In about a month i am going to get my intake ported on my crossfire. I went to the crossfire forum I didnt get the responces I expected. I wanta know what is actually going on is it getting grinded wider or is it getting cut larger? Also what kind of shop should I take it to get it done, just a normal mechanic? And just porting alone how much HP gain will i get? And finally how much do i get it ported is there a set amount or what?
Thanks

:steering: :steering: :steering: :steering: :steering: :steering: :steering: :steering:

 

I believe you will reach atleast 75-90 horsepower with no questions asked. You can get many different types of porting done, bigger is better. I would ask around and see who has the most common porting job and if they recommend it or not....

 

Its a machinist that will need to properly do the work. There isnt a lot of cross fire knowledge out there to rely on when it comes to grinding away at your intake. The safest and quickest return for you buck is to have the manifold "extrudehoned" its a clay like muddy abrasive that is forced through the runners cleaning, smooting and enlarging them all at the same time. Typically not a lot of material is removed but the benifit is usually very good due to the increased flow velocity into the head. The ultimate solution is to have the runners port matched to the head, however that involves alot of grinding and welding and for the money you are better of probably buying the x-ram intake that is ready tu install.

 

Ok thats a lot of hp, but i dont know any one to do that job. How much of a HP gain would i get from a factory engine with the x ram manifold? Will it flow better than an TPI with the x ram?
Thanks

 

I believe the X-ram with bigger injectors would get more of a tourque range than a stock Tpi. Plus the swap is much easier to X-ram. I dont think any intake alone swap will give you big (50 hp+) with nothing else done. But in the right combo you can get real power. A 300 hose CFI is possible.

 

Ok but I dont want to put bigger injectors in my vette, i just want to first get an engine then put the Xram then MAYBE later on put exhaust and headers on it. I was told by someone on a diffrent post that I would get 300HP with the xram alone? I hope he is right, does this sound right???

 

I think if you are going to get a new engine, if you can get some higher flowing heads.

See the problem with a CrossFire is not just the intake doesnt flow, the Heads dont flow either. If you take the time to port the Intake, you might as well port the Heads or get higher flowing ones. This way you can take advantage of the higher flowin intake with the heads. And maybe later on change out the Cam. :yesnod: :thumbs: Good luck

 

well you got to figure my budget is not that high, I am trying to sell my camaro right now for about 3500 if i get that much i would be ok but if i get less I wont be able to get diffrent heads and things like that if i get the 3500 i would be in great shape. I would buy a engine for about 2000 buy xram then buy headers and exhaust oh ya and i would buy valve covers because most engines dont come with corvette logos unless its used which i dont want. So on a factory engine what will Xram do alone, so i run a i dunno 15.1 now with Xram ONLY what do u think i will run?????

 

I highly doubt you can gain 50More HP from an X-ram alone. I dont know that much about it but from reading other people on the crossfire forum, they say that it wont really give that much untill you change out the heads aswell. Besides an X-ram is really an X-CELerater Weiand Intake that sells for 126bucks from Jegs. If you can strike up a deal with a mechanic or machinist maybe they can fab up a plate that will go ontop of the Weiand Intake to fit the TB injectors? :confused: I dont know how much the X-ram cost but if its 500, you might as well pay a mechanic 100-150bucks to make it about 125 bucks for the intake, and you saved some dough in the process. :yesnod:

 

To fabricate your own version of the X-ram would take serious time and a fair bit of money. Its not just a simple plate, but a low profile plenum.
Just buy one, Dont try and make your own.

I saw a dyno of an X-ram on a otherwise stock 84.
If i remember this right it gave an increase of 26hp and around 28 tq.Roughly.

There was no loss at the bottom end what so ever.And produced more power right across the rev range.
Not a bad increase for just a manifold.

If you want more, you need a head and cam change.
The throttle bodies are also a restriction, they need to be bored out to allow you to make serious increases.
The stock TB's flow around 530 cfm (approx) together.
But can be made to flow over 800 cfm.

 

This is HAND work. Not to say a machinist, can't possess the skills to do this hand work, but his machining knowledge and machine tools will be of little use on this job.
ExtrudeHone is expensive and NOT effective, when used alone. It would be good as a final clean up after porting, but it will do nothing to MATCH the ports.
It does involve a lot of grinding. Welding could be a benefit, but it is not necessary. I hand ported mine, using what *I* thought was common sense. No welding. I produced a 3# coffee can, almost full of grindings. That does NOT include the "rough" work I did with a cut off wheel. My EGR channel is still intact, so that didn't contribute to the volume of grindings. My 1/4 mile times dropped by about .6 with the manifold work, alone. Good luck, and...

RACE ON!!!

 

I reccomend the "machinist" based on abuddy with a file or die grinder. Most machinist have the knowledge and experiance to perform the "hand work" without damaging or destroying your intake.
I have had very good results from extrudehoning due increased flow velocity and cylinder pack. Cost could be a factot i wont dispute that all mine was done at no cost by a family member.
The runners should be built up by welding to reduce the chance of cracks after enlarging to port match, this doesnt mean it cant be done with out or that you will have a problem , just that its best to strenghten the area to help deal with heat cycling.
The key to any of the intakes is ultimatly the camshaft. The cam will be the largest contributing factor to the usability of any intake porting or replacement. The extra air will do no good if the engine is not utilizing it.

 

Well 26 HP gain is pretty good but on a diffrent forum some told me i should go with the I think they are called offy? and SY1. What is better and the prices and are they both pull and drop, ( or will i need to make other mods) And what is the HP rating thanks.
I am looking to try and get 300HP out of my crossfire, I may buy an engine with about 225 or maybe 265 or maybe 300 if the money is right but I do understand that if i buy an engine with those stats I will need to do something to the manifold so it can flow the full HP ratings so any suggestions will help thanks

 

the X ram is the easiest install only a few mods nothing major. The others intakes will require hunting to find. Other issues will be wiper motor clearance and top plate availability. The x ram will easily give you a decent 30-50 hp when combined with a good camshaft. porting the heads, freeing up the exhaust, and bumping the compression up a bit can get you to the 300 mark you want

 

:withstupid:
Yep, the x-ram is by far the easiest option.

The offy is still availiable, but you will need to make a custom top plate yourself. And there are problems with fitting it. You would need to fit a smaller windshield motor.
The SY1 is only availiable second hand. But there are no problems with getting it to fit. Still need a top plate though.

As to if the offy/sy1 are better than the x-ram.

Well they do flow more, BUT you will not make use of this extra.They are big.
The stock manifold flow about 170 cfm per runner. Approx.
The x-ram flows about 250 cfm
I think the offy flows around near the 300 mark.
(please correct me if im wrong, this is off the top of my head.)
The extra the offy/sy1 flows will not be made use of unless you fitted a seriously big cam. Which you wont.

 

Ok thanks for the info, I think I will go with the Xram. So on a factory engine I will have all together about 230HP with the Xram, it has 205 factory. I want to try and push 300 on my engine. I think i will be buying a 250 HP engine, then with the Xram I hope that gets me in the ball park and if i got enough money get headers and exhaust but not sure yet. What is a good set of headers and a good exhaust system? I REALLY like the sound of the power effects, they got a thing where you can hear it on there site and if it sounds like that I would love that. But my price range is about 3K, the engine is 1,686 for a 225 hp engine and the 300 HP engine is 2,215. The labor is going to be 500 not counting some possible little extras i may need (mounts screws things like that). So i dunno, if i get that 2,215 engine I may not be able to get exhaust and headers. I am still open for either option. To get the money i have to sell my camaro let me know if u guys are interested. Its a 92 25th anniversary with new paint, tires, chrome rims, all around black outs, racing seat covers, IROC hood. Thanks

 

You can port match your stock manifold and hog the runners out a bit, but theres not TOO much meat to take off. I think the better route would be to change the manifold. There is the Xram which comes in a "kit". It yielded about 25 hp on a stock motor, close to that of a ported manifold. There is also the option of keeping the crossram type manifold and using the Offy or Edelbrock SY1 (my favorite). The runners on those things are huge. It almost kept of with an Air gap in dyno results but produced more torque, which is what its designed for. You will get all this info at the crossfire injection forum.

 

One thing to remember... Those engines you are looking at are rated at their advertised horsepower with "adaquate" breathing. NOT with a stock Crossfire manifold. A modified Crossfire manifold will NOT make a 300 hp engine out of a 250 hp long block. Neither will an X-Fire or SY1. At best, they will ALLOW the 250 hp engine to develope it's advertised 250 hp. Since you are on a budget (and who isn't), *I* would suggest that you buy the best engine you can reasonably afford, and build from there, as funds become available. To start building on a 225 hp engine, you'll eventially get to 225hp. To go beyond that, you'll need, heads, a cam, compression, and other things you have bought and paid for in the origional purchase. Effectivly, duplicating expenditures. If I were you, I would opt for the best engine, I could afford, now, and add to it as conditions permit. I would shoot for a 300-350 hp engine, and improve on that. Of course the first thing would be the induction system. I hope I am making sense, to you. 300 hp isn't going to happen, "instantly" on your budget, with farming out the labor. Good luck, and...

RACE ON!!!

 

Ok that makes sense but lets say i get an engine that says it has 300HP and I put the xram on it, what do u think the car would have? That is not counting any thing else, because if i get the 300HP engine I wont be able to afford the other stuff like exhaust headers. But if I go with the like 265HP engine I will be able to buy the exhaust and headers and the Xram. So I am thinking either way I should be close to 300HP. What do u think????????

 

As cfi above said, if you buy a engine rated at 265 then that is the max it will ever put out. Regardless of exhaust or intake.
Unless you then change the heads and cam.
Believe me when i say you will NOT be happy with 265 hp.

Buy an engine rated at around 330 - 355 and you will have a smile on your face for longer.
If you can't afford the extra right now, then wait, save a bit and then go do it.
It will be much more worthwhile.