Thread: Man-A-Fre 4x2 intake question

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Is the Man-A-Fre 4x2 intake manifold with 4 Rochester 2G carbs a good setup for the street or is it more of a race induction?? IF it's a good street setup, should ALL 4 carbs have idle circuits in them or not?? Sorry about my ignorance but I'm a new 327 owner and don't know all that much about SBC engines! Thanks for the info!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/man-a...Q5fAccessories

If nothing else, it sure would look cool on any period roadster or street rod.

Thanks, Moter!! I was considering bidding on that manifold since it's right up the way in LA. I still wanted to know if it's a streetable induction. From what I've read the Offy 4x2 with a plenum is better that the direct-port induction that the Man-A-Fre has(???).

It's streetable, as long as you don't mind messing with carbs and have a sync tube to set the idle with....

Other then the look, no real reason to spend that kind of $$$$$...

I got to work on one years ago. It'd idle, or go like stink at WOT, but anything in between, forget it. And yes, all four need idle circuits, no connection between carbs. It's like a mechanical fuel injection setup if you use the modified carbs that went with the induction plate. Unfortunately, the one I worked on had ordinary Rochester 2bbl. carbs. Couldn't get it dialed in right.

THANKS, guys!!! I think the one I was/am looking at on Ebay must be gold plated or something considering what the guy told me he had set the reserve at. For that much I can buy a nearly identical complete Offy 4x2 setup AND a complete Offy or Edelbrock crossram setup! Still, I'd like to have an original Man-A-Fre 'cause they're so COOL looking.

Hey, guys - another quick question and consideration BEFORE I buy some induction that won't work on my 327 -

I have a 350 Automatic - WILL these 4x2 and/or crossrams work OK with my automatic tranny????

Kirk, I ran a Man a Fre 4x2 induction system for a few years on my old 40 Ford. It was without a doubt one of the best and most trouble free set-ups I have ever run on the street. Contrary to some of the information here it is a much better performer than the Offy manifold MUCH BETTER and as I said very user friendly and almost maintance free, I never had to use a tube to set my 2GC carbs ever, and as a matter of fact didn't really need to mess with the system much at all. The Man a Fre system performance wise was built and designed as a cheap alternative to the mechinical fuel injections of the time. It wasn't fuel injection but it was close and much easier to use. Trouble is man o man are you going to have to pay for one. I wrecked my little 40 Ford, it got hit hit in the front and broke the crank snout right off. I sold those 4x 2's and the manifold and linkage for, are you ready $3,400.00. Guy never batted an eye and just smiled as he counted the money.

Roland

Much more for the "Cool" factor. than anything. A single 4 barrel and modern manifold will make more hp and run better on the street and strip.

Originally Posted by R Pope

I got to work on one years ago. It'd idle, or go like stink at WOT, but anything in between, forget it. And yes, all four need idle circuits, no connection between carbs. It's like a mechanical fuel injection setup if you use the modified carbs that went with the induction plate. Unfortunately, the one I worked on had ordinary Rochester 2bbl. carbs. Couldn't get it dialed in right.

There is a connection between the carbs. It's cast right into the manifold and ties the ports together. It is there specifically to help equalize the idle.

The Man-A-Fre is an awesome setup. Pretty-much the ultimate for a classic hot rod. I've had two of them and they are not difficult to tune and have excellent response at all RPM and work great on a light street machine.

It's what John Milner ran on the fastest car in the valley.

They were also very popular with the early Vette guys and other hot rodders of the day.

While it is true that you can get better performance with modern 4bbl setups, none hold a candle as to the "coolness" factor of the legendary Man-A-Fre 4x2.

The Man-A-Fre also had another feature called the "Afterburner". There were pre-spotted bosses cast into the ports from the factory to install a solenoid-actuated system that would dump gas into each port at WOT much like a direct-port nitrous system (without the nitrous). It's easy to add nitrous to the setup using these ports if you would want to.

The early Atlanta casting is the most sought-after one. All of the Graffiti Coupe freaks and John Milner wannabes want them for their clones.

Originally Posted by R Pope

I got to work on one years ago. It'd idle, or go like stink at WOT, but anything in between, forget it. And yes, all four need idle circuits, no connection between carbs. It's like a mechanical fuel injection setup if you use the modified carbs that went with the induction plate. Unfortunately, the one I worked on had ordinary Rochester 2bbl. carbs. Couldn't get it dialed in right.

There is a connection between the carbs. It's cast right into the manifold and ties the ports together.

The Man-A-Fre is an awesome setup. Pretty-much the ultimate for a classic hot rod. I've had two of them and they are not difficult to tune and have excellent response at all RPM and work great on a light street machine.

It's what John Milner ran on the fastest car in the valley.

They were also very popular with the early Vette guys and other hot rodders of the day.

While it is true that you can get better performance with modern 4bbl setups, none hold a candle as to the "coolness" factor of the legendary Man-A-Fre 4x2.

The Man-A-Fre also had another feature called the "Afterburner". There were pre-spotted bosses cast into the ports from the factory to install a solenoid-actuated system that would dump gas into each port at WOT much like a direct-port nitrous system (without the nitrous). It's easy to add nitrous to the setup using these ports if you would want to.

The early Atlanta casting is the most sought-after one. All of the Graffiti Coupe freaks and John Milner wannabes want them for their clones.

The Man-A-Fre is an awesome setup. It's a performer too and very "streetable". While all 4 carbs have idle circuits, they are also connected by passages in the casting that help equalize and smooth-out the idle. The carbs are not totally-isolated from each other.

While a modern single 4bbl setup may perform better, it doesn't hold a candle to the "coolness" factor of a Man-A-Fre 4x2.

The ultimate and most sought-after classic hot rod induction setup.