Hey yall, I have an opportunity to get an Edelbrock F4B intake manifold. Since i've never hear of one before, I figured someone here could tell me about it. All I know is that its an aluminum 4-bbl dual-plane manifold. Thanks
So what was the question? At that price, you very rarely go wrong. It is supposed to be a replica of the old high rise Ford used on Hi-Po 289's. I like the one from Blue Thunder better, but you ain't getting one of those for $0.
It's a single 4-barrel dual-plane they made in the 60's and 70's. Same basic Cobra intake that Shelby put on his 289s, he just had Edelbrock cast the different name in them. I bought one at a yard sale a few years ago for $30, turned around and sold it on ebay for $138! Guys building 60's and 70's nostalgia cars love 'em.
It's a good intake. Don't pass it up because it's old. The previous posts are correct. It is the same intake used on Shelby cars, not the hipo 289 though. That used a typical cast 4v. They are more aggressive than say a Performer. The F4B is more like a Performer RPM. I would bet a dyno challenge between an RPM, F4B, and Stealth, all on the same engine, would end up being WELL with the dyno's margin of error powerwise. Use it. I have, and would again without hesitation.
Its free because it has a chunk cracked off the thermostat opening and I was wondering if it was worth the effort to fix, but it wasn't that bad, I already got it welded up and just have to machine the face flat again.
The F4B is still being sold but now it's back under Ford's name brand as the A321. Great intake. It's comparable to the Performer RPM,(as Dave already pointed out) only difference is it's an "unequal runner length" design where the RPM is an equal length. Weiand's older Stealth was a "mirror image" of these intakes with the runner layout reversed. Another version was the Ford C9OX sold thru the dealer's parts departments in the early 70's. There was a 351W version of it as well.
I have the F4B on a 69 302 in my 73 four speed maverick and it rocks !!!! good intake for torque, won't rev as high as the per.RPM thats on the 76 maverick with a 92 roller eng., but has better throttle response off idle up to 2500/2600 rpm. from there on up the performer rpm IMOP is better.
Had one on my Mav.back in the day,Good lower RPM torque manifold,and everyone knows a 289 or 302 can use all the torque on the street it can get.went to a single plane torqer Edelbrock and lost the low end but was better from 5000 to 7000,like the F4B better for the street.