best intake manifold

[Shakin' Chevy]

Whats the best intake manifold that will fit on a 1981 corvette without having to change the hood on the car i love the RMP performer by edelbroke but its a high rise and wont fit anyone think another manifolds just as good that will fit or one thats better?

 

[Blue82]

I am running the performer RPM intake with a throttlebody adapter plate (approx. 1") and a 454 throttle body on my 82. I had to remove the rubber seal under the hood that connected to the top of the xfire air cleaner, but it fits fine.

 

[Jack]

Whats the best intake manifold that will fit on a 1981 corvette without having to change the hood on the car i love the RMP performer by edelbroke but its a high rise and wont fit anyone think another manifolds just as good that will fit or one thats better?

Where in SC are you near? I'm just outside Florence. I'm running a Weiand Action Plus P/N 8001 (low rise, dual plane) intake on my 71 sb with Qjet ... I like it and the original air cleaner fits fine under the base 71's rather low hood. W 8001 is not near as tall as E RPM ... but IMHO most folks don't have any more motor than a W 8001 can feed. We run plain jane E 2101 performer on our monte carlo circle tracker ... with an adapter plate/restrictor & two barrel carb ... all required by rules ... still makes right at 400 hp. E 2101 and W 8001 are very similar in height & performance capabilities.

BTW, my advice is to first acquire the car ... then shake it down for a month or two to find stuff that'll need fixing. Older cars (especially vettes) often develop leaks or need brake, suspension, steering, rear diff repairs before too long. Get the bugs out before you go changing/adding stuff. just my 2 cents.
JACK:gap

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I've got the Edelbrock Performer, not the Performer RPM which can create clearance issues, and it fits fine.

 

[72Mako]

I'm running the Edelbrock Performer with a K&N filter and the hood just closes. This intake serves me just fine as my cam noses over at 5800 rpm. If your engine is stock, I think this intake would serve you fine. If you have beefed your motor and need the Edelbrock RPM, believe some members have gotten the RPM to fit by going to a drop base air filter providing you are running a Holley.

 

[Robin7TFour]

HELLO, i am using the edelbrock preformer w/holley 600 carb.and a genaric air cleaner. no clearance issues. just keep the air cleaner stud short. previous owner had a HUGE 850cfm carb and didn't shorten the stud properly. i can see the traces of it inside the hood.
once i put on my eckler's hi-rise hood then i can use any manifold/carb i want..
really do like the looks of a dual-quad set-up

my 02

robin

 

[Fishman]

I have a Weiand Stealth intake manifold, Holley 650 cfm carb, and an Elite Series Edelbrock triangular air cleaner with a rechargeable K&N filter. All fit very nicely under the stock hood of a '78.

 

[Dave L.]

I also have the Edelbrock 2101....I am using the original carb and air cleaner also. I used a slightly thiner (1/8") carb insulator gasket rather than the stock 1/4". I think I've got about 1/2" clearance (no more than) between the air cleaner and the hood.

 

[Shakin' Chevy]

i live about 50 miles from charlston Jack, and to the rest of u guys thanks for all the help, im guessing anything but the performer RMP air gap will fit.