Reply to "A3 heads"

Personally I would opt for a pair of Autolite Inline carbs on a Doug Nash IR Trans-Am manifold before the Hilbornes. That's how irrational and stupid I am. I can deal with carbs, FI, I don't know. That would be a new chapter for me.
As far as the A331 manifold being nothing special I agree. I will also point out the the 427 Magnesium 1x4 intake manifold is nothing special either. It is just a PI single 1x4 manifold cast from magnesium. It was on the factory "light weight 427" engines that were in the Comp Cobras, factory lightweight Galaxies, and the 65 Ford GT Mark II. Along with the aluminum hubbed XE balancer, aluminum MR C6FE-B heads and the 67 Fairlane 427 cast iron exhaust manifolds. None of which are particularly special or desireable for performance or even dependabilaty. There are MUCH better aftermarket parts available. Needless to say they are hardly worthless.