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By Macs1964F100 - 10 Years Ago
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I see a ECB 9425 B intake listed on Craigslist. My research shows it is a '55 ("182 H.P. Special" with F/M) and the picture shows it has the choke actuator built into the manifold.
I have a F100 with 60's small valve heads and want to maximize low end (I want the engine to be a truck engine). I rarely get the engine to 3,500 rpms. My plans are replace the 2bbl manifold with a 4bbl, add RAM horn exhaust, and advance the cam timing (with new chain) 6-8 degrees. Will the ECB 9425 B be a good choice to improve low end? I understand an adapter will be needed to add a modern small 4 bbl and the choke actuator will need to be blocked off.
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By Ted - 10 Years Ago
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While the ECB-B intake will provide a boost in low end performance over a 2V intake, overall performance is still going to be trailing substantially behind the ECZ-B intake. If the engine it’s going on is simply a daily driver, then it will be a good low end torque manifold and does at least allow modern carbs to be used with an adapter. The key here is to not give too much $ for one of those manifolds as the money is better spent on the later 4V intake (ECZ-B).
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By Macs1964F100 - 10 Years Ago
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Thank you for the quick reply. They want $150 and it needs blasting and painting and you still have the unsightly block off for the choke. I saw a ECZ on eBay for $250 so that sounds like a better deal.
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By YBLOCKMERC - 10 Years Ago
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I've got an ECZ9425-A that would require an adapter but doesn't have the choke mount on the manifold. $75 + shipping. You could email @ roadqwesty914@comcast.net if you're interested. Can send pictures.
Marc
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By PF Arcand - 10 Years Ago
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The ECB-B intake at $150 is probably best left for someone doing a stock restoration, say on a Power Pack Crown Vic. The ECZ-A is likely a decent buy or if you want to go beyond that, as Ted indicates, a 57 and later "B' intake, but you likely don't really need it, & they usually run in the $200 range in good shape.
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By DryLakesRacer - 10 Years Ago
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If you go with an A manifold with an adapter find a small CFM for best street performance. Carter AFB's were available down to 400 CFM, Edelbrock's start at 500, and Holley's offer one for off road at 465/470 CFM and maybe some here can comment on possibly using a 390 CFM. There are also all of the Autolite's used on the 289 Mustangs that matches the linkage real well..
If you don't want to use an adapter, Carter and Rochester in the 50's made small base 4 barrels and all are right at 400 CFM. I used a Carter for a 331" 1953 Cadillac on my 292 for 3 years and it was perfect before going to dual quads. Good Luck.....
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By Allan McMurtry - 9 Years Ago
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The ECB9425B is the intake manifold for the 1955 Thunderbird. The only Tbird with the choke on the intake manifold. The carb that fits on there is the tea pot, 4000. The 1957 TBird had the Holley 4150. If anybody cares, I have the correct numbers for the 4000 carb that goes with the intake manifold. It is my understanding that about 8,000 of the 16,000 1955 TBirds are still running. But my anecdotal observation is that a number of them are running the 4150 Holley, not the 4000. Thing is, the air filter won't fit using the 1957 Tbird intake manifold and Holley carb. The hood won't close. Sometimes you'll see an original air filter on a 1955 that has the 57 setup. But that air filter has been trimmed. One would think that an authentic numbered intake manifold for the 1955 TBird in good condition would be worth more than $100. I took me over a year to find my ECB9425B and almost that long to find the Holley 4000. Nobody is racing a stock 1955 Tbird anymore that I am aware of. It is my understanding that when property overhauled the 4000 Holley is a good carb. My two cents. Enjoyed the comments.
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By Bobwanna - 9 Years Ago
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Allan, Welcome to the Y-block forum. You posted some very good info on the 4 barrel manifolds and follow up comments from others were very helpful. Noticed this is an old thread, wonder where original poster is? Anyways, I did not know of subtle differences regarding the choke. I have a 55 TBird that came with the 57 manifold and Holly carb, Load-a-Matic distributor and non-stock air filter plus other body mods that would make it very costly to go back to original. Before getting on the road again I have brake work and a 57 tach drive dizzy to install. As for the teapot, I drove my 56 quite a lot back in the day and never had carb problems - Bob
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By brettnelson - 9 Years Ago
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This is an ECB-B manifold with the 4 barrel spacer i purchased through Speedway. I have not run the car yet but I sure don't like interruption in flow. I think if I had to do it again I would hunt down an ECZ.......
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By charliemccraney - 9 Years Ago
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There are tapered adapters available, I think from Speedway. You can also scribe the manifold and open it up to match the spacer.
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By GREENBIRD56 - 9 Years Ago
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There are several ways to make a good match - I used a phenolic spacer I could modify to adapt (tapered to smaller size below). You need a heat break in there anyway - it is very effective in stopping percolation of fuel.
Slotting the manifold is a proven concept and many manifolds have been reconfigured with a grinder.
Ted - in particular - has run a lot of tests with spacers and adapters - and I would suggest using an "educated" shape of spacer between the carb and the manifold even if slotted.
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By kari613 - 9 Years Ago
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Hi , I have the later model y block ECZ9425B manifold complete with a Holly 600 4bbl carb and chrome air cleaner . I will take $250.00 plus s-h. It has fresh paint and also includes a good water outlet housing and fresh gasket. email karimu@frontiernet.net or call 928 855 7340 in AZ.
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By brettnelson - 9 Years Ago
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The spacer picture i posted is the tapered model from speedway. I wouldn't go that route unless you want to open the intake ports to match it.
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By carl - 9 Years Ago
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Macs1964F100 (3/1/2015)
I see a ECB 9425 B intake listed on Craigslist. My research shows it is a '55 ("182 H.P. Special" with F/M) and the picture shows it has the choke actuator built into the manifold. I have a F100 with 60's small valve heads and want to maximize low end (I want the engine to be a truck engine). I rarely get the engine to 3,500 rpms. My plans are replace the 2bbl manifold with a 4bbl, add RAM horn exhaust, and advance the cam timing (with new chain) 6-8 degrees. Will the ECB 9425 B be a good choice to improve low end? I understand an adapter will be needed to add a modern small 4 bbl and the choke actuator will need to be blocked off. The ECB 9425 B manifold was also used on the 55 Mercs,so really not that hard to find. Carl
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By Allan McMurtry - 9 Years Ago
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The original carbs for the 1955 TBird:
ECJ-9510-L List 1077-1 (3 speed)
ECJ-9510-M List 1078-1 (Auto)
And I show an ECJ-910-T List 1078-2A (unknown)
Replacement Carbs:
ECJ-9501-L List 997-1 (3 speed)
ECJ-9510-G List 1077 (3 speed)
ECJ-9510-D List 998-1 (Auto)
ECJ-9510-H List 1078 (Auto)
My 1955 TBird has the 57 intake manifold and the 4150 57 Tbird 4 barrel carb as well. I finally found the original 4 barrel carb and intake manifolds. I am assuming that people went to the 57 carb and intakes under the theory they would get more power. I haven't seen any confirmation on that. I bought mine in early 1963. So the change over happened in my car fairly quickly. My research indicates the original carb and intake are actually good pieces of equipment. But a carb overhaul is $350 to $450 and the guys that know these cars recommend using somebody who knows them to rebuild them. I'm going to have to decide if I want to make the change back to original so the air cleaner fits. The rest of the car is original. That means it can be hard to start with the 6 volt if the engine is too hot. Since I have a 3 speed with OD, I used to push it, hop in, throw it into 2nd, and pop the clutch. Those were the days.
One night when driving across country, the car died on a railroad track inside a small town. A restaurant was open, and I noticed a police car. I went in and saw the policeman. I approached him and asked if he would mind giving me a push off the tracks. "Can't do it. Against regulations." I was a little surprised "You know it's sitting on the tracks, right?" "Mister, it is still against regulations." "In that case," I told him. "I'm going to sit down and order up some food and wait for the next train. When it comes, I'll ask your superior if he would have pushed my car off the tracks." The officer mumbled under his breath, and said wait until I finish and I'll come push you off." Fortunately no train came while he was eating. In his defense, I'm sure somebody above him laid down the law about giving pushes.
Allan
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By carl - 9 Years Ago
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Good info on the t bird carbs,i will file that for future reference,thanks for posting it.Also a good story about getting stuck on rr tracks Carl
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By 2721955meteor - 9 Years Ago
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What dist did you use with the 57carb and manifold,interested to know . my last 55bird had original style carb and dist,it worked fine,just hard to start after siting 2 weeks. never had hot start isue,had reg adjusted to 9volts charge,carbes wer not hard to work on geting some parts a bit of a strugle as throttle shafts usualy worn.siting 2 week isue adresed with elc fuel pump maualy activated.
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By speedpro56 - 9 Years Ago
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Back in the 1960s someone put a 1955 intake and carb on my 56 312 Tbird and matching dist. It ran well with no issues actually impressive. I bought the car in 1984 rebuilt the carb because it was parked in 1966 and yes I replaced other rubber parts and belts be cause of dry rot. After a few years of driving as it was I decided to upgrade to a 1957 intake and later 4V carb and distributor and was impressed with the better performance and gas mileage. The 370 cfm holley 4000 is too small for performance on a 312 in my opinion as well as the intake for breath ability. The later distributor performed mush better than the loadomatic. That's why ford went into that direction of upgrades to keep up with the competition and it worked.
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By Allan McMurtry - 9 Years Ago
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I knew Ford put a Mercury engine in the 55 TBird, well, all three years. I didn't know they shared the same numbers on the intake manifolds. But I guess it would be difficult to put a new code on an intake manifold just for the 55 T'bird. Easier to do that with a carburetor. My 292 has performed well. It is too bad Ford didn't make the 55 Tbird with a 12 volt system. One bridge too far at the time. Robert McNamara, yes, that Robert McNamara, moved in over the TBirds after the 1955 was in production and ordered the entire class scuttled. When the engineers explained that the designs were already in on the 56's, McNamara said kill the 57s. But Ford had no alternative for the 57 either. Matter of fact, the 57 was made through December 31, 1957. A longer run than normal. Those last Tbirds were supercharged. Could do 6.7 in 0-60 and a top end of 140 according to the best info I found. But, we're lucky we have the 56 and 57 birds. The 58, 59 and 60 Birds outsold the two seaters. Still, one has to wonder where Ford and Thunderbird would be if Ford had kept a two seater. Would have been an interesting competition between the Corvette and the Thunderbirds as the 1960s wore on
I'm reading about the improvement in the 4150 carb from the 57 engines along with the 57 intake manifold. Makes me wonder if I want to replace the original intake manifold and carb. Of course, I have no way to operate the choke on the 57 Carb. I can always bring in a manual line, I guess.
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