Why don't I see much about RPM Performer intakes? Am I not observant, or aren't there many out there? If there aren't manyRPMs, why not? What's the general concensus on the RPM?

I think the Performer RPM's are the most common here.

Dave

Performer RPM here (RPM AirGap actually). Good off idle characteristics and higher HP capability.

Many of the older Performers crack on the heat cross over. Also they do not perform as well as an RPM. However they do fit Cowl Induction setups well.

So I should be satisfied with my RPM (not air gap). That's reassuring. Thanks.

Why don't I see much about RPM Performer intakes? Am I not observant, or aren't there many out there? If there aren't manyRPMs, why not? What's the general concensus on the RPM?

It is because they are overlooked by the Air Gap.

I personally run an RPM on my SBC. I don't like the warm up issues associated with the Air Gap, and I don't like it's looks.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s86/wildman926/85%20GMC/Picture025.jpg

I used to run a port matched Performer 2-0 on my 454...swapped to an RPM and gained noting in the ET or MPH department. This is on mid/low 12 second car...
Abd the RPM will work with CI air cleaner...picture in signature

I actually have a Performer RPM, RPM Airgap and a Victor jr. Though the Victor is for my next build I prefer the RPM Airgap. The RPM series work extremely well.

I have a Performer on the Chevelle and it seems to work fine. Its not a performance motor, it just came with the car. For a driver mild perf engine it would be my choice. I have an RPM on my hotrod and it seems to me to provide outstanding performance, much better than the stock 4 v intake that preceded it, and much better than the Holley Z series on another identical motor. Both cars with Edelbrocks have elec chokes and both are/were quite cold blooded. The brand F hotrod has an MSD Digital 6, which almost completely cured the cold blooded issue.

Gibbons,

I have posted several times here that my source at Edelbrock told me the Performer RPM delivers the same performance as an RPM Air Gap for a street car. More of a 'gee-whiz' feature than a real benefit. Figure 10-15 min under the hood....everything is gonna be hot.
For a Race-Only deal....you may see a very modest performance gain...1-2 hp

And as Wildman926 said, the RPM A-G intake does have a slow warm-up compared to the regular RPM.

I have never owned a performer manifold. I have had 2 RPM's though, 1 was a regular, the other was the Air Gap. I like my Air Gap.

I already have a regular RPM, I am guessing an Air Gap RPM wouldn't be good for my usage without a crossover and hotter manifold? I have a Mighty Demon, with no choke and not even a horn. It was 50 degrees in my garage last night, I had to nurse the idle for 5 minutes before it was driveable with the idle at 800, the normal temp idle is 1000. For my education (not considering changing), an Air Gap would make that much worse, right?

For my education (not considering changing), an Air Gap would make that much worse, right?

Yes
or any intake that has the crossover blocked off

In general, I'd say the Performer is intended for a basically stock engine while the Performer RPM is for a modified engine.

I already have a regular RPM, I am guessing an Air Gap RPM wouldn't be good for my usage without a crossover and hotter manifold? I have a Mighty Demon, with no choke and not even a horn. It was 50 degrees in my garage last night, I had to nurse the idle for 5 minutes before it was driveable with the idle at 800, the normal temp idle is 1000. For my education (not considering changing), an Air Gap would make that much worse, right?

I keep reading this kinda comment, but i don't buy it. I have a 385 that i would not call mild (AFR 195's, Comp XR288HR, 10.5:1, hooker super comps, 750HP with no choke horn or choke at all and an air gap). it was low 50's this a.m. and it started first crank. about 30 seconds on the pedal and it idles fine about 1000rpm all day long. so i am not sure what the slow warm up thing is about. by the time i am off my block, it runs good enough to not have to baby it from a stop... oh did i mention that i am running a stock converter to boot. so that does not help things at all, but that will not matter soon when the TKO goes in. this motor was blueprinted to the finest detail by a very good engine builder when i had it built so that may help, but honestly, i have not even tweaked the carb much. I run it the way it came out of the box. just set the float level and idle mixture and ran with it. i will play with the jetting a bit when i finish my fuel system, but honestly, it runs better than the much milder 350 that was the first rebuild on this motor. so i say air gap all the way!!

I already have a regular RPM, I am guessing an Air Gap RPM wouldn't be good for my usage without a crossover and hotter manifold? I have a Mighty Demon, with no choke and not even a horn. It was 50 degrees in my garage last night, I had to nurse the idle for 5 minutes before it was driveable with the idle at 800, the normal temp idle is 1000. For my education (not considering changing), an Air Gap would make that much worse, right?

I keep reading this kinda comment, but i don't buy it.

Here is another TC'r that went through the same thing -

"The moral of the story is, if you eliminate the exhaust X-over, elim. the choke, then get an Air-Gap type manifold, then throw cold temps in the mix, your asking for problems."

You can read it HERE (http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2074080&postcount=64)

I keep reading this kinda comment, but i don't buy it. I have a 385 that i would not call mild (AFR 195's, Comp XR288HR, 10.5:1, hooker super comps, 750HP with no choke horn or choke at all and an air gap). it was low 50's this a.m. and it started first crank. about 30 seconds on the pedal and it idles fine about 1000rpm all day long. so i am not sure what the slow warm up thing is about. by the time i am off my block, it runs good enough to not have to baby it from a stop... oh did i mention that i am running a stock converter to boot. so that does not help things at all, but that will not matter soon when the TKO goes in. this motor was blueprinted to the finest detail by a very good engine builder when i had it built so that may help, but honestly, i have not even tweaked the carb much. I run it the way it came out of the box. just set the float level and idle mixture and ran with it. i will play with the jetting a bit when i finish my fuel system, but honestly, it runs better than the much milder 350 that was the first rebuild on this motor. so i say air gap all the way!!

Why wouldn't you "buy it" (my comment)? I have nothing to gain or lose by posting my experience with my motor! I have a regular RPM Performer and had no intentions of changing. I was just curious. If I ran out and started it right now at 59 degrees, it would kill immediately. It will kill at 90 degrees when first started. That's just the way my combo runs.

I have a Performer RPM on my mild built 350. I have the crossover blocked. It is a little cold natured for about 5 minutes before it wants to idle on it's own at temps below about 60.:)

Troposcuba, maybe your high horse power engine builds heat a little faster plus I would bet it runs a lot fatter than the average engine. So the richer running condition will let it idle.:)

My mild 327 with Eddy carb, AirGap RPM, aluminum heads, .448/.500 cam and 2 1/2 exhaust fires right off and will idle very nicely on the choke without having to sit with it feathering the pedal. I have spent a bit of time carb and dizzy tuning.

I have no complaints with the AirGap warm up, and shouldn't anyway with Houston temps. But when I lived in central Illinois with this set up and it was cold (30* or so) it did need to be fully warmed up via heat soak before it ran really smoothly.

Additionally, if the carb is setup to run rich at idle, your motor will idle a lot better right off the bat, but your running too rich at normal temp. If the carb is setup properly, it should not want to idle when cold.

So if you guys are having to nurse your motors for a few minutes, that's a good thing.

Also, AirGaps always run cooler even when the motor is up to temp. You have to ask yourself, what intake will run cooler: one that has air passing through it, or one that does not? After a long drive, I can lay my hand on my carb and its warm but not hot when I had the AirGap, now with the Stealth the thing gets hot just sitting in the garage.

I also have an AirGap on my big block. It does not like cooler air temps until fully warmed up. JMHO , it is a great 2-1/2 season intake (late spring, summer, very early fall). In parts of the country with an overall hotter climate, it's Air Gap style hands down.

additionally, if the carb is setup to run rich at idle, your motor will idle a lot better right off the bat, but your running too rich at normal temp. If the carb is setup properly, it should not want to idle when cold.

So if you guys are having to nurse your motors for a few minutes, that's a good thing.


x2...

I have the Performer 2-0 on my 402, works like a champ

I ran a Performer with a 1" spacer and a 150 shot. Excellent throttle response and good enough for an 11.61.

I am going to a Vic Jr with the converter and cam upgrades this winter. We'll see what difference that makes...quicker or slower.

Why wouldn't you "buy it" (my comment)? I have nothing to gain or lose by posting my experience with my motor! I have a regular RPM Performer and had no intentions of changing. I was just curious. If I ran out and started it right now at 59 degrees, it would kill immediately. It will kill at 90 degrees when first started. That's just the way my combo runs.

not tryin to be rude, just meaning that mine has no ill temper when it is cold.

I have a Performer RPM on my mild built 350. I have the crossover blocked. It is a little cold natured for about 5 minutes before it wants to idle on it's own at temps below about 60.:)

Troposcuba, maybe your high horse power engine builds heat a little faster plus I would bet it runs a lot fatter than the average engine. So the richer running condition will let it idle.:)

dunno about running fat. doesn't spit out that black stuff when cold like a lot do. exhaust doesn't stink or make your eyes water. throttle response is super crisp at all RPM. I have not put an A/F sensor on it, but would like to for fine tuning. It will fire and if i don't give it a couple pumps immediately, it will die, but a little practice has taught me to stab it a couple times, fire it and give it a couple pump shots again as soon as it fires. usually once through that and i can get it up to about 2k for a few seconds, then a couple revs to about 3k and it will idle dead solid.

only point i was tryin to make is that if you got the rest of the engine combo right, that air gap works pretty well. course i have not had it in temps below 50* either.

Performer RPM here (RPM AirGap actually). Good off idle characteristics and higher HP capability.
Same here. Actually I have both on different engines. I even have a Vortec Airgap.

I have RPM Air Gap on my 454 and have no complaints. We don't get alot of cold weather in south Texas, so I wouldn't know about any cold starting issues. I don't run a choke and haven't had an issue yet.

I'm running an RPM intake, I think they're pretty common actually.

Hell, I run a Super Victor intake with a 1" spacer and a King Demon...no heat riser, choke, or choke horn.
NEVER any cold start issues...no matter what the air temp. Fire it up, put it in gear, and drive away.
It's all in the carb setup...

Hey Bill, think being closer to the equator than us yanks has anything to do with that carb tune ;)?

Hey Bill, think being closer to the equator than us yanks has anything to do with that carb tune ;)?

I doubt it. :D
I know it was in the high 30's last Sunday morning at the track. The car started (as always) with no stumbles. :cool:

Please consider the old Weiand SB 8004 and BB 8005 intakes here!

pdq67

I've always thought of the Performer as a street, bottom end "Torquey" manifold and the Performer RPM gives you a little more upstairs on the RPM band. But both manifolds are dual plane so they are very very close.... Regarding the RPM Airgap, Once the Airgap is hot under the hood it buys you nothing...

I have a Performer because I didn't anticipate ever wanting to spin the engine more than 5500rpm. I also wanted to be able to run either a Q-jet or a square bore without an adapter. Later I found out they have an RPM manifold for the Q-jet, but it is about $25 more. And finally, the local auto parts store already had it sitting on the shelf and for the same price as Summit. I would have had to order an RPM.

Take a Performer, add a 1" tall spacer of your liking and then bull-nose both from the top down, as far back into the plenum as you can get w/ at least a 1/2" radius bull-nose and then see how well it runs!!

pdq67

Hell, I run a Super Victor intake with a 1" spacer and a King Demon...no heat riser, choke, or choke horn.
NEVER any cold start issues...no matter what the air temp. Fire it up, put it in gear, and drive away.
It's all in the carb setup...
Bill you're just SO talented!