I agree on the warm-up issue. If you are running enough cam, compression etc for that manifold, heat is NOT an issue. I am at operating temp within 2 minutes of start-up and drive time. It is a GREAT price for a great looking manifold. I am close to buying it also!
Personally, I don't think the looks factor is worth using epoxy in a manifold desinged for racing to tone it down for the street. It is a fabulous looking intake and the price is hysterically low. BUT, the intake setup you have is just right for the street. You could get a polished Edelbrock Perfromer RPM AirGap and have the looks and more practicality. Yeah, I know, that costs a lot more than what you can get the Funnelweb for. Just save your money a little longer. If it were me, I would use the money to buy a little bit more cam to get the maximum use out of the heads and the gears you have. You could go to the XE284 and have more thump on the street and still have the driveability because of the 5-speed. Do not interpret this as saying you are wrong in what you want to do, but rather the offering of a more practical alternative that I think you would be happier with. After all you can have go or you can have show for your dollars. To have both, costs twice.
The XE284 is a flat tappet cam, I'm running a roller. Makes for a big difference, more area under the valve lift curve compared to a flat tappet. Up until this past winter I had a much bigger cam in the motor, didn't like the low rpm manners. Cruising down the highway at 55 mph in 5th gear the engine is only turning 1700 rpm, not ideal with a big duration cam whose power band doesn't start until 2500 rpm. The XE266HR pulls hard to 6000+ rpm and I can shift into OD at only 40 mph.
I pulled that XE284 from memory (not necessarily a good thing for a 50-year old to do). If your setup is running that good, what change it? I may have been jumping the gun, so I'll ask now. Do you have experience with putting epoxy in manifolds to reduce the flow and do it uniformily? I'm not asking to be a smart butt; I'd like to be acquainted with someone whos dem skills.
The car is running very good. Comp Cam's Camquest program helped me choose the XE266HR, I just had to be really honest about how I actually use the car. I have epoxied intakes to raise plenum floors and match ports, but never to reduce flow before. Was strictly looking to have something unusual under the hood. Guess I'll leave well enough alone, for now. Too many other important items that need attention.
those are copy cat funnel-web intakes...the real parker funnelweb are made in Australia with precise floor plenum dividers and need extra hood clearance(no carb spacers are needed with the clover leaf design and height)...Done alot of reading/lurking on other sites...but a very good deal,especially for some one that has the tools and means to port and polish and check on a flow bench...
could be the real deal at a big discount !!!!! Have seen that design cast with other names on them on ebay also... and stories of poor casting quality/problems...
did a search on that site and a lot of info on the Chinese funnelweb and yes there is a copy of the original funnelweb on ebay...
that site is a ALL small block Ford only site and they give you hard facts...highly recomended for those who want the best knowledge...met up with one of the moderators at the track and talked quite a bit...I thing I can really say is they know thier stuff and with good info it only betters the breed !!!!! so check it out and do a search on the funnelweb...-mel-
