Choosing an aftermarket manifold for street use on a Chrysler small block is a pretty easy decision. The only one I found that I had heard anything about was the Edelbrock Performer. The only other option I can think of is MoPar Performance; I frankly never considered a different brand of manifold. The only real decision was whether to get the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) provision. Since my truck came with a smog motor, I wanted the option of remaining emissions legal, so I bought the EGR manifold (Model 3776).

Edelbrock does not simply sell a part. They have a web site which offers extremely detailed installation instructions. Edelbrock's instructions included discussion of what type of sealant to use, removal of Chrysler's dowel pins, and the selection of manifold gaskets.

The only fault I found with Edelbrock's support of their product was contradictory information about the type of manifold gasket to be used. They say not to use factory style teflon coated gaskets, but then imply elsewhere in the instructions that non-coated aftermarket gaskets are not appropriate for street use. I also had a LOT of trouble finding Mr. Gasket or any other brand of manifold gasket that would work with the Performer on a 318 with EGR.

It's important to realize that swapping an intake manifold is not exactly changing your spark plugs. In the detailed discussion of the conversion, I explain some of the problems I encountered in removing the old cast iron manifold and installing the new aluminum manifold. One of the key things to remember is that aluminum is very soft, and it is VERY easy to scratch a machined aluminum surface.

After about 6 months of fairly rugged street and off-road use, I have found the Peformer to be an excellent product, and well worth the approximately $200 purchase price. Without before and after dyno testing, any assessment of horsepower/torque improvement is highly subjective. It also is dependent on the selection of carburetor, etc. Nevertheless, the Performer installation eliminated the hesitation my engine had been experiencing, and seemed to improve low end torque.

See other product reviews here at off-road.com.