Intake - small letter “No Name” S1MS

[6s1640]

Hi all,

I picked up this intake years ago because of its uniqueness and similarities to a S1MS 1965 GT350 intake.  The nameplate is blank.  The temp sensor  provision is the smaller version.  There's no firing order nor part number . The  casting features for a PCV connection are absent and the casting sprue, typically with a manufactured marking,  has been trimmed off. There is a threaded hole in the very aft runner, No. 8.  What is the origin of this Intake?  Is it a prototype? Is it a test part to validate the casting? Is it an early production part?  Is it someone's creation by modifying a S1MS manifold?  It's a mystery to me. What do you think?
Thanks for looking
Cory

[brandosaac]

I cant tell you, but it does look like a small letter intake casting
without any numbers or letters , maybe its a sample / test run?

[Bob Gaines]

I have seen one or two in years past which that had numbers and letters where the Cobra letters would be. The small diameter temp was what stood out on the early style in my mind because I have seen the later version that was similar but they had the larger sender hole and a threaded PCV vacuum port.   

[6s1640]

Hi guys,

Thanks for your input.  A fellow, very knowledgeable and long time SAAC member, sent me a PM.  This is how I interpreted his input.  He is suggesting that the manifold may have been marketed by some other Non-SAI Speed Job or retailer. (Maybe even approved my SIA, Ford, Offenhauser or other supplier.) To avoid issues with licensing or other infringement, the retailer may have had the manifold made, from the same supplier as SIA, with all the Shelby American (COBRA and S1MS 9424A), FORD (Firing order) and supplier identification markings removed.  This is consistent with the manifold.  That way they could sell without legal issues. The best way to determine if this was the actual origin, would be finding an old period sales flier or news print ad showing the generic intake.  It might have been a local speed shop and all the advertising is long go.  This of course is all conjecture.  We may never really know for sure.

However, this does not explain why the PCV provision was removed and an threaded hole added to the No. 8 runner.  Other than, if they started with the race version manifold, that provision was already gone.   Then, the threaded hole was added by the first owner to tap in a line for some vacuum.

Take care

Cory

[6s1640]

I did a Google search on 1965 early Cobra Intake manifold and found this image from Dan Case.  It looks like this may have been the manifold used to make the manifold I posted above. No need to remove the firing order or the Shelby American part number. Just remove the feature that cast the word COBRA.

See link below.  It is the same manifold.

https://www.saac.com/forum/index.php?topic=11325.0

[pbf777]

      I'm not sure based on the photos as provided, but it seems that there are remains of striations across the pad where the nomenclature is missing which may lead one to be under the impression that the nomenclature had been ground-off? 

      Also, I'm pretty sure the hole in the #8 inlet runner, currently with a steel plug inserted, was not as executed in production, rather someone, somewhere along the way, needed a vacuum port and made accommodations.   

      Scott.

[Vernon Estes]

Cory, I believe the no fire order, no S1MS version Dan pictures there is the version of the intake which would have been optioned on mid to late production 289 Cobras on rare occasion. Today tons of small block Cobra run a small letter and 3259 but, as I am sure you already know, very few 289 Cobras actually recieved that intake as a factory option.

It is a very rare version of the S1MS intake for that reason.

Just adding a little color to the thread hopefully.

As an aside, another option for your intake having the "Cobra" wiped could be that another racing outfit wanted to run it but had a reason that they didn't want it to say "Cobra". Just a thought. Lots of possibilities. Neat piece!

[Dan Case]

While predating GT350s, here is picture of one version of a family of 260 c.i.d. engine aluminum 4V intake manifold. Ford made a number of different prototype cast iron 260 4V intake manifolds. One of the patterns got carried over into an aluminum version from Holman-Moody. If you poke around the Internet you will find aluminum 4V models with:

Holman-Moody bird shaped logo.
A raised flat rectangular pad with nothing on it. (Shelby American factory picture.)
A raised flat pad as above with a COBRA transfer applied (Shelby American magazine ad.)
COBRA text as shown below.
TIGER text.
A raised flat pad with round ended and nothing on it.
MOON text.

At least those are the ones I know about.



There were also 2-4V manifolds with:
Edelbrock F4B logo (two places).
COBRA text.
SHELBY text.
A raised flat pad with nothing on it.

At least those are the ones I know about.

I have seen a few of the intakes as shown in the original post. I have seen holes drilled somewhere to add a PCV system fitting in intakes without bosses for the purpose.

Making additional versions must not have been a big project in the 1960s.