[carbking]

I just got this photo from a Pontiac enthusiast. I have heard about these manifolds, but the first I was aware of one for Pontiac.

It looks from the picture to be a modified IR design. Wondering if anyone on these forums has actually run one on a Pontiac successfully?

The carburetors look to be mid-60's Chevrolet Rochester 2-G series carbs with removed chokes.

Comments?

Jon.

http://www.thecarburetorshop.com/Man-A-Fre_top.JPG

[Drag Star Le Mans]

Always wondered if they made them for Pontiacs. The proof is right there, very cool and I bet very rare.

[Tom Vaught]

Jon, I have worked on two of the intakes in the past. Not Pontiac ones though.

The intakes as you said used highly modified Rochester 2 BBL carburetors with minimal air horn restriction. Think dirt track 55 chevy type race carbs (1 2-bbl allowed).

The small holes in each carb pad are designed to allow additional fuel to be sprayed into the intake pair from each side. Like a fuel injection deal. Control solenoid added the extra fuel.

Hope that helps.

Harold (the owner of Man-A-Fre) was a good guy to talk to about carbs. (Like you).

Tom V.

ps The two chevy ones ran well at Bonneville but would be touchy to drive on the street. Think "like dual Dominators" as all 8 blades moved at the same time.

[carbking]

Thanks Tom, the enthusiast wishes to attempt to run this thing on the street; I am trying to suggest it is a much better conversation piece.

I have personally only worked on two IR setups in my life, both were factory. Before I was bitten by the "buy American" bug, I had a 4-cylinder 121 CID Datsun with an IR. Two 500 CFM carbs fed this thing. A good friend had a racing Alfa 96 CID with two 350 CFM two-barrels. Both setups were exceptionally touchy for tuning, and both ran like scalded dogs when one got them right. But would really not like to "start from scratch" on one of these.

As to your comment about all barrels opening at once, remember the Carter "trap-door" three barrel Pontiac had for NASCAR in 1963. I have modified a couple of these to run on the street; where the modification was to rework the secondary linkage so the secondary side opened at some adjustable percentage of primary, rather than with the primary. Seems to me someone had an aftermarket gear set-up for the 1050 Holley three-barrel to run 1 to 1 primary/secondary also.

Jon.

[straycat]

Motion Performance was a 3bbl proponent in the 60s. Gear drive modification was available.

[77 TRASHCAN]

Years ago, Hot Rod Magazine dyno tested a boat load of intakes, a bunch were antiques, but nothing like THAT dinosaur.
Needs to be hanging on a wall.....

[Tom Vaught]

The Motion Kit also had a modified shooter with two extra long tubes (4 shooter nozzles) that squirted fuel into the secondary side of the 3 barrel to help with tip-ins.

You also had to drill two holes in the choke ahousing to run the fuel tubes into the secondary side of the carb. The double pumper stuff gave the most control over the two pump circuits and more fuel capability.

The center squirters were just production versions of the old Motion set-up.

Tom V.

[steve25]

With runners that short the power band must be 5000 and up!

["QUICK-SILVER"]

Originally Posted by carbking

the enthusiast wishes to attempt to run this thing on the street; I am trying to suggest it is a much better conversation piece.

I'ld have to do it for him/her. That's put it on the street.
Four staged 2bbl's (something like a 2SE) with throttle blades perpindicular to the intake runners.
Would probably add a 'slip-in' divider plate in the runners for better low RPM operation.

Better yet tell them you know someone who wants it...HA, HA
Clay

[flamedabone]

I would have bet you that a Man-A-Fre for a Pontiac didn't exist, but there she is, live and in person. Most folks know that John Milner was running one on his Chevvie in American Graffiti, but even for a Chevvie, it is kind of a rare item. Most owners complain of poor street manners due to the unusual design, which is most of the reason for their rarity.

Does your friend want to get rid of it?

-Abone.

[Ducks Goat]

One of these intakes popped up on ebay a couple years back, I was bidding on it but someone else wanted it more than me.

[lust4speed]

I remember the Man-A-Fre being advertised in the back of Hot Rod Magazine, and it was the foundation of go-fast dreams that were totally out of reach of broke teenagers - but we all believed that if somehow we could afford one, we'd be the fastest on the street.

[axle]

I have a complete Pontiac Man-A-Fre set up for Pontiac, and it will be used in my '32 Ford Coupe.

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by axle

I have a complete Pontiac Man-A-Fre set up for Pontiac, and it will be used in my '32 Ford Coupe.

It will be an "Eye Catcher" at the car shows for sure.

Tom V

[Drag Star Le Mans]

Originally Posted by axle

I have a complete Pontiac Man-A-Fre set up for Pontiac, and it will be used in my '32 Ford Coupe.

Pictures???

[65madgoat]

From link above:

[carbking]

I have learned a lot about these things since I made my initial post in 2016.

Indeed (depending on the SKILL of the tuner), they run very well on the street.

Progressive linkage is NOT an option; as the intake is an IR design, linkage MUST be straight.

Obviously, synchronization of the carburetors is mandatory.

Jon

[hurryinhoosier62]

I knew Edelbrock produced a similar manifold for the ‘59-‘64 engines that used six two barrel carbs.

[Jack Gifford]

Originally Posted by flamedabone

... I would have bet you that a Man-A-Fre for a Pontiac didn't exist...

I would have been in on that bet. I have to wonder if more than a very few were made.

[Drag Star Le Mans]

Originally Posted by 65madgoat

From link above:

Sorry I didn't realize it was yours.