put it on the second time I left out the four bolts and epoxied dummy bolts in the holes. I ran it for 12 years and no one knew but me.

Were the dummy bolts epoxied in place because of potential leaks or just for apperance reasons?

Thanks for the usefull information in your response at least,
John

88 Coupe · Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 3:38 am Post subject:

Turbocharged400sbc wrote: Performer RPM's totally different than performer Hi Turbocharged400sbc, hello all
You might be interest in knowing about the heads in the above link: They aren't intake manifolds.
You should also be aware that Chev V8s are very different from Olds V8s.
Regards, Norm

88 Coupe · Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 4:01 am Post subject:

Hi blonzz, hello all Quote: Killjoy! I believe in giving a straight answer to a question. I also do not give an answer unless I know it to be fact.
I've been trying to think of the most diplomatic way to say it since I saw the pix of your under dash gauges. Quote: Were the dummy bolts epoxied in place because of potential leaks or just for apperance reasons? It looked undone without bolts in the holes. They are blind holes and cannot leak.
Regards, Norm

TheDarkShadow · Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 113 Location: Virginia Beach, VA

blonzz wrote:

I am also planning on switching from the Performer intake to the Torker.

Thanks,
John

Are you going to be selling your performer intake? its for a 455 right? cuz im in the market for one. *gotta replace the toronado low rise intake :P and i figured what the hell just slap on an edelbrock on it since its gonna have an edelbrock carb.

Lemme know

blonzz · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 56 Location: AZ Desert

88 Coupe wrote: Turbocharged400sbc wrote: Performer RPM's totally different than performer Hi Turbocharged400sbc, hello all
You might be interest in knowing about the heads in the above link:
They aren't intake manifolds.
You should also be aware that Chev V8s are very different from Olds V8s.
Regards, Norm

Hello Norm,

Turbocharged400sbc asked

Quote: ...double check that the Performer heads do not have the crosover as my E brock catalog lists them as CARB approved-meaning they are oem emissions compatible- the pic in my catalog doesnt show the intake face so i cant tell wether it has the crossovers or not-double check!

I know you already answered that in your first post.

Quote: Wait: I just realized you have edelbrock heads and its already been done for you.

Since my car isn't available for checking at the moment
I just posted I picture captured from the Edelbrock site.

Cylinder Heads for Oldsmobile

Performer RPM Olds

I am not that familier with heads, Aren't these Oldsmobile heads?

Quote: Hello Norm,

Killjoy! :lol:

I hope I didn't offend you. That's why I inserted the laugh out loud emoticon.

Eveyone has an opinion and you were giving me yours.

I always appreciate the information you supply to my questions.

Regards,
John

blonzz · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 56 Location: AZ Desert

TheDarkShadow wrote: blonzz wrote:

I am also planning on switching from the Performer intake to the Torker.

Thanks,
John

Are you going to be selling your performer intake? its for a 455 right? cuz im in the market for one. *gotta replace the toronado low rise intake :P and i figured what the hell just slap on an edelbrock on it since its gonna have an edelbrock carb.

Lemme know

It's possible but it won't be for a few weeks. I'll let you know.

Thanks,
John

Turbocharged400sbc · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 318

Yeah I know the differences between the chevy and Olds engines, I was just pointing out the fact that I have seen several setups where people have left out the center two bolts on either side and not had any problems.
The picture of the olds head does look like it is an olds head-4 head bolts per cylinder and the valve cover pattern looks right and it isnt a pontiac head because the outer two exhaust ports are at the ends of the head on the pontiac.
doesnt matter anyway cause if the heads do or dont have the heat riser/crossover it wont matter as your new intake wont have it so regardless it doesnt matter.
hope you get your correct intake soon,- dontcha hate it when you got wrenchin planned for the weekend and something dont work out like planned!
so i take it you havent yanked the head off to see if the head gasket was nicked?
I'm kinda glad that your not doing a "Gold class" all the chalkmarks are there, resto of your car and I must say that it is a real sweet ride! muscle cars are an extension of their owner and beg to be modified--not to mention Driven!!

Schlim

88 Coupe · Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 11:57 pm Post subject:

Hi Blonzz, Turbocharged400sbc, hello All

This is an Olds head.

It is the only Edelbrock head made for Oldsmobile. It is called a performer RPM. If it had a provision for manifold heat, I would have not stated that it did not.
I do not like attempts to correct facts unless solid supporting evidence is presented for an update.
Other that that my mind is much more open than most.
Quote: I hope I didn't offend you. Eveyone has an opinion and you were giving me yours. See my above rant.
In your case all I saw was your honest answer to my opinion which is as it should be.
My above posts directed at Turbocharged400sbc (who was injecting a little confusion into the subject) probably didn't help your perception. :lol:
I aways appreciate others opinions as long as they are not presented as fact. Quote: I always appreciate the information you supply to my questions. Thank you, I try to help in the areas I Know and stay quiet in all others.

Now, to update the subject: Since the AMC manifold is on its way back, you might consider taking advantage of the situation to change from the Torker to a performer RPM intake as it is the one Edelbrock designed to work in concert with the RPM cam and RPM heads in the RPM package.

A friend just sent this to me. This from April of '92. It's my first 11 sec. pass in my Grey Coupe.
Regards, Norm