ZL1 Chevelle Intake Swap - Big-Block

Zl1 Chevelle Intake Swap Four Barrel Removal

With the distributor removed, and the fuel lines and temperature sensors disconnected, the four-barrel setup was lifted up and out of the engine compartment.

With the distributor removed, and the fuel lines and temperature sensors disconnected, the

Finally, we were left wanting more from the instruction guide included with the kit. It's up to the installer to deal with the throttle cable/rod-to-carb linkage connection. It took more than a little time to modify the car's existing cable so that the connection allowed for wide-open throttle when needed.

Once the intake was installed, the linkage adjusted, and the timing set, it was back to the dyno where we were greeted by a foul smell and a 40hp loss. Yikes!

Of course, you'll have that when you, ahem, run the test car out of fuel on the dyno's rollers. Luckily, we were able to siphon some fuel out of Hardcore's racing supply and we were back to making full pulls.

Initial tests with the intake and no further tuning netted-surprise, surprise-a 3hp gain. But the air/fuel graph showed there was room for adjustment. Timing was adjusted to 38 and the engine responded with a noticeable gain. Final tuning adjustments delivered a total rear-wheel output of 358 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. That's 15 more horses and 28 more lb-ft torque, or approximately 5 percent more horsepower and 8 percent more torque-not to shabby for a simple intake swap, we think.

The Six Shooter performed better than our initial expectations and definitely gives this big-block A-body a unique underhood appearance. This "shooter" hits the mark.

With the old intake out of the way, the block's valley and head ports were blocked off so that gasket and sealer residue could be scraped off. Note the use of paper towels rather than cloth rags; rags have fibers and threads that can fall into the engine. Paper towels are safer.
With the old intake out of the way, the block's valley and head ports were blocked off so
Next, the old intake's sensors were transferred to the Six Shooter intake. The Six Shooter manifold was drilled and tapped to accommodate an electric fan temperature sending unit.
Next, the old intake's sensors were transferred to the Six Shooter intake. The Six Shooter
New intake manifold gaskets were carefully set in place; as it was just about time to lower the new intake into place.
New intake manifold gaskets were carefully set in place; as it was just about time to lowe

Finally, the Six Shooter dropped into place without a hang-up and the attaching hardware torqued down without a snag. Pretty sexy looking valvetrain, too, huh?
Finally, the Six Shooter dropped into place without a hang-up and the attaching hardware t
In order to ensure a proper, snag-free run-down of the manifold's hardware, some of the manifold's bolt holes were manipulated with a grinder. It was a trial-and-error process that required several attempts before the correct positions were found. We believe we can chalk this up to having a very early production unit.
In order to ensure a proper, snag-free run-down of the manifold's hardware, some of the ma
A new fuel line from the fuel pump to the carbs was required. Car owner Chris Price fabbed up this custom-bent hard line for the job.
A new fuel line from the fuel pump to the carbs was required. Car owner Chris Price fabbed

With the carbs installed on the manifold, work moved quickly to the throttle linkage connection. A longer length of throttle cable was required, when compared with the four-barrel setup. This was attained disassembling the cable, shortening the cable housing, and re-installing the cable assembly into the bracket.
With the carbs installed on the manifold, work moved quickly to the throttle linkage conne
There was more tinkering when it came to determining the proper setting for the carbs' linkage, so that all three carbs would go to wide-open when the throttle was fully extended.
There was more tinkering when it came to determining the proper setting for the carbs' lin
With the Six Shooter system in place and apparently in sync, linkage-wise, the rest of the details were buttoned up, including reinstalling the distributor, adding coolant, etc.
With the Six Shooter system in place and apparently in sync, linkage-wise, the rest of the

Here's the finished installation, minus the kit's polished air cleaner. The triple-carb appearance definitely harkens back to the musclecar era and provides some underhood flash when compared to garden-variety four-barrel systems. We were thrilled, too, to find out it delivered greater performance and not just an interesting look.
Here's the finished installation, minus the kit's polished air cleaner. The triple-carb ap
Back on the chassis dyno, operated by Hardcore Racing's Keith Benson, the ZL-1-powered Chevelle picked up 15 hp and 28 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels, for a bestof 358 horses and 376 lb-ft.
Back on the chassis dyno, operated by Hardcore Racing's Keith Benson, the ZL-1-powered Che
Chassis Dyno Graph