FIRST LOOK!-NEW IDF MANIFOLD

[ventura ace]

I concur with Denise. The Waffle manifold has large generous radiused inner passages. Don't let the flat outer shape fool you. Material is aluminum, same as the cylinder head and the carburetors, so no issues with differential thermal expansion or galvanic action from dissimilar materials. It was the benefit (detriment??) of internal water passageways to assist control of inlet air temperature. It is a fine manifold in my opinion. My only complaint is that it's shape interferes with the stock block-mounted distributor, and that's a minor complaint.

These new steel intake headers have an attractive simple look to them. I'll be interested to see how they look in the engine bay and how they perform. I do like options that unclutter the engine bay.

Alvon

[So Cal Mark]

the problem with making new cast aluminum manifolds is cost and quantity. I doubt that there is a market for thousands of them. Our new steel manifold is almost 1lb lighter than the waffle.

[stefhahn]

Mark,

this manifold looks really great - as your upgraded website does, wow!
Looking forward for the other parts you announced round here...

ciao,
Stefan

[So Cal Mark]

soon, soon! If it weren't for these darn holidays slowing down the process they'd be on the shelves

[manoa matt]

Great website Mark. Nice manifold too, why the 4 brake booster ports? Is it so much of a performance upgrade that you need a booster for each caliper?

I can't wait for you to be the distributor of that new distributor.

[So Cal Mark]

I didn't like drawing booster vacuum from one cylinder, so we added 4 ports. They can be linked together, used for other vacuum needs or plugged. OR, used for a nitrous fitting if so desired

[spiderrey]

Alvon, I dont understand the concern with dissimaler metals? The aluminum head is bolted to an iron block and exhaust manifold? Also Im sure I read somewhere that Croft said the biggest problem with idf,s is the radidical turn the air has to make in the manifold, and I think i was told this one was made to have a more gradual turn. I just wish it came straight out the side of the head and wasnt angled back. Thats only me though.

[So Cal Mark]

my new manifold angles back less than the other aftermarket manifolds and the 4 runners are the same length, unlike some of the others out there. The dissimilar metal concern is unfounded in this case. After all, are you using aluminum bolts everywhere on your engine where the bolts thread into aluminum? The dissimilar metal situation is more of a concern with coolant involved, since electrolysis can erode the aluminum. That situation is pretty easily rectified with proper maintenance.

[ventura ace]

Let me clarify that I don't have any information that would allow me to comment on the performance of the new design being offered by Mark. My comments were merely to express my viewpoint regarding negative points made about the aluminum waffle manifold. The aluminum waffle manifold is a great manifold, and if it were possible to produce at a reasonable cost, Mark would probably consider it (my opinion). Mark made a good point that the cost involved with producing more aluminum castings for relatively small quantities is prohibitive.

The performance of the new manifold will bear out once there have been a few units put on engines and tested for a reasonable time. Maybe this has already been done -- I don't know.

A

[So Cal Mark]

I've looked at so many aluminum intakes at this point, that my memory could be fuzzy. I'll restate my comments about the intakes. MOST of the cast manifolds we studied had sharp bends below the carbs rather than a rounded port. Those designs will cause poor fuel/air mixtures as the fuel drops out of the airstream when it hits a sharp angle.
We've rounded up several dual carb manifolds from different sources over the past 2 years, and haven't been impressed with them. Hence, the unit we're producing now. Since new waffle manifolds aren't being produced, this is our solution and I think it's an improvement.
If we want to produce 10,000 cast manifolds, several different Chinese mfgs would take the project. Our manifold is made locally in So Cal and has the flexibility of customization. Want more or fewer vacuum ports? Nos ports? Whatever the demands, we can accomodate your needs.

[scarlson]

The manifold looks good. I want one

What advantage is there to linking the brake booster to all four ports, faster vacuum pulldown? Isn't the waffle manifold connected only to cylinder four? Would there be any cross flow between cylinders and would that affect the fuel mixture?

NOS ports for a wet system sound like fun but how much power can be added before a stock 1800 bottom end self destructs? Maybe forged pistons would help?

[spiderrey]

One dissadvantage to manifolds like the waffle the only pull vacume from one intake runner is less avaiable vacume to the booster. There by lessening its effectivness.

[So Cal Mark]

here are a couple of updated pics with the carbs mounted;

[maytag]

Mark:
that sure looks yummy....

I notice you've got one on Ebay right now.
Do you eventually plan to sell it in kit form with carbs, like some of the other vendors do?

[So Cal Mark]

yes, as soon as we get the linkage kit to sync the carbs worked out. Right now they are hard to come by and pricey. As soon as we get our own kit sorted out we'll offer the complete setup ready to bolt on.