aluminum intake advantage?
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 65
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From: York pa
aluminum intake advantage?
I need some help on this one. Other than the weight, is there any advantage to an aluminum intake manifold over a stock manifold?
Thanks,
John
[Modified by John2, 7:03 PM 4/19/2003]
Thanks,
John
[Modified by John2, 7:03 PM 4/19/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
Re: aluminum intake advantage? (John2)
Not on a stock engine.If you see 10hp gain you'd be lucky.Now if you,ve changed exhaust,cam,maybe heads you will see the benifits of an intake change.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Moro IL
Re: aluminum intake advantage? (John2)
The two biggest advantages over cast iron are weight and heat dissipation. Given equal runner length volume and flow characteristics there isn't any performance advantage over cast iron. But aluminum is far easier to port and clean up then cast iron.
:cheers:
Pat Kunz
:cheers:
Pat Kunz
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 7
From: Katy (Houston) TX
CI 7-8 Veteran
Re: aluminum intake advantage? (John2)
Won't an aluminum intake help dissapate heat a little better also? I've always heard that aluminum heads will run cooler, how about the intake?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,957
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From: Chico Ca
Re: aluminum intake advantage? (John2)
There is a differance between manifolds there are dual plane manifolds that work well from low RPM's up. There are also aluminum manifolds that are designed for high RPM performance like Dominator manifolds.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,631
Likes: 14
From: Fountain Hills AZ
Re: aluminum intake advantage? (John2)
Typically, aluminum intakes (factory or after market) are designed to be better flowing than their cast iron counterparts. Even if otherwise identical though, the lighter weight and better heat dissipation of the aluminum intake would be an advantage. The lighter aluminum intake is also easier to handle during installation. On the downside, aluminum is more porus and therefore more likely to stain and discolor.
Don't discount the performance benefits of less weight. Individually, aluminum pieces instead of cast iron may not make much of a difference but enough aluminum pieces can add up to a weight reduction that will have noticeable effect on performance.
Don't discount the performance benefits of less weight. Individually, aluminum pieces instead of cast iron may not make much of a difference but enough aluminum pieces can add up to a weight reduction that will have noticeable effect on performance.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,098
Likes: 378
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
Re: aluminum intake advantage? (John2)
More than one book has been written on intake manifolds John. And no aluminum isn't any better/faster than or make more power than steel/cast iron. It's in the design and modifications.
To add one thing more, stock cast iron intake manifolds aren't all that bad performance wise.
To add one thing more, stock cast iron intake manifolds aren't all that bad performance wise.
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Re: aluminum intake advantage? (Vetterodder)
Performance Al. & less wt. rec.! Even Performer 2101 or Weiand Action+ about 12 HP over stock cast iron which is better than stock egr iron.
Even stock hi rise Al. is almost as good as RPM. Performance Al. is rec.!
:cool:
Even stock hi rise Al. is almost as good as RPM. Performance Al. is rec.!
:cool:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 844
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From: Central KY
Re: aluminum intake advantage? (John2)
Vetterodder's got it right. In general, you will find better flowing designs among the aftermarket products. My problem is that I want to keep the stock hood on my 73 big block - with the fresh air system. I am not sure that I can swap in an aftermarket dual plane without a carb height problem. I have an Edelbrock (Rochester) carb. Anyone done this on a 73?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 248
Likes: 1
From: Kansas City MO
Re: aluminum intake advantage? (djcwardog)
If you know the measurments of your current setup you can compare them with the specs of an aftermarket intake, or give the specs to the companies and have them look for what would be closest in their inventory, and hopefully get your carb in the same place and get a performance increase.
Another option would be to get your exisiting intake ported. Everything would be in the same place but if done right you'll get a performance boost. Might not be as much as an aftermarket casting but it might be worth it. You could even try porting it yourself and if you mess it up too bad you could still get an aftermarket intake.
Another option would be to get your exisiting intake ported. Everything would be in the same place but if done right you'll get a performance boost. Might not be as much as an aftermarket casting but it might be worth it. You could even try porting it yourself and if you mess it up too bad you could still get an aftermarket intake.
