Dan_the_C5_Man

Ok - Just checked mine.. From what I can tell, with close inspection / shining a light from outside and inside, I DO see the "step" of mis-aligned halves around the end of the port, but to me it looks sealed - no gap.

Where I do have a gap between the halves, on every runner, is on the bottom, right where the central rod passes through to bolt everything together.

I thought (for about 10 secs) of applying some RTV to fill the gap, but the combination of it being half-way towards the edge of the intake side, and thinking about laminar flow (that might result in the air flow largely ignoring it), plus, who knows - maybe it is creating some turbulence that results in improved fuel atomization - I guess my point is if you mess with things too much w/o test data to back it up, you can inadvertently go backwards - oh wait, that sounds like a statement right from the roller-tipped rocker discussion.

c5racr1

Any hole in the runner will result in a power loss on a NA motor. I would think the closer to the horn the less effect. Mine was at the area by the injector. I closed it up with some marine jb weld, on the outside of the horns.

Dan_the_C5_Man

Depending on how long it takes MSD to send me the missing seals, I may get bored and fill the small gaps on the bottom with RTV (I like to think worse-case scenarios, and not put anything in an area past the air filter that could not be safely ingested by the engine, should it ever come loose from heat and vibration).

Josh B.

I did not do this with mine, but you're right, it sure would smooth out the airflow.

OP, MSD is the way to go. It's no beauty queen according to some people, but it has runners that are optimal for the LS7, and that level of functionality to me is beautiful. I would never consider a fast over this intake. The ONLY intake that would ever persuade me to upgrade over this one would be a composite ITB arrangement that was affordable. Less surging, and tons of power. Would cost a fortune to develop, and some serious engineering to bring to market. Short of that, the MSD is the next best thing. BUY ONE, you won't regret it.

Whis9

How is drivability?
Building car for road course setup.

Josh B.

I have a medium/hot cam in my car, so drivability is a bit "medium" for my personal car. In my personal opinion, I do not think that the MSD had any negative effect on drivability at all, but I cannot confirm this as I installed the MSD/NW 102 at the same time as my K501 cam. Someone else might be able to answer with a clear before/after.

ttx350z

My cam has 25 degree of overlap.

When I went from stock IM/TB to the MSD and stock TB, it did feel like the surging was milder when I took it for a quick spin around the block. My friend also commented on how it sounds like it idled smoother as well. My car is currently insured as storage so I didn't take it out on the street for cruise.

REDZED2

I wonder how much work is required to port match the intake runners to stock or CNC'd LS7's ? Need to see photos of the runners on a MSD. Misalignment cleanup etc.. Spent 20 hours on my old FAST on my LS6 C5Z. Turned out great but a lot of work to smooth and port match. My hands are burnt out.

68Stang

I gained about 10rwhp on top and lost tq down low on a car with WCCH stage 2, cam, and headers (went from 555rwhp to 565rwhp). On the current setup I have PRC 265, LS7R cam, Kooks 1 7/8, and the MSD, made 581 rwhp on a 400 mile engine. Not sure what it gained over stock manifold in the current configuration but compared to other similarly spec'd builds, I'd venture to say 0-10rwhp.

fueledpassion

Yes, I would purchase one again, given that I got mine for 1/2 its true value.

I haven't installed mine yet but I have a ported MSD with the orange gaskets...

My builder claims that one of his race engine profiles picked up 42hp and 35+ ft lbs on an engine dyno. He also said the manifold performs better than the Fast even in the low RPM's but it needs a 102mm TB to get those kind of numbers up top. Again, this was with the ported manifold that I now have.

fueledpassion

There is a company that sells those ITB's. Carbon fiber too. But I think it costs like $5-7K or something like that.

AzDave47

subscribed

PeteZ06

Are you saying you gained 10rwhp over the stock intake or a FAST intake?

WillRace4Food

I have my MSD and hope to be testing first of the year on a heads/cam car

REDZED2

I had found several guys with diff. dynos... not sure if the MSD was touched but typical C/H/E Z's.. all picked up roughly 25 rwhp 20 tq, tuned though over the LS7 mani... if you pick up only 10rwhp and LOSE bottom tq.. something is wrong there.

fueledpassion

I would tend to agree with that too. MSD seems to think this piece bolted onto a I/E LS7 and tuned will grab 30 FWHP.

My car will be interesting if I put this thing on before I do my exhaust mods. I have a 500rwhp H/C only setup with no intake or exhaust mods so I'm not expecting much out of the manifold by itself. Together with headers and intake I'd expect it to help me get to 575+.

Who knows. I'll do something with it in the spring

68Stang

Sorry for not being clear, over stock untouched manifold.

PeteZ06

Thanks for clarifying.

Did you question or investigate why the low increase when everyone else is claiming at least double that?

This is my fear.. spending $900 for an extra 10hp.. when our cars are already pulling an average 560rwhp with a heads/cam package, thats only a 1.7% increase.

REDZED2

That is total BS.. graphs on ported FASTs and MSD's are very similar on typical H/C LS7 applications. I have seen at least 3-4 graphs from all over the states and there were all close. Search .. even Google it. I have even talked to guys who just bolted MSD's down and picked up everywhere!!!!! Stock cam, but heads all done up to the tilts/ with full exhaust! Don't let one flat can of beer spoil the whole case!!

Michael_D

I think I'd like to see better pre/post installation reports before making any claims supporting ANY aftermarket intake manifold. I have yet to see one where tuning was not included, and the details around what else was done is generally, well....fuzzy at best. Too many vendors trying to sell something, and too many cheerleaders putting a bias on information. I have no doubt that either the MSD or Fast will pick up gains on the big end, but across the entire curve? I dunno about that. And what about under 2000 rpm? Don't ever hear much about that. Seems as if the only concern with performance and this car, on this forum...is 1320' performance. But, if I were to be in need, or hell - even want of a different intake, the MSD would be my first pick (and yes, I have a Fast that I ported, and a NW 102). ITB's....great in theory, but a nightmare to tune. Not real sure how you would tune this engine with ITB's and the existing E38. No idea, seeing how cylinder load balancing via individual injectors doesn't work worth a crap.