Aftermarket intake for 383 with same carb height as stock?

[Piranhaz]

Hi guys. So let me start by saying I have a 1970 Super Bee with Ram Air setup, so I am restricted to keeping the stock height of my intake in order to allow the base to work with the Ram Air. What I currently have is a 1969 intake on my engine, which restricts me from running my Holley carb because of the extra material cast into the intake where the throttle linkage hangs down. So I would like to replace with the proper intake to allow me the use of my Holley carb. That being said, I know I can use a factory 1970 intake (2951666), but was curious if there are any aftermarket intakes out there that have the exact same carb base height as stock. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

 

[Jonas Nordstrom]

The DP4B could work, its just a tad higher than stock. Though you would have to find a used one.

 

[451Mopar]

I had a Weiand Stealth 383 intake back around 1990, and it looked alot like the stock 4-bbl intake, maybe a tad taller?

 

[Piranhaz]

The DP4B could work, its just a tad higher than stock. Though you would have to find a used one.

I think I had seen a thread out here that said it was maybe 3/4" taller, but it was vague. If I went that route, my option would be to use a 440 Ram Air base as it is 1" lower than the 383 base. I don't mind using the stock manifold either but was hoping there was an exact match. I'll do some searching. Swap season is over in MN, but I'm not in a huge hurry either.

 

[Piranhaz]

I had a Weiand Stealth 383 intake back around 1990, and it looked alot like the stock 4-bbl intake, maybe a tad taller?

I can try and do some research on that. Hard to find the actual dimension I am looking for, but worth a look.

 

[451Mopar]

No listing from the manufacturer, but Summit has 9 in stock?
https://www.summitracing.com/search...size/6-3l-383/engine-family/mopar-big-block-b


I guess I was thinking the Action Plus, not the stealth, sorry

helps when I search the correct name:
https://www.holley.com/products/eng...ted_intake_manifolds/dual_plane/parts/8008WND

max height is 4"

 

[Piranhaz]

No listing from the manufacturer, but Summit has 9 in stock?
https://www.summitracing.com/search...size/6-3l-383/engine-family/mopar-big-block-b


I guess I was thinking the Action Plus, not the stealth, sorry

helps when I search the correct name:
https://www.holley.com/products/eng...ted_intake_manifolds/dual_plane/parts/8008WND

max height is 4"

This is a good sign!
"Weiand Nostalgia Series intake manifolds are made using the original tooling, and may have minor appearance imperfections that do not affect the functionality of the part. These minor blemishes are a natural part of the casting process when using the original sand casting tooling."

Might have to give this a try. I wonder where the "max height" is measured from?

 

[toolmanmike]

I think I had seen a thread out here that said it was maybe 3/4" taller, but it was vague. If I went that route, my option would be to use a 440 Ram Air base as it is 1" lower than the 383 base. I don't mind using the stock manifold either but was hoping there was an exact match. I'll do some searching. Swap season is over in MN, but I'm not in a huge hurry either.

But they work with a fresh air hood. (and work well)

 

[PurpleBeeper]

I've been through this, or something similar. You are correct that the 440 ramcharger base will give you and extra 1". BUT, you also have about 1" extra clearance already. The 440 base would give you 2" clearance on a 383.

Anyway... I ran a holley on a stock 440 intake with the same issue you have. All I did was machine off the side of the intake, just below the carburetor mount, about 1/8" and ground down "something" (can't remember) on one of the carburetor stops or something (?). It doesn't take much grinding and that holley will sit right down on a stock intake and work just fine.

 

[Piranhaz]

I've been through this, or something similar. You are correct that the 440 ramcharger base will give you and extra 1". BUT, you also have about 1" extra clearance already. The 440 base would give you 2" clearance on a 383.

Anyway... I ran a holley on a stock 440 intake with the same issue you have. All I did was machine off the side of the intake, just below the carburetor mount, about 1/8" and ground down "something" (can't remember) on one of the carburetor stops or something (?). It doesn't take much grinding and that holley will sit right down on a stock intake and work just fine.

I thought about doing that, but I hate to mess with a stock manifold that someone might use on a stock restoration.

I guess what I meant was there is a 1" difference between the 383 and 440 base, so if I ran the 3/4" taller intake with the 383 base, it won't work. If I ran the 440 base, it would actually sit 1/4" lower than the stock 383 setup, but I could make that up with a spacer.

 

[4mulas]

I thought about doing that, but I hate to mess with a stock manifold that someone might use on a stock restoration.

I guess what I meant was there is a 1" difference between the 383 and 440 base, so if I ran the 3/4" taller intake with the 383 base, it won't work. If I ran the 440 base, it would actually sit 1/4" lower than the stock 383 setup, but I could make that up with a spacer.

Yes you are correct. I did think though, that 440 ramcharger base was only3/4” lower than the 383 one as the deck height of the 440 is 3/4” higher than that of the B motors.

Regardless, you are on the right track. Another excellent performing manifold for the 383 without height gain is the Holley street dominator. You can use that to: gain performance, gain use of your Holley carb, retain use of your ramcharger…

I think the Holley street dominator is 1/4” roller at the front and 3/8” taller at the rear over the dp4b. So if the dp4b is a ‘tad’ taller than the the stock one the holley the 440 base for the ramcharger will be just perfect to make it all work.

It would be nice if someone can provide height over deck measurements for the stock 69 intake

Hot rod magazine did a 383 intake shoot out that has all the heights listed of the ones tested.
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/hrdp-0712-mopar-intake-manifold-comparo/
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/hrdp-0801-mopar-intake-manifolds/

 

[Piranhaz]

Yes you are correct. I did think though, that 440 ramcharger base was only3/4” lower than the 383 one as the deck height of the 440 is 3/4” higher than that of the B motors.

Regardless, you are on the right track. Another excellent performing manifold for the 383 without height gain is the Holley street dominator. You can use that to: gain performance, gain use of your Holley carb, retain use of your ramcharger…

I think the Holley street dominator is 1/4” roller at the front and 3/8” taller at the rear over the dp4b. So if the dp4b is a ‘tad’ taller than the the stock one the holley the 440 base for the ramcharger will be just perfect to make it all work.

It would be nice if someone can provide height over deck measurements for the stock 69 intake

Hot rod magazine did a 383 intake shoot out that has all the heights listed of the ones tested.
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/hrdp-0712-mopar-intake-manifold-comparo/
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/hrdp-0801-mopar-intake-manifolds/

I am just kind of going by research I found online. I should just measure them. I have one of each.
I had read those articles too, they just never compare stock height. Wish I could find that measurement, or where they are actually measuring to?

 

[4mulas]

I am just kind of going by research I found online. I should just measure them. I have one of each.
I had read those articles too, they just never compare stock height. Wish I could find that measurement, or where they are actually measuring to?

View attachment 1180030

I think you want to measure from the air horn to where the base of the filter rests, as the filter and lid are the same on each. In that picture the 440 one may be resting on the edge and not the air horn, not sure, but if you have both you’re good to go!

 

[Piranhaz]

I think you want to measure from the air horn to where the base of the filter rests, as the filter and lid are the same on each. In that picture the 440 one may be resting on the edge and not the air horn, not sure, but if you have both you’re good to go!

Good point. I shouldn't always rely on a picture I found online! I will try and get some measurements this weekend to verify.

 

[Rusty knuckles]

Yes you are correct. I did think though, that 440 ramcharger base was only3/4” lower than the 383 one as the deck height of the 440 is 3/4” higher than that of the B motors.

Regardless, you are on the right track. Another excellent performing manifold for the 383 without height gain is the Holley street dominator. You can use that to: gain performance, gain use of your Holley carb, retain use of your ramcharger…

I think the Holley street dominator is 1/4” roller at the front and 3/8” taller at the rear over the dp4b. So if the dp4b is a ‘tad’ taller than the the stock one the holley the 440 base for the ramcharger will be just perfect to make it all work.

It would be nice if someone can provide height over deck measurements for the stock 69 intake

Hot rod magazine did a 383 intake shoot out that has all the heights listed of the ones tested.
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/hrdp-0712-mopar-intake-manifold-comparo/
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/hrdp-0801-mopar-intake-manifolds/

I've read through those article's 50 times but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to measure 351/48 front and 411/42 rear height. What do those numbers even mean?

 

[Piranhaz]

I think you want to measure from the air horn to where the base of the filter rests, as the filter and lid are the same on each. In that picture the 440 one may be resting on the edge and not the air horn, not sure, but if you have both you’re good to go!

OK, so it was gonna bug the heck outa me if I didn't go out and measure. I measured from where the base sits on the carb to where the air filter sits on the base. You were correct. It's 3/4" difference. Not sure how that guy got 1" on his picture.
So at least now I know the actual difference between the two

 

[4mulas]

I've read through those article's 50 times but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to measure 351/48 front and 411/42 rear height. What do those numbers even mean?

Haha, I feel your pain. It took me a while to figure out wtf was going too.

So351/48 equals 3 5/8”. Every time you see in that article 1/4 in between all those numbers just take that as this / symbol. Does that make sense? Example: 931/44 = 9 3/4”. Just omit 1/4 and replace with /. The computer must have had a glitch and they didn’t proof the article…

The measurement would be as if you laid a long straight edge across the intake carb mounting surface from front to back and then measure the distance from the bottom of the straight edge to the valley pan hold down mounting surface…

 

[Piranhaz]

The measurement would be as if you laid a long straight edge across the intake carb mounting surface from front to back and then measure the distance from the bottom of the straight edge to the valley pan hold down mounting surface…

Ahhhh, OK. I can just pull the carb and get the stock measurement then to see where we land. I appreciate all the help. Hopefully I can get it all to work properly!

 

[Rusty knuckles]

Haha, I feel your pain. It took me a while to figure out wtf was going too.

So351/48 equals 3 5/8”. Every time you see in that article 1/4 in between all those numbers just take that as this / symbol. Does that make sense? Example: 931/44 = 9 3/4”. Just omit 1/4 and replace with /. The computer must have had a glitch and they didn’t proof the article…

The measurement would be as if you laid a long straight edge across the intake carb mounting surface from front to back and then measure the distance from the bottom of the straight edge to the valley pan hold down mounting surface…

Thank you!

 

[4mulas]

Ahhhh, OK. I can just pull the carb and get the stock measurement then to see where we land. I appreciate all the help. Hopefully I can get it all to work properly!

Please report back with stock measurements front and rear. This will save me some time too.. thanks