(Image/David Jones – YouTube)

The Edelbrock 2101 and the Edelbrock 2701 are both carbureted, dual-plane intake manifolds that are part of the popular Edelbrock Performer product line.

Both of these Edelbrock intake manifolds share several similarities, and both are capable, proven options for street performance and mild racing applications.

This article aims to highlight the differences between the Edelbrock 2101 and 2701 intake manifolds to help you choose the best Edelbrock Performer dual-plane intake for your vehicle.

There are three basic steps to choosing the right intake manifold:

  1. Choose your style.
  2. Find the right fit.
  3. Fine-tune your choice.

Single-plane manifolds, dual-plane manifolds, and tunnel ram manifolds are three common, popular styles.

Both the Edelbrock 2101 and 2701 are dual-plane manifolds, which means they both have two separate plenums. Each plenum feeds just four cylinders on your V8 engine.

Dual-plane manifolds have longer intake runners than a single-plane design and are ideal for low- to mid-range power production in the 1,500-5,500 rpm range, which results in good idle quality.

If you’re shopping for an intake for a high-horsepower engine or race car, you might want to consider a single-plane intake manifold. You can learn more about the differences between them by watching this short Edelbrock explainer video:

Regarding fitment, a little more than two tenths of an inch (0.220″, to be exact) separate the heights of these two manifolds. (The 2701 is taller.) Your hood clearance will depend on your specific application and setup, but it’s an important consideration in the event of any space issues you might run into.

Furthermore, Edelbrock 2101 and 2701 intake manifolds are machined specifically to mate to a Gen. I small block Chevy engine (1955-1986). Port-style matching and alignment are important when choosing an intake manifold. If you do not own a first-gen small block Chevy, there’s a good chance you should be shopping for intake manifolds other than these two.

Edelbrock 2101

The Edelbrock 2101 intake manifold is designed to work with either a square bore, or spread bore carburetor. (Image/Summit Racing)

The Edelbrock 2101‘s primary differentiating trait from its 2701 cousin is its flange design at the top center of the intake manifold.

It is designed, machine-finished, and bored in such a way that it can mate with either a spread bore or square bore carburetor. The Edelbrock 2101 carries a higher price tag as a result.

A less obvious difference is its height. At 4.050″, it is slightly shorter than the 2701, which matters most for vehicles with limited hood clearance. For example, the Edelbrock 2101 can fit under a stock Chevy Corvette hood. The Edelbrock 2701 cannot.

Edelbrock 2701

The Edelbrock 2701 intake manifold is designed to mate with a square bore carburetor. To use an OE-style spread bore carb, such as a Quadrajet (Q-Jet), you will need to use a carb adapter. The Edelbrock carb adapter adds another 0.850″ of height to your carb setup, so please keep this in mind if there’s a chance that a lack of hood clearance could be an obstacle. (Image/Summit Racing)

The Edelbrock 2701 mates with square bore carburetors only (unless you use a carb adapter). The 2701 costs less than the 2101 and is part of Edelbrock’s line of EPS Performer intake manifolds which feature a newer intake runner design. This runner design is tuned for peak torque at 3500 rpm on small block Chevy engines.

The 2701 makes an extra five horsepower and nine foot-pounds of torque over the Edelbrock 2101, according to the company’s own dyno testing.

The 2701’s 4.270″ height can create space problems under the hood in certain applications, and notably in Corvettes. That problem is exacerbated when a carb adapter is used by people who want to use a spread bore carburetor. An Edelbrock carb adapter will add an extra 0.85″ to your carb height.

For street applications, hood clearance is a major consideration.

If you want to retain the use of your hood, you should measure the height of your stock manifold and try to remain close to that dimension when choosing your performance intake manifold. You can accommodate higher intake manifolds by using a hood scoop, low-profile air cleaner assembly, or other means. But remember, this will result in added time and cost.

2101 vs. 2701 Head to Head

EDL-2101EDL-2701
Product LineEdelbrock Performer Intake ManifoldEdelbrock Performer EPS Intake Manifold
Manifold Flange StyleSquare/Spread BoreSquare Bore
Price (*as of 09/2019 on SummitRacing.com)$188.95$124.17
Engine ApplicationGen. I Small Block Chevy (1955-1986)Gen. I Small Block Chevy (1955-1986)
Basic Operating RPM RangeIdle-5,500Idle-5,500
Carb Quantity11
Intake FinishNaturalNatural
Intake Manifold Height4.050 in.4.270 in.
Intake MaterialAluminumAluminum
Intake StyleDual PlaneDual Plane
NotesHas un-machined boss for oil-fill tube. Accepts late model choke, water neck, air conditioning, alternator, and HEI. When using a Holley Double-Pumper series carburetor a low profile vacuum fitting EDL-8096 must be used. Intake will not fit under stock Corvette hood.