Id like to try a indy 4500 intake and do a comparison.. Indy and the mopar mag BOTH SAY the 4150 intake with the spacer is the way to go.. i agree COMPLETELY with mrviper700's theology!!! When you upset the "natural aspiration" of the intake tract, you produce 2 things SWIRL and velocity inccrease.. Sometimes swirl and/or velocity will actually HELP a motor. BUT... if the geometry is done correctly, a SMOOTHE AS A BABY's BUTT intake tract will OUTPERFORM a "rocky" one!!! Thats why POLISHING and PORTING work so well!!! I AM A MOPAR GUY (like you couldn't tell) and i have heard about the CHEBBIE guys welding a "D" in their intake tract to get the fuel charge to "swirl".. It actually helps the combustion process !!! As far as leaving off the convertor,, I am a little afraid of that because of the sprague in the trans... I have a MONSTER sprague in it BUT the sprague is the weak link of the whole trans.. leaving at 5000 will MAYBE be too violent on the trans and the driveshaft!!! I HAVE TO GET the pinion angle correct BEFORE I try pushing it.. I COULD try different REV chips to see how she leaves on the transbrake..but,,, the MANUAL brakes might not hold it on the line???? PLUS,, I probably SUCK at TWO FOOTING it off the line!!! I think spending some time on the DYNO this spring will open up a FEW cans of worms... Pinning the distributor seeems like a MUST DO!!! the car idles like SHit anyways,,, so WHO CARES if it idles a little worse????