Early VL intake differences

[sny]

Check out these differences in my two early V/VL intakes. Bores look the same or close but the bend is very different. My top motor mount bolt was hitting the intake and giving me grief and now I know why! Photos seem to have rotated when I uploaded but intake on the top or right came off a 1930 and the one on the bottom/left came off a 1932.

BB3D1D59-44AD-417A-A66F-643BD785ADAE.jpg0628BB6F-D393-4DEF-861F-0D4DCC59FB8F.jpgADB43C34-386D-42D9-8EFC-AF70C576F68E.jpg0628BB6F-D393-4DEF-861F-0D4DCC59FB8F.jpg

[kitabel]

Have you measured the nuts across the flats and the port ID? I did this in P/Shop, and the silver nut appears larger in both dims.
These may be V, VC, VR (smaller, 1-7/8" nut) and VL, VLD, VLH (larger, 2" nut)

[sny]

Have you measured the nuts across the flats and the port ID? I did this in P/Shop, and the silver nut appears larger in both dims.
These may be V, VC, VR (smaller, 1-7/8" nut) and VL, VLD, VLH (larger, 2" nut)

In the photo the silver nuts do appear to be bigger but it’s just the lighting, they are the same size. I just measured them and both sets of nuts are 2” outside. Both intake ports have a 1 1/4” inner diameter +/- some pitting. The 1930 intake was turned down for peek seals but the ID is the same. The shape of the bends is the only difference between the intakes.

[Steve Slocombe]

The Harley advertising literature suggests there may have been two intake manifolds in 1930, one for speed work. Maybe the V and VL models were different for a while. Check the casting numbers on the bottom flange of the manifold. I have one here that is 428-30 but I also see 428-30B. The similar 1932-35 RLD manifold has casting number 503-30B but the nuts are 1 7/8" and not 2". Harley milked the comparisons with the JD, claiming the duplex front chain and the downdraft manifold were new through to about 1932.

On that motor mount nut, in the VL years it was the skinny 0136 jam nut, then the 1940 parts book changes it to 2641-30 from the fork rockers, while many repros come with a full nut that might explain your fouling problems.

[sny]

Interesting about the jam nut size, I'll check that. Here is another interesting V intake on Ebay right now. Kind of looks like the 1930 but I wonder what that notch is for?

s-l1600.jpg

The Harley advertising literature suggests there may have been two intake manifolds in 1930, one for speed work. Maybe the V and VL models were different for a while. Check the casting numbers on the bottom flange of the manifold. I have one here that is 428-30 but I also see 428-30B. The similar 1932-35 RLD manifold has casting number 503-30B but the nuts are 1 7/8" and not 2". Harley milked the comparisons with the JD, claiming the duplex front chain and the downdraft manifold were new through to about 1932.

On that motor mount nut, in the VL years it was the skinny 0136 jam nut, then the 1940 parts book changes it to 2641-30 from the fork rockers, while many repros come with a full nut that might explain your fouling problems.

[Steve Slocombe]

I can't believe the notch is factory. I've seen a few inlet manifolds altered to take a feed from the engine breather pipe, maybe for racing or just to reduce the oil on the garage floor.

[sny]

Hah! That actually makes a lot of sense. Gotta put all that oil somewhere, might as well try to get a little extra benefit from it.

I can't believe the notch is factory. I've seen a few inlet manifolds altered to take a feed from the engine breather pipe, maybe for racing or just to reduce the oil on the garage floor.