Is there any advantage in buying an older casting vs. a new one, assuming no stripped threads or previous porting?
I doubt it. But I have a Stealth on my Maverick and it looks different from that. Doesn't have 4 individual holes. Just a divider in the center...
Hopefully Stu the used manifold is less expensive then a new one . TeeEl is correct, the newer Stealth manifolds have an open plenum with a divider. The fixed four hole used manifold limits the type of spacer you can use under the carburetor. No big deal unless you are into racing.
Mine is different than the one you and Hotrock show. It must be a in between design. It has the rear water cross over and provisions for 2 fittings like the one you have pictured, and the split plenum. This design allows the heater core hose to route to the rear of the manifold instead of behind the thermostat and the temperature sending switch can be moved to the rear or a temp switch for a fan controller. I believe all the new castings look like the one Hotrock has posted. Either way, I think the Stealth is one of the best manifolds for mid to mild small blocks.
The one in the picture has a four hole carb gasket I think, But in all my milling around on the web, I also stumbled across this: https://www.pesunstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=651403 I dont know how they beat Summit by over 100 dollars. I am gonna have to look into this a bit more.
I think some of their pricings may be a bit off... or at least they forgot to move over the decimal place on a few things lol https://www.pesunstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=651490
I tend to default to old parts all things being equal. (I've been running an original Torker on my car) The block lettering is just 70s cool.
