Hi all,

I have a 383 from a 1959 Merc and it only has a 2 barrel intake manifold. I can get a cheap 4 barrel manifold from a 1959 430 and was wondering if anyone knows if it is a straight bolt up?

Cheers

You'll have to look for an adapter or simply fabricate it yourself. I see no reason why one should swap the 2 barrel for a 4 barrel unless you're going w. a sharper cam. Instead air/fuel velocity will be less efficient and torque will starve.

I think you misunderstood the Question Theo . Yes a 430 4 barrel manifold is a bolt on. My 58 383 is a four barrel from the factory, and they are the same as the 430 . If you did use an adapter on the stock two barrel manifold I could see no advantage, as the runners are smaller on that manifold. The port sizes on the head actually match the four barrel intake,and if you use a carburetor with vacuum opening secondarys, provided it is set up right, the extra volume won't be provided unless the engine can handle it . A 383 is very short stroke and can handle a lot more RPM than given credit for ,depending on engine condition of course .

keithol wrote:I think you misunderstood the Question Theo .

Yes, indeed. My wrong. Sorry. I thought Oversteer was referring to a 4 barrel carb. that he wanted to bolt on a 2 barrel manifold. .
BTW, does anybody have pics of a 2 barrel vs. 4 barrel MEL mainfold carb flange? It's been ages since my last rebuild. Even forgot if it's a single ore dual plane manifold.

Thanks guys,

My carb is stuffed and it will work out cheaper to get a 4 barrel holley carb and the 4 barrel intake from a 430 and bolt it on than to rebuild the carb that is on it.

Thanks again

I would suggest to keep the 2 barrel carb in the shelf. It might be gold to someone else.