there should be approx 4 / 4.5" variation in primary length
That much variation? I would have though much less than that (within an inch or so), but if that works then my header build for my new project will be much simpler to build.
That's what I'd have thought, too.
I'd be interested to see the theory & practice around this.
I can see how one might arrange a 4 / 4.5" variation between two primaries, but four? . . or six?
How does that work logically?
I took the flange off my 807 / 843 manilfold & had a new flange laser cut with larger bores to give a mismatch as per Dave Vizards findings on A series engines 30 years ago, and made sure I slightly modified the lengths to comply with Bells BTCC ideas who also specifies the mismatch. We had just had a 6 cyl Aston Martin head with an old school matched port by David Martin, ex Swaymar and Motorman, no matter what cam we used we never the hp over 213 on that head engine combo, we then had a head ported with a port left about 3 mm smaller (largely as cast) by John Middleton, ex Cosworth, same spec engine, 245bhp, never looked back until John retired.
Never tried the mismatch in length on one of our 6es, FIA regulations dont allow it, so stuck at 92.5 bhp per ltr until our new spec head is machined & the engine built, however we are sure we can get over 295 bhp from 2.922 cc on an engine designed in 1940.