Unique intake manifold, to me

[pflaming]

Last night I noted a couple of differences in this manifold. 1) what is the purpose of the nipple in the side of the center, 2) that center appears to be larger and higher than other manifolds I have. Your response is requested.

[countrytravler]

It's homemade. Have done a few myself.

[greg g]

The intake is home made??  When hoods were high the intakes had that tall casting under the carb.  As hoods got lower, so did that casting.  My 56 intake is nearly flush with the horizontal portion, and in54 they switched to a shorter carb also.  The other deal looks like a tap for a vacuum gauge or some other vacuum accessory.

[countrytravler]

2 minutes ago, greg g said:

The intake is home made??  When hoods were high the intakes had that tall casting under the carb.  As hoods got lower, so did that casting.  My 56 intake is nearly flush with the horizontal portion, and in54 they switched to a shorter carb also.  The other deal looks like a tap for a vacuum gauge or some other vacuum accessory.

Look at the amateur weld on the front dump. This was common in its day.

[greg g]

Saw that, think Paul was asking about the intake.

[pflaming]

This is a 47/48 T124 engine so the tall intake makes sense, the vacuum port, ?? Maybe wiper vacuum. 

[greg g]

Vacuum gauge on the dash to monitor fuel economy?

[johnsartain]

There were two manifolds that I have seen, I have one of each. The taller one was supposed to help balance and even out the fuel air charge going to the cylinders that were farther out thus increasing power. Did it work? I have been told it did, but I have no experience myself. I would have used my tall one had it not been cracked. The vacuum port is anyone's guess but i don;t remember seeing the port on the back runner of the intake on mine. That's where the vacuum windshield washer connected.  I'm sure that the extra dump was an attempt to increase exhaust breathability.  So I hear that  adding a dual manifold, header, or adding an extra dump helped to increase torque. That one is ridiculous old school.

[pflaming]

Engine is a T124, a truck engine. Could that have been for horns? It seems to me a wolf whistle came off there somewhere. 

[johnsartain]

Now its all coming together, 

• Red Engine
• Horns
• Whistles

Ok, Vacuum motor for a siren. Did by chance the engine come out of a Fire Truck?