Edelbrock Scorpion & Tarantula Manifolds

brian schuetta · 05-02-2022, 07:45 PM

Recently ran across these intakes at a swap meet. Never used them back in the 70s, had a Victor Jr. What were these used for and what were they effective on? The Scorpion had a breather tube between the carb and distributor, was that original? Thanks.

L.Fite · 05-02-2022, 08:59 PM

Those were the go to manifolds in the 70s.

I had a square port Tarantula on a 427 in the early 80s.
Ran 11.60s in '67 Camaro, street legal car w/mufflers, 3250#, 10.5W tire, 4.88 rear, TH400 w/3500 stall, hydraulic cam, 750 Holley

Saw a lot of Scorpions on SBC back then.

I seem to remember seeing the breather tubes blocked with a freeze plug on some intakes that had that.
They pre-dated the Victor series stuff.

That was a long time ago...

Mark Yacavone · 05-02-2022, 09:12 PM

In 1972, most guys with SBC's started with an out of the box TM1 (Tarantula)
That is unless your name was Lingenfelter ;-)
The Torker that followed worked on some small inch auto combos. Never worked any better for me ,with a stick car.

brian schuetta · 05-03-2022, 07:21 PM

So the TM 1 is a Tarnatula? I remember seeing a manifold with the spider cast in the front. I also saw the TM 1 manifold. Both of these manifolds seem to have less plenum volume than the newer intakes, what was the intended application? High rpm? Would they work with engines running 5000 to 5500 rpm?

pmrphil · 05-04-2022, 08:52 AM

For a street car, yes.

Leon Rennebaum · 05-04-2022, 09:15 AM

Had a TM1 on my 56 150, 327/365HP. Ran great once you got past 4500 RPM’s. The only thing that saved this combo for the street was the addition of a Skip Asay plenum divider. And had I taken the magazine article seriously about securing the bottom of the plenum divider plate so that it wouldn’t vibrate, the retaining ear of the plate wouldn’t have broken off and taken out a cylinder!

05-02-2022, 07:45 PM	#1
brian schuetta Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: san antonio tx Posts: 255 Likes: 5 Liked 28 Times in 15 Posts	Edelbrock Scorpion & Tarantula Manifolds Recently ran across these intakes at a swap meet. Never used them back in the 70s, had a Victor Jr. What were these used for and what were they effective on? The Scorpion had a breather tube between the carb and distributor, was that original? Thanks.

05-02-2022, 08:59 PM	#2
L.Fite Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 389 Likes: 390 Liked 352 Times in 176 Posts	Re: Edelbrock Scorpion & Tarantula Manifolds Those were the go to manifolds in the 70s. I had a square port Tarantula on a 427 in the early 80s. Ran 11.60s in '67 Camaro, street legal car w/mufflers, 3250#, 10.5W tire, 4.88 rear, TH400 w/3500 stall, hydraulic cam, 750 Holley Saw a lot of Scorpions on SBC back then. I seem to remember seeing the breather tubes blocked with a freeze plug on some intakes that had that. They pre-dated the Victor series stuff. That was a long time ago...

05-02-2022, 09:12 PM	#3
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,414 Likes: 2,581 Liked 4,447 Times in 1,693 Posts	Re: Edelbrock Scorpion & Tarantula Manifolds In 1972, most guys with SBC's started with an out of the box TM1 (Tarantula) That is unless your name was Lingenfelter ;-) The Torker that followed worked on some small inch auto combos. Never worked any better for me ,with a stick car. __________________ We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for..... Will Rogers

05-03-2022, 07:21 PM	#4
brian schuetta Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: san antonio tx Posts: 255 Likes: 5 Liked 28 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Edelbrock Scorpion & Tarantula Manifolds So the TM 1 is a Tarnatula? I remember seeing a manifold with the spider cast in the front. I also saw the TM 1 manifold. Both of these manifolds seem to have less plenum volume than the newer intakes, what was the intended application? High rpm? Would they work with engines running 5000 to 5500 rpm?

05-04-2022, 08:52 AM	#5
pmrphil Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CT Posts: 383 Likes: 1,254 Liked 247 Times in 106 Posts	Re: Edelbrock Scorpion & Tarantula Manifolds For a street car, yes. __________________ Phil Molski S/C 1623

05-04-2022, 09:15 AM	#6
Leon Rennebaum Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Williamstown, NJ Posts: 31 Likes: 2 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Edelbrock Scorpion & Tarantula Manifolds Had a TM1 on my 56 150, 327/365HP. Ran great once you got past 4500 RPM’s. The only thing that saved this combo for the street was the addition of a Skip Asay plenum divider. And had I taken the magazine article seriously about securing the bottom of the plenum divider plate so that it wouldn’t vibrate, the retaining ear of the plate wouldn’t have broken off and taken out a cylinder!