3844461 substitute manifold

[Ed P.]

Fellow club members 66 vette 350 block with the double hump heads and a 3844461 intake that is cracked and has several holes in water passage. Repairs and recoat quoted about $400. Is it viable to replace this with a cast iron manifold. I think it would be a 3872783 which is a lot cheaper. Thanks Ed

[Duke W.]

Re: 3844461 substitute manifold

Any vintage SB manifold will work, but it will take a full deduction - same as an aftermarket manifold, so if you don't want to pay the going price for a serviceable 461, you might as well look at some aftermarket replacements like the Edelbrock Performer, although an aftermaket manifold may take a bigger hit due to necessary other changes to nearby associated parts to get everything integrated together.

Duke

[Michael F.]

Re: 3844461 substitute manifold

You can find excellent 461 manifolds regularly on Ebay in the $300-$400 range.

[Ed P.]

Re: 3844461 substitute manifold

Well I want to keep the looks somewhat original and I can pic up a cast iron unit 3872783 that is real nice for $125. I think with that I would not have to change anything. Ed

[John H.]

Re: 3844461 substitute manifold

Well I want to keep the looks somewhat original and I can pic up a cast iron unit 3872783 that is real nice for $125. I think with that I would not have to change anything. Ed

Ed -

If you use the 783 iron intake, you'll also need a new crankcase vent pipe from the back of the block to the base of the air cleaner, and another pump-to-carb fuel line; all because the carb mounting pad on the 461 intake is higher than the one on the 783 (depending on what carburetor you have - you didn't mention that).

You'll also need to cap off the bypass fitting on the top of the water pump - the 783 intake doesn't use a bypass.

783 intakes usually go for $50 - $75.

[Michael F.]

Re: 3844461 substitute manifold

Well I want to keep the looks somewhat original and I can pic up a cast iron unit 3872783 that is real nice for $125. I think with that I would not have to change anything. Ed

Why go with a heavier,lower performance intake that will require numerous mods to retrofit, when you can pick up a correct used one for a couple hundred more?
After you do the mods, the price difference will be negligable.

Heres a link. Theres only one now. Keep an eye out. Theres usually more than 1 listed. I picked mine for about $300.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1964-1965-CORVETTE-ALUM-INTAKE-MANIFOLD-461-SHOW-COND-/130573966732?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e66d09d8c

[Cecil L.]

Re: 3844461 substitute manifold

Shouldn't you be looking for a 490 intake? 461 should be correct for 64-65.

[Ed P.]

Re: 3844461 substitute manifold

Your right but this car has so many things that are not right anyway I thought going to a cast iron may be cheaper. NOT Will probably have mine repaired by Jerry Mcneish enless I find a better one at Carlisle this weekend. Thanks For the info. Ed

[Joe L.]

Re: 3844461 substitute manifold

Your right but this car has so many things that are not right anyway I thought going to a cast iron may be cheaper. NOT Will probably have mine repaired by Jerry Mcneish enless I find a better one at Carlisle this weekend. Thanks For the info. Ed

Ed------


Getting it repaired, if it can be done, is probably the way to go.

As far as using the cast iron manifold, it's not going to look, at all, like the aluminum '461' you have. I mean, the extent of their similarity is that they're both small block manifolds---that's it.

In my opinion, an Edelbrock Performer appears more like the '461' than the stock cast iron manifold. In fact, for a car that's essentially incorrect in many ways, the Edlebrock Performer is a good choice. The only problem for you is that you'd need to have the oil fill tube orifice machined in the manifold unless you find an older Performer that still had the orifice.