I Made an Engine Part !

[Aubrey N Bruneau]

Before anybody gets mad... this isn't intended as a promo...
Nobody here is silly enough to have a 348 / 409 anyhow !
Nope,
I just wanted to share the results of what took 5 years, utterly countless hours, and all the money that will ever be in my life...
To me, Stock and especially Super Stock engine guys, will appreciate and "get" this, better than most.
It's an intake manifold. No, not a one-off, custom sheet metal piece.
It's a fully finished casting, made from a multitude of drawings I did, which were translated into a pattern / mould, then cast at a foundry, then I machine them in my shop.

Yes, of course, they're for 348 and 409 only.
Single 4 barrel, single plane ( has never been one ), isolated plenum design.
A little unique in a few regards. The plenum chamber, in hind sight, is a bit like a more consevative version of a "Merlin" for BBC.
Anyhow, Here's a couple pictures of it installed on the engine in my station wagon.
The engine itself, is a second time re-ring of an all standard size1963 425HP short block. Heads are aggressively ported "333" truck parts with 2.06" / 1.735" valves". Actual comp ratio is 10.4:1. Cam is my own specs, solid flat tappet, made by Comp... .565" / .578" net lift at the valve, 242 / 246 dur @ .050", 272 / 276 seat duration, 108 C/L.
Used a set of Belanger design headers, made by Wilso Header Manufacturing... 1 7/8" tube, 36" length.
This is the "6000" ( small port version ).

[Marty Knox]

Congratulations, Aubrey! It's a great feeling to accomplish something like that!

[Greg Reimer 7376]

That's outstanding. I may have seen a 409 once in my life, and that intake looks so at home on top of that engine. Great job!!

[TOSTO RACING]

looks great!!

[Aubrey N Bruneau]

Thank YOU, guys... I thought stuff like this would be of interest here.

I first installed it on the car, and road tested it. Was cool outside, and I had no thermostat, so the engine was cooler than it liked. It DID exhibit some low-mid range part throttle "stumble". I didn't like that.
I can tell you this... after about 3300 RPM, it seemed that the stumble may have been looked after


Anyhow, I have since installed a proper 160 degree thermostat. ALL good now. It was simply important to have this "no heat" open plenum manifold with a little temperature in it !

However, in the inbetween time, we went to the dyno in Lacombe, Alberta, to ARL Automotive. Dyno was done by Dave, Allyn Lee's partner.
We tested a stock 409 intake, an Edelbrock Performer RPM, and my "Speed-Port 6000",
all using the same 750 CFM Quick Fuel Carburetor.
Didn't come out exactly how either of us expected. Unusual results really.
I have charts and graphs from the session, that document everything... A/F ratio , BSFC , air flow , along with a final comparison graph.

[Billy Nees]

True Hot Rodding is alive and well! Good job!

[Kenny Wigington]

Now THAT, is Cool ! Good job !

[CFMCNC]

Innovation,Nice job Aubrey.Bill C.

[Aubrey N Bruneau]

II'd like to post a few charts... I KNOW you guys like numbers !

I need to find them, and get them re-sized

[ALMACK]

Well done Aubrey !

Looks great.