BritishV8 Forum

General Category => Engine, Transmission, & Rear Axle assy. => Topic started by: David on September 13, 2009, 04:10:12 PM

Title: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: David on September 13, 2009, 04:10:12 PM
Hello all,  I  took a look on this site and found willpower and wildcat intake manifolds, but wasnt able to find where to get them.  Does anybody have a webpage or phone #.  Or know where to look for a used single plane carby manifold for the early rover V8.  I was told by a friend of mine that torque power might make those?????  I looked on their site and found nothing. Waiting for e-mail back from them.   Any help would be greatly appreciated.     Sincerely,   David             67wickens@sbcglobal.net   213 792-6270
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: castlesid on September 13, 2009, 06:01:32 PM
David,

The manifold you mention was originally made by Huffaker and was effectively copied by Harcourt in Australia and as far as I know they are only available from Wildcat and JE Developments in the UK. but you could try Faxing Harcourt to see if they still actually make them.

Be interested to hear of another source as they are not cheap at £360.00 but obviously cast in small numbers.

Link showing the Harcourt and Wildcat versions.

http://www.btinternet.com/~jon.wolfe/carbs_and_manifolds.htm

kevin.
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: hoffbug on September 13, 2009, 09:52:52 PM
They aint cheap!!!!


Maxwedge performance
10 Jaffa Rd
Dural, New South Wales 2158
Australia
Phone : ‎011 61 2 96513550

ask for Bill Laney...  Remember they are 17 hours ahead of you.. so if you call from LA at 7pm it will be noon the next day where he is at..... you will need to do an International wire transfer from your bank into his....
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: castlesid on September 14, 2009, 04:13:48 AM
Tony,

Maxwedge are apparently the manufacturer of the Willpower intake and a web search came up with a price of $650.00 AUS so not much difference in price although oyu exchange rate might be more helpful.

Of the three manifolds, Wildcat, Harcourt or Willpower I don't think there is a lot of difference as they are all based on the original Huffaker as far as I can find out.

Kevin.
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: NixVegaGT on September 14, 2009, 08:13:38 AM
Keep an eye out in Australia. I got mine from Triumph Rover Spares in Adelaide:

http://www.triumphroverspares.com.au/

They just so happened to have one laying around. I got it for $150 but it took $100 to get it to the USA. In hindsight though it was worth it. I stayed up late at night to call them after emailing a couple times. I just saw a pic of it in their part specials section. They could come across them now and again though. Mine had been modified for a spread bore carb. It's a Hardcourt BTW.

Good luck man! Also peep the AU ebay...
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: Dan Jones on September 14, 2009, 06:04:04 PM
> Of the three manifolds, Wildcat, Harcourt or Willpower I don't think
> there is a lot of difference as they are all based on the original
> Huffaker as far as I can find out.

I don't believe that is the case.  I have both a Willpower and a
Huffaker here.  They are different intakes and performed differently
in my flow bench testing.  The Huffaker has Buick 300 sized ports
and requires an external thermostat.  The Willpower has ports
slightly larger than a Rover/Buick 215 and has an integral thermostat.
The Willpower can also be ordered with injector bungs.   The Willpower
is apparently the same as the Wildcat intake, though.

Here's a previous post I made after testing the Huffaker and Willpower
intakes:

After the heads were ported, I spent a little time evaluating a couple of
Rover V8 single plane intake manifolds on Dave McLain's flow bench in Cuba,
Missouri.  I wanted to know which of the intakes would flow best when bolted
to the ported 1964 Buick 300 aluminum heads.  The two intakes tested were a
Huffaker:

 http://www.bacomatic.org/gallery2/v/hidden/dan/dan-cars/album10/album13/Huffaker_front.jpg.html
 http://www.bacomatic.org/gallery2/v/hidden/dan/dan-cars/album10/album13/Huffaker_side.jpg.html
 http://www.bacomatic.org/gallery2/v/hidden/dan/dan-cars/album10/album13/Huffaker_bottom_side.jpg.html

and a Willpower:

 http://www.bacomatic.org/gallery2/v/hidden/dan/dan-cars/album10/album13/Willpower_1.jpg.html
 http://www.bacomatic.org/gallery2/v/hidden/dan/dan-cars/album10/album13/Willpower_2.jpg.html

Note the Willpower intake pictured is not the actual intake tested.  I've
not yet taken pitures of the intake we tested but it differs from the one
pictured in that it has EFI injectors bungs in each port but the injectors
were not installed for these tests.  The Huffaker has larger ports which
better match the Buick 300 heads:

 http://www.bacomatic.org/gallery2/v/hidden/dan/dan-cars/album10/album12/Buick_300_Huffaker_ports.jpg.html

The Willpower has smaller Rover-sized ports but has a better radius on
the end runners than the Huffaker.  An end port and a center port of the
head were first flowed without an intake attached to get a baseline, then
flowed with the intake bolted in place.  Also, a Holley 780 carb body
with the throttle plates at full open was bolted to the intake to
represent the pressure drop across a carb or fuel injection throttle body.
I'll be using an EFI throttle body later but have not purchased it yet.
When the heads were ported, they were tested on a Superflow bench at a
28" H2O pressure drop.  The head had a clayed intake radius but no exhaust
pipe stub was used on the exhaust.  Those numbers are shown in the 2nd and
3rd columns.  The 4th and 5th columns are the same head flowed on Dave's
bench which has a 10" H2O pressure drop.  The numbers were converted
mathematically to 28" to be on a consistent basis.  Note the numbers are
somewhat lower than those of the 28" bench.  We're not sure if this due
in part to the conversion or is simply bench-to-bench variation.  In any
case, it doesn't influence the results of the intake manifold tests.
On both single plane intakes, the center runners are short and straight
while the end runners are long and curved, so one center port and one end
port were tested.  The Huffaker was bolted to the head and tested first,
followed by the Willpower.  The results are shown below and are best
viewed in a non-proportional font like courier:

 Valve  Buick 300      Ported Buick 300   Same head with     Same head with
 Lift   1964           head on McLain's   Huffaker intake    Willpower intake
 (inch) aluminum       flow bench         center runner      center runner
        ported         10" numbers
        Int    Exh     converted to 28"   CFM    % of        CFM    % of
        1.775" 1.5"    Int     Exh               bare               bare
                       1.775"  1.5"              head               head
                       Int     Exh
                       center
                       port

 0.050   --    --       26.3   22.6        26.1   99.2        27.6  104.9
 0.100   66    47       56.3   51.6        55.1   97.9        56.4  100.2
 0.150   99    82       86.8   75.0        87.8  101.1        89.0  102.5
 0.200  129   104      115.1   98.4       117.2  101.8       119.1  103.5
 0.250  155   119      140.4  114.1       141.4  100.7       142.8  101.7
 0.300  174   130      158.1  125.4       160.6  101.5       160.0  101.2
 0.350  187   139      171.7  134.4       169.9   98.9       167.9   98.0
 0.400  191   146      179.8  140.2       170.5   94.8       172.2   95.8
 0.450  194   150      181.3  143.2       172.6   95.2       174.3   96.1
 0.500  196   152      182.1  144.3       173.9   95.5       175.3   96.2

 Valve  Buick 300      Ported Buick 300   Same head with     Same head with
 Lift   1964           head on McLain's   Huffaker intake    Willpower intake
 (inch) aluminum       flow bench         end runner         end runner
        ported         10" numbers
        Int    Exh     converted to 28"   CFM    % of        CFM    % of
        1.775" 1.5"    1.775"  1.5"              bare               bare
                       end                       head               head
                       port

 0.050   --    --       25.5   22.6        26.8  105.9        26.9  105.5
 0.100   66    47       55.0   51.6        56.6  102.9        55.4  100.7
 0.150   99    82       87.0   75.0        88.2  101.4        88.6  101.8
 0.200  129   104      116.9   98.4       114.1   97.6       119.8  102.5
 0.250  155   119      143.4  114.1       132.5   92.4       144.6  100.8
 0.300  174   130      157.8  125.4       146.5   92.8       164.8  104.4
 0.350  187   139      171.6  134.4       155.6   90.7       173.3  101.0
 0.400  191   146      178.3  140.2       156.9   88.0       175.0   98.1
 0.450  194   150      180.8  143.2       156.6   86.6       176.0   97.3
 0.500  196   152      182.9  144.3       157.6   86.2       175.3   95.8

Despite the smaller runners, the Willpower is the better flowing manifold.
The center ports on both intakes are quite close to the head flow but
the Huffaker end ports are not as good.  I think it would be worthwhile to
port just the ends of the Huffaker intake end runners with a better radius
to see if the flow loss could be recovered.  There's a slight drop off in
flow as lift increases on the Willpower intake that may be due to the small
port size.  The Willpower could be ported to a larger size but given how
close the intake is to the bare head flow, it's probably not worth the
trouble.  The worst flows are at 96%.  As a point of comparison, we've
recently flow tested a couple of (non-Rover) dual plane intake manifolds
and they were in the mid seventy % flow range (unported).

The exhaust-to-intake flow ratio on these heads is excellent.  Dave thought
a bit larger itake valve, at the expense of exhaust valve size, might make
more power if it were practical.  During our tests, a 4" diameter tube was
used to simulate the effects of the cylinder wall.  To see if shrouding
might be a problem, the tube was moved around (closer to the valve) but
little effect was noted.

Dan Jones
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: hoffbug on September 14, 2009, 10:18:53 PM
Maxwedge is the manufacturer of the Willpower intake as well as the Wildcat version for the stock rover heads...
The Harcourt and Huffaker are both different manifolds as well and neither are being manufactured anymore.
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: Moderator on September 15, 2009, 01:00:10 AM
(for Dan Jones and others)


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Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: David on September 15, 2009, 09:03:44 PM
does anybody know max-wedge performance e-mail address??? Also curious,,   These manifolds(Willpower etc) do fit the 215 and the 300 or is there a difference???      Thanks,     David
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: hoffbug on September 15, 2009, 10:11:57 PM
The willpower manifolds do fit the 215.. and a 215 block with 1964 Buick 30 heads..
 it will not fit a Buick 300 without adapter plates... They are too wide.

You can try to contact Bill ...williaml@hotkey.net.au
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: roverman on September 16, 2009, 12:09:59 AM
Wow, Almost exciting, got my "Wildcat" 4bbl. manifold today."No charge" for machining debree" left in manifold. I figure because they were soo rushed to fill my order...over 4 months. All 24, "top hat liners" also arrived. Problem there is,all must be bored aleast 3.75" to clean-up. Best I can hope for is a, "very warm place will freeze over", before I re-order. Anyone want a new , manifold they don't have to wait 4+ months for? I'm beginning to see why we declared independence so long ago.LOL.-almost.      roverman.
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: castlesid on September 16, 2009, 06:00:26 AM
Art,

Was the manifold direct from Wildcat, does not sound like the sort of service you would expect from Ian Richardson?

kevin.
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: NixVegaGT on September 16, 2009, 08:16:11 AM
Art, You got 24 liners? I like the 3.75" bore though, even if you have to do it. It makes a true 300 then!... Ok I've got issues.
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: Greg55_99 on September 16, 2009, 09:05:59 AM
Can you post a pic of the Wildcat intake?  

Greg
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: hoffbug on September 16, 2009, 12:29:30 PM
Got my Willpower intake from maxwedge performance in Australia in just a couple weeks... Good casting. no machine shavings..

(http://www.usfamily.net/web/hoffbug/Willpower%201.jpg)

Water neck not included..
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: roverman on September 16, 2009, 10:00:28 PM
Kevin, Yes Ian. Not the type of service I was expecting. Nic, you've got issues? I've got 24 "oversize" liners and I'm not even a super-senior! Pic for manifold-not easy-I'm ninethumbs. Looks just like manifolds posted in forum, except for 'debris and age-spots". Has thermostat cross-over but no injector bungs. I will install sleeves with, "Loctite Sleeve Retainer"-anerobic. Most of my blocks are "pink", so , bore-out old sleeves and definately visual and sonic test. Block filler on"killer"motor. Happy HP. roverman.
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: David on September 26, 2009, 12:12:36 AM
Tony,  Thanks for the contact info.   Dave
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: David on September 26, 2009, 12:32:14 AM
Roverman,  Did u say u r selling the manifold??     Dave
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: v8fangio on October 04, 2009, 12:54:00 AM
Bill Laney [Max Wedge] in Sydney OZ makes Willpower manifolds which is same manifold sold in U.K. by Ian Ricardson under his company name of Wildcat. Bill Laney also makes a V- shaped cast adaptor  similar to factory BGTV8 but better flowing, to take 2 S.U carbs; manifold can come with  cast lugs on inlets to be drilled out for injectors;and adaptor plate is available for putting on a blower. There is also wider version of Willpower manifold to go on Aussie Leyland P76 4.4. v8 , saves adding spacer plates to Rover or Hardcourt manifolds, not sure if this will fit Buick 300.[ i have a Huffaker on my BGTV8 and Willpower on my Leyland P76 4.4 v8.]
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: hoffbug on October 04, 2009, 07:53:23 AM
Steve.. I had forgotten about the P76 intake!... I wonder if it would be a direct swap onto a Buick 300?

I found these pictures on the web. from a site in the Netherlands....http://www.roversd1.nl/sd1web/index.html


(http://www.roversd1.nl/sd1web/tuning/v8motoren/012.jpg)

left to right: Buick 215, 64 Buick 300, 73 Leyland P76, 67 Buick 340


(http://www.roversd1.nl/sd1web/tuning/v8motoren/010.jpg)

left to right: 3 Intakes, P76, Buick 300, Buick 215

Hard to tell but from the pictures the P76 manifold it looks just a little wider than the Buick 300 manifold?
Anyone know for sure?
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: BlownMGB-V8 on October 04, 2009, 12:51:56 PM
It would be a little wider. The P76 has about a 17mm taller deck (~.675") and the 300 has about a 9/16" taller deck. (exact figures are available if you do a search) The 340 is ~1-3/16" taller.

Jim
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: v8fangio on October 05, 2009, 02:11:12 AM
The wider Willpower manifold for a P76V8 could be machined by a good engineering shop, i'll ask Bill Laney and report back.
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: hoffbug on October 06, 2009, 06:39:03 AM
I got a response from Bill myself..

Hi Tony

P76 manifold valley width is 8 ¼"

Buick valley is 7 ½"

Rover V8 valley is 7"

I can make the Rover manifold wider by casting extra metal  on manifold flange to suit Buick 300.

This means there will be no spacer plate required.

Valley plate will be cast and added to seal valley to block.

It will be purpose built to suit Buick 300 motor.

 

I will e-mail pic when I cast in approx. 4 weeks.

 

Regards

Bill
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: BlownMGB-V8 on October 06, 2009, 08:35:28 AM
That was quick. You know, once he does the 300 intake it's a very small step from there to the 340 intake. Nobody makes one of those at all, and it shouldn't be hard to make it suitable for use with the new TA heads. Think of that, a light weight 340/350 cu.in. motor with performance alloy heads and a single plane intake that is a straight swap for the 300. I know they will be getting several sets of those new heads in Australia within the next few months. Tony, would you care to suggest that to him? There is an active Buick performance group who would probably jump right on that, in fact I have heard some of the 350 guys say they would build a 340 if they could get an intake.

Jim
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: hoffbug on October 06, 2009, 12:22:32 PM
JIm.. I think the manifold port sizes would work OK on a 300.. the problem with just widening that manifold is that the port sizing would probably be too small for a 340... Even the Iron 300 heads are larger than the Aluminum 300 heads.. The problem with this type of custom stuff is that the average enthusiast just wants to buy a bolt on item from a T/A or a Poston... and at Small block Chevy pricing to boot..

 Its too bad a Poston or T/A couldnt buy a dozen or so in either size ( Buick /Rover 215 and Buick 300) From Bill and offer them up on a trial basis... Only these guys would know if there is enough of a market to justify casting up a larger port manifold..
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: BlownMGB-V8 on October 06, 2009, 06:09:47 PM
The distance across the valley on the 340 is 8-13/16", so a 1/4" spacer per side should come pretty close to making the P76 intake fit... if there's a 4bbl one available. That'd take care of the 340 with alloy 300 heads, but as you mentioned, the TA heads have larger ports.

Jim
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: Greg55_99 on October 07, 2009, 05:44:31 PM
Yes, the P76 manifold is wider than the Buick 300 manifold.  I know for sure.

Greg
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: v8fangio on October 10, 2009, 12:36:59 AM
To recap,Bill Laney- MAXWEDGE is still making Rover v8 single plane manifolds , as well as for P76, and now also making new single plane manifolds for Buick 300 this month. to contact Bill ,email [williaml@hotkey.net.au]. I'm lucky as only live few minutes from Bill and can pop around to see his latest manifold.
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: BlownMGB-V8 on October 10, 2009, 10:22:06 AM
Steve, why don't you ask him what it would take for him to do one to match the TA-Performance heads to the 340? Ian at Triumph-Rover Spares will be getting two or three of the first four sets of those heads (by year's end - they are now being machined) and several guys stateside have expressed an interest in a 340 based build-up if they had an intake. I'd be happy to pass the information along to them.

Jim
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: Greg55_99 on October 10, 2009, 07:37:04 PM
P76_340_4.JPG

Buick 340 (left) P76 single plane with spacers (right)

Size is OK.... but.....
P76_340_2.JPG

Port size is not so OK...  It would work fine with 64 Buick 300 heads.  Not so much with the later ones or the TA heads...

Greg
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: v8fangio on October 11, 2009, 11:46:27 PM
Bill Laney ''Maxwedge'' told me he will look at TA performance heads to make a new manifold if and when he can get a hold of a set.At moment manifold for Buick 300  is been made, contact Bill on    williaml@hotkey.net.au.
Title: Re: rover 3.5 single plane intake??
Post by: BlownMGB-V8 on October 12, 2009, 01:19:25 AM
Thanks Steve, I'll pas the word along.

Jim