Carburetor Manifold Recomendations

[95ImpySS]

So I'm weighing my options on building another LT1 for my 74 Nova. I plan to go high compression, 383 with a carburetor and hefty shot of N2O. I'm curious as to what some of you run on your carbed LT1's. Is it better to convert over a older SBC intake to fit the LT1 heads or is there a really good intake that will just drop in? I know GMPP makes one but there has to be more.

Enlighten me LTxTech'ers

[MeanTA]

Don't know your ultimate goal with this motor....

But only real option you have is to convert a gen1 single plain over. judging by wanting high comp and NO2. your wanting a single plain.

the LT1 intake is good for a mild motor at best.

ow and there is no other drop in intake made for us

[Bersaglieri]

Gonna have to convert a Gen1 intake, unless you want to use the GMPP dual plane. But choosing the intake depends on many other things; heads, rpm range, camshaft, stall speed, weight, etc. All those things must work together.

Give us more info.

[95ImpySS]

Gotcha. This is a faaaar off in the future build. I'm still recovering from my over budget 355 build. Plan was to build a twin turbo 383, but I ended up selling most of the easy to sell parts. I hopped that there would be more options :/ Aint nothing easy with an LT1 LOL

Been trying to sell my Nova but without an engine, its not going very well. Thus my itch to build an engine with the remaining parts I have. Have some fun, then sell the car.
I have a block, billet 4 bolt mains with studs, 4340, stroker crank & rods and car ready to run minus engine. Friend is selling a new set of P&P LT1 heads, with bigger valves etc. From the specs he gave me they are comparable to LE3's. Ported by a decent "Mustang" shop down in FL. It's all up in the air. There is no HP/TQ goal. Find a set of heads, decide on cam and comp ratio, then build up from there.

I guess I'l resurrect this thread after I find/decide on a set of heads, and have a cam speced out for them. Intake comes later

[Bersaglieri]

Approximate camshaft size or RPM range? Try to nail down a few goals of the motor, even an RPM range, and that'll get things rolling. Regardless this sounds like a budget/make do with what you've got build and for that reason I'd say go with the GMPP dual plane. If I remember correctly it's good for 1500-6500rpm range, maybe a little more ported. It's going to simplify the build, save you money, and get you back on the road and into tuning and setting up the car for the shootout, street fun, or whatever.

The only time I'd get real technical with selecting a Gen1 intake to converter would be an all out build. For something like this, just to get the car going and have some fun, I'd run the GMPP one. Plus if you're planning on selling later, why spend money on a converted intake that you likely won't get 1/2 back of what you put into it.

You probably already know I and many other are going to be skeptical of the 'decent mustang shop' heads. LE3's aren't chopped liver, Lloyd has spend alot of time fine tuning his port work on LT1 heads. I suspect the numbers on these FL heads are probably closer to LE1 specs on Lloyd's bench. But, you never know. Again no use in spending big money on parts you're going to sell with a car for way less.

[95ImpySS]

You probably already know I and many other are going to be skeptical of the 'decent mustang shop' heads. LE3's aren't chopped liver, Lloyd has spend alot of time fine tuning his port work on LT1 heads. I suspect the numbers on these FL heads are probably closer to LE1 specs on Lloyd's bench. But, you never know. Again no use in spending big money on parts you're going to sell with a car for way less.

I have a set of LE2's on my car now. Definitely not chopped liver, a McDouble maybe. The heads in question could be heaps. I haven't seen em. Good chance I never will. All depends on what my pay checks look like after tax season. Your last sentence nails it for me. I started toying with the idea of tossing in a junkyard engine just to have it move under its own power. but knowing me, I'd have to cam it, clean up the heads, 3 angle valve job etc. My mild Impala build went over budget about 3 times. I just can't leave it stock lol.

I appreciated your input. 6500 or less would be a good limit. I'd stay hyd roller (keep costs down) so that would deff keep it under 6500. No plans to add a hydra rev kit. Figured with a stout bottom end, spray it to the moon (with in reason )