Why front inlet and side inlet?

[jamesF]

Just talking to a buddy today and told him that an easy way to ID a Pontiac Quadrajet was by the Front Inlet Fuel Line. He asked me why the Pontiacs were different....
I was gonna spout some BS but I couldn't come up with anything..

[73 Z28]

James this may be B.S. too but on the sbc intake, the thermostat housing causes fouling problems with the fuel line if a front inlet q-jet is used. Buick, Olds & Pontiac all used a slightly different location for their thermostat housings which allowed a front inlet q-jet to be used without issue.

Paul
 

[Ethan1]

Just talking to a buddy today and told him that an easy way to ID a Pontiac Quadrajet was by the Front Inlet Fuel Line. He asked me why the Pontiacs were different....
I was gonna spout some BS but I couldn't come up with anything..

 Yeah James, I believe all Buick, Olds, and Pontiacs came with the straight inlet, while Chevy and Cadillac came with the 90 degree inlet. I may be wrong. I really don't know why they did it that way. Maybe because of where the fuel pump is located? So you don't have to put a big kink in the fuel line to mate up with the 90 degree fuel inlet? I really don't know. Cliff will surely know. Take care.

 Ethan