Best intake for a 4 Barrel Carb

[Dirka]

Hi guys, first let me thank everyone for the help with the stalling problems I had posted and the valve adjusting. We have determined that the heads need some work and possibly rebuilt, so with the cost of that starting in the $300 range at a local recommened machine shop I'm going out and getting a complete 400sbc for $400. Now my question is this...
The 305 I am swapping out had a Edelbrock 600 (#1406) 4 barrel carb. The 400sbc motor I found has a 2 barrel on it, so I will need to replace the intake manifold obviously to use the carb that I have from the 305?
Using the, what i assume are the stock heads on the 400, which intake is the best to get? Or should I just upgrade both the intake and heads at the same time?
This truck isn't a mudder, has a rebuilt TH350 tranny w/ torque converter (specs on converter I do not know), its an auto, 4wd, and will be used as my winter driver.

[Fairlane514]

The Edelbrock Performer or Performer RPM are nice intakes....Summit even makes their own version of it.  Air Gap by Edelbrock is the next step up. As for heads I would identify what you have, and then consider some porting, pocket, valve job on them vs. a new set of heads out of the box.

Good exhaust components are very helpful as well.

[Dirka]

What are your thoughts on the performer air-gap intakes edelbrock makes? And is it better to go with an off idel-5500 intake or 1500-5500 intake? And what exactly does that mean, the power not fully enganging until 1500rpm?

[78 Chevyrado]

I wouldn't get an Air-gap intake for a WINTER driver, it will make it slow to warm up and have drivability problems in cold weather until fully warmed up. 


Pick the intake manifolds RPM-Range to match the camshafts.  if you have a stock camshaft or one that says idle-up or is an rv cam get the idle-5500 intake. 

if you have too big an intake it'll make it a dog off idle.

Just match everything up to work together or it won't preform to its ability.  Match the work you do to the heads and the intake to the camshaft.  the camshaft is your starting point.  pick camshaft first, then heads, then the intake.

[DustyRusty]

I'm not all that familiar with the 305 but why wouldn't the 4-barrel intake from it work on the 400?  Are the intake/exhaust runners different? 

[Fairlane514]

Camshaft choice will determine some things, I agree the Air Gap would probably be temperamental in cold weather.

Also remember, if you have a large camshaft you may also need a higher stall torque converter. 

I'm thinking for your application you want low end torque that comes in soon (1500 rpm), so the motor will be "done" at 5500-5800.   

The 305 intake is low performance probably small runners that won't match a decent cylinder head, so it would require some work.

[Dirka]

Good info, I didn't even think about the cold weather affecting performance and driveability.
Dusty, the 400 has only a 2-barrel on it, so I didn't think I could just put the 4-barrel carb on the 400 sbc without upgrading the intake manifold. I could be completely wrong on this though.
Speaking of the camshaft's, the 305 I'm getting rid of has, what the seller called, a mild cam (I've heard that is was prolly just an RV cam, but I do not for know 100%) I would like to put that in the 400 since it's new(er), again no problems with fitment as long as getting the heads, and intake to match up with the specs and performance of camshaft?
At any rate I appear to have a lot of casting # and part # searching to do once I have the motor in possesion and the 305 torn down. 

[jaredts]

What's wrong with the intake from the 305?

[timthescarrd]

You can replace the intake manifold on the 400 with the manifold from the 305, but if its a stock manifold its going to be very restrictive