Composite manifold?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,110
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From: JUPITER FLORIDA
Composite manifold?
When do you think there will be a composite (polymer) manifold for the l98?
This would be nice, as for weight savings and heat dissapation.
Do you think this will ever happen? Has anyone heard of anything in the making?
This would be nice, as for weight savings and heat dissapation.
Do you think this will ever happen? Has anyone heard of anything in the making?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,238
Likes: 10
From: College Station TX
Some Vortec's had a plastic/metal intake from the factory. The problem with making an all plastic intake would be the theromstat and coolant running through it. LTx and LSx intakes are dry.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 9
There was a company that made plastic TPI plenums ... no longer in business though. Once in a long while you will see one on ebay.
Wilson manifolds does make a plastic single plane manifold for small block chevys. The runner sections are removable, and they claim it makes more power than any comparable manifold:
http://www.wilsonmanifolds.com/
Last edited by Mr6spd; Jul 26, 2007 at 10:13 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
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From: sw Ohio
yeah right. Lets see they're in all '85-'91 vettes and also found in quite a few Camaros and TA's. I'd say thats at least 1 million vehicles right there. Its more of the fact that most people have moved on to the LSX engines for hot rodding over the old TPI.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,110
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From: JUPITER FLORIDA
Thats my theory also. Looks like what we have is slowly fading away. As far as new up grades go. What we see now might be all we will see for the l98's. Unless that new bbk one comes out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,382
Likes: 2
From: Kathleen FL
I'll think that evenually, meaning 10-20 years from now, everyone who wants performance from a traditional SBC will more than likely end up scrapping it for a nice and tight Gen 3 - 4 motor. Come on now, a tall deck LSX can be bored and stroked to 512 cubic inches! If there only was a quick and easy way to get an LSx style motor to "bolt just right in" our outdated C4s, I would have jumped on it a long time ago!
I honestly think that performance parts for traditional SBCs will eventually become a thing of the past. Let's just hope someone eventually makes a "quick and easy" LSx swap kits for our C4s as well as an adapter harness.
So I can't see how selling plastic intakes for SBC motors could be profitable for a business without much demand for them, no wonder they are about as scarce as finding a nice $100 bill on the ground, right beside an ATM...
I honestly think that performance parts for traditional SBCs will eventually become a thing of the past. Let's just hope someone eventually makes a "quick and easy" LSx swap kits for our C4s as well as an adapter harness.
So I can't see how selling plastic intakes for SBC motors could be profitable for a business without much demand for them, no wonder they are about as scarce as finding a nice $100 bill on the ground, right beside an ATM...
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Well, if GM keeps changing the design significantly, that won't happen.
With that said, I have no idea what changes were made 97 to present, and what high production model lines share the same engine block design.
With that said, I have no idea what changes were made 97 to present, and what high production model lines share the same engine block design.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 0
From: JUPITER FLORIDA
I figure im young. This being my first hot rod. I have a few more I will own in my life span. I already foresee those to have new generation blocks. Ill plan on getting a c5 or maybe a c6. By that time (5-8 years) they will be much cheaper used. In ten years who know what will be out. Hydrogen powerd sports cars, electric sports cars...
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
I'll think that evenually, meaning 10-20 years from now, everyone who wants performance from a traditional SBC will more than likely end up scrapping it for a nice and tight Gen 3 - 4 motor. Come on now, a tall deck LSX can be bored and stroked to 512 cubic inches! If there only was a quick and easy way to get an LSx style motor to "bolt just right in" our outdated C4s, I would have jumped on it a long time ago!
I honestly think that performance parts for traditional SBCs will eventually become a thing of the past. Let's just hope someone eventually makes a "quick and easy" LSx swap kits for our C4s as well as an adapter harness.
So I can't see how selling plastic intakes for SBC motors could be profitable for a business without much demand for them, no wonder they are about as scarce as finding a nice $100 bill on the ground, right beside an ATM...
I honestly think that performance parts for traditional SBCs will eventually become a thing of the past. Let's just hope someone eventually makes a "quick and easy" LSx swap kits for our C4s as well as an adapter harness.
So I can't see how selling plastic intakes for SBC motors could be profitable for a business without much demand for them, no wonder they are about as scarce as finding a nice $100 bill on the ground, right beside an ATM...
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,382
Likes: 2
From: Kathleen FL
The death knell for the old venerable gen 1 SBC might come if big brother starts to perseverate much more on the issue of emissions control tactics. I just hope its not gonna be happening in the forseable future. Noone is gonna tell us to retrofit emissions on my parents' new "old" 70 Chevelle!!!