There have actually been attempts to control mixture flow to individual cylinders by inserting various kinds of deflectors in intake runners by people with a lot more experience and equipment than me. I used a removable-top Edelbrock STR (Street tunnel ram) intake on a MOPAR 440 that had instructions from the factory included with it on custom jetting of a Holley 4-BBL to maximize cylinder balance (4 different-size jets) and some suggestions on the size and position of deflectors inside the manifold for the same effect, taking into account the RPM range and firing order.
On engines as primitive as the old stovebolts, it would be a colossal waste of time to try such tactics. Sort of like putting lipstick on a pig! For one thing, the port shape and geometry of the intake and exhaust would have far more to do with the fuel distribution than anything done with a die grinder.
I've watched my father port, relieve, and polish flathead Ford engines back in the early 1950's, but he was doing the same thing I did in the 70's- - - -working on exotic race engines that weren't expected to survive very long, and producing at least twice the power they were engineered to have. Doing racing stuff on a street engine is an exercise in futility. If it makes you feel good, do it but it's a colossal waste of time and money.
Jerry
