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The engine I'm rebuilding (Skoda Estelle '72, RWD, rear mounted engine) is the same from previous models, with slight different changes. One of the things they modified was the intake manifold which, as I'm guessing, correspond to a different carburetor being provided. I have the two kinds of those manifolds, but the carburetor I'm adapting comes from a classic Lada. The Lada manifold has one single slot in the carburetor seat; the manifold that came with the engine is the kind with two interconnecting "holes":

The first top pictures is the manifold that came with the engine, the picture below is the other manifold resembling very much a Lada's (from which I will use the carburetor).

My guess is that in the "holes" manifold, the top hole which has an insert ring, provides something like a pool of gas, to help the engine crank perhaps in cold Czech winters :) When I teared the engine into parts, I could see a puddle of gas there. To start this engine (which already had a Lada carburetor) I had always to kick the gas pedal a few times before running the starter.

The second manifold does not comes with the vacuum port for the brakes, but that's something I can add.

So my question is a bit complex, hopefully someone with experience could guide me:

Is there any real benefit or not (from any angle: consumption, performance, etc) by installing the second manifold? Besides just resembling the Lada's carburetor seat...

enter image description here

EDIT:

Pics of the Lada Carb against the second manifold

enter image description here

Aram Alvarez
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So, your real question is the bold bit at the end of your explanations: Is there any real benefit or not (from any angle: consumption, performance, etc) by installing the second manifold?

Answer: no. They will perform the same and consume the same.

The engines concerned are built to coarse tolerances for severe weather fluctuations. Why Lada and Skoda made different intakes for the same engine? you need to find someone who was on the design team at the time for an accurate answer!

Bear in mind you're working on a Lada, not a Merc. They didn't do 'fine-tuning' on Ladas. A Czech friend of mine told me when making something, the Russians just slap a hunk of metal in and make it work, and that the German Army lost the Russian war because all their gear had to be so precise and ball-bearings and such, while the local stuff was just solid, clunky but functional.

Your manifolds are both solid and clunky. And that's OK, because both will work fine.

Bevan
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