Ported LS2 Intake
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Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 540
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From: Blacklick Ohio
Ported LS2 Intake
What exactly is being ported? I pulled mine off today and looked at it, and the intake isn't exactly one you can gasket match like a LT1/LT4 intake. I measured the holes and from looking at it, the Head port is about 1/8" bigger then the runner on the intake. So I could reasonably assume that I would want to take off about 1/16" off both sides of the LS2 Intake port.
However I was always under the impression w/ all my old cars, that a ported intake wont do much good if the heads aren't matched. Now I see that if I can make the intake match the existing heads perfect that one would see large gains. But if you port too much, then the air will hit the head causing turbulance. Which is probably why the intake has slightly smaller ports then the heads.
I do see a few ridges here and there that would be really easy to touch up and smooth out air flow.
At any rate, I wouldn't mind attempting to port this thing out myself. Any advise would be great.
However I was always under the impression w/ all my old cars, that a ported intake wont do much good if the heads aren't matched. Now I see that if I can make the intake match the existing heads perfect that one would see large gains. But if you port too much, then the air will hit the head causing turbulance. Which is probably why the intake has slightly smaller ports then the heads.
I do see a few ridges here and there that would be really easy to touch up and smooth out air flow.
At any rate, I wouldn't mind attempting to port this thing out myself. Any advise would be great.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
From: Crestwood KY
Originally Posted by Flareside
I have a new LS2 intake arriving today, and I'm sending it out for professional porting. I'll get some before and after pics.
Thanks,
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 1
From: Bremerton WA
St. Jude Donor '09
I've got my first one "out there" in testing right now. Should have feedback soon. I know that in my porting I remove more than flashing. Can't say what anyone else is doing. I focused on straightening airflow in my porting work. I'd warn anyone to go easy and proceed with a great deal of caution because there are thin spots and the material goes away fast.
If you break it you might be able to epoxy repair it... but it will suck.
I'll post results from mine as soon as we have them... which I think will be very soon. Sorry... but I won't be posting pics... what I do is my secret
If you break it you might be able to epoxy repair it... but it will suck.
I'll post results from mine as soon as we have them... which I think will be very soon. Sorry... but I won't be posting pics... what I do is my secret
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 125
From: laguna niguel ca
Think about a FAST manifold
From what I'm reading you guys are removing so little material how much are you really going to gain?. I've looked at my LS2 intake and there's not much you can remove to gain any benefit. Port matching and clean up does very little to improve flow, because It's not port so much that's inadequate, it's the runners and the size of the plenium that limits the flow capacity of the manifold, and you can't do anything to improve it. An LS6 manifold would be better, but it's TB is to small.
You're trying hard to split hairs here, and it's not for a lack of trying to make it better. It's just not going to work very well. I know the FAST 90 manifold is costly, and it's costly to moddify it and the firewall. I would save my money and get one, because to resulting HP and TQ gains are impressive. Before I installed my FAST my car was making 410RWHP/384RWTQ, after it jumped to 425RWHP/405RWTQ. Then adding my ET 215 heads,it jumped again to 461/435. I really believe even though the ET head design is excellent they wouldn't have worked as well without the FAST. If you're looking for long term gains that can be improved upon as you do more additions; I think the FAST is a good investment. I know this is more than .02 cents, but....
Andreas g.
You're trying hard to split hairs here, and it's not for a lack of trying to make it better. It's just not going to work very well. I know the FAST 90 manifold is costly, and it's costly to moddify it and the firewall. I would save my money and get one, because to resulting HP and TQ gains are impressive. Before I installed my FAST my car was making 410RWHP/384RWTQ, after it jumped to 425RWHP/405RWTQ. Then adding my ET 215 heads,it jumped again to 461/435. I really believe even though the ET head design is excellent they wouldn't have worked as well without the FAST. If you're looking for long term gains that can be improved upon as you do more additions; I think the FAST is a good investment. I know this is more than .02 cents, but....
Andreas g.
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Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,148
Likes: 5
From: Roxbury NJ
Originally Posted by andreas g.
From what I'm reading you guys are removing so little material how much are you really going to gain?. I've looked at my LS2 intake and there's not much you can remove to gain any benefit. Port matching and clean up does very little to improve flow, because It's not port so much that's inadequate, it's the runners and the size of the plenium that limits the flow capacity of the manifold, and you can't do anything to improve it. An LS6 manifold would be better, but it's TB is to small.
You're trying hard to split hairs here, and it's not for a lack of trying to make it better. It's just not going to work very well. I know the FAST 90 manifold is costly, and it's costly to moddify it and the firewall. I would save my money and get one, because to resulting HP and TQ gains are impressive. Before I installed my FAST my car was making 410RWHP/384RWTQ, after it jumped to 425RWHP/405RWTQ. Then adding my ET 215 heads,it jumped again to 461/435. I really believe even though the ET head design is excellent they wouldn't have worked as well without the FAST. If you're looking for long term gains that can be improved upon as you do more additions; I think the FAST is a good investment. I know this is more than .02 cents, but....
Andreas g.
You're trying hard to split hairs here, and it's not for a lack of trying to make it better. It's just not going to work very well. I know the FAST 90 manifold is costly, and it's costly to moddify it and the firewall. I would save my money and get one, because to resulting HP and TQ gains are impressive. Before I installed my FAST my car was making 410RWHP/384RWTQ, after it jumped to 425RWHP/405RWTQ. Then adding my ET 215 heads,it jumped again to 461/435. I really believe even though the ET head design is excellent they wouldn't have worked as well without the FAST. If you're looking for long term gains that can be improved upon as you do more additions; I think the FAST is a good investment. I know this is more than .02 cents, but....
Andreas g.
Most of the real world dyno results that have been posted show that the ported LS2 provides around 10-11 rwhp on a bolt-on car, and the FAST provides right around the same, with most averaging 12 or so. In this case, it's not clear that the FAST is superior at all. If you've got a head/cam car, the FAST is clearly a good choice. For a more mild bolt-on combo, it's not clear at all. I will gladly report what I find, good or bad.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 125
From: laguna niguel ca
Flareside
Actually the stock fuel rails fit, you just need some small washers to step over the lip of the fuel rail tab and hold it down when you run the FAST bolts in to secure the manifold. As for waranty, well since I've modded every car I've had over the last 30 years; I haven't been to concerned about it. I know that's not the smartest approach, but I've been lucky, and when I've had waranty issues, the dealers have been
great to me. Of course an 18 year old bottle of scotch doesn't hurt either. Oh well...
great to me. Of course an 18 year old bottle of scotch doesn't hurt either. Oh well...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,052
Likes: 889
From: Tampa Florida
Originally Posted by Flareside
Andreas, what is your warranty situation? For me, it's not a money issue, it's about permanent mods to the car, non-factory fuel rail arrangement, and the look of a highly modified motor(even if it isn't). My dealer will overlook exhaust/air filter mods and still provide warranty service. Putting a FAST on there might make them think twice about touching the car, for fear of what else is lurking underneath. The FAST gains on a near stock engine would have to be clear before I'd touch it.
Most of the real world dyno results that have been posted show that the ported LS2 provides around 10-11 rwhp on a bolt-on car, and the FAST provides right around the same, with most averaging 12 or so. In this case, it's not clear that the FAST is superior at all. If you've got a head/cam car, the FAST is clearly a good choice. For a more mild bolt-on combo, it's not clear at all. I will gladly report what I find, good or bad.
Most of the real world dyno results that have been posted show that the ported LS2 provides around 10-11 rwhp on a bolt-on car, and the FAST provides right around the same, with most averaging 12 or so. In this case, it's not clear that the FAST is superior at all. If you've got a head/cam car, the FAST is clearly a good choice. For a more mild bolt-on combo, it's not clear at all. I will gladly report what I find, good or bad.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,148
Likes: 5
From: Roxbury NJ
Just for reference, here's how the new LS2 intake looks from the factory. There's certainly room for improvement here. The rough areas and steps are even worse in person. Every port looks like this, and the problems run deep into every runner.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,285
Likes: 0
From: Denver PA
St. Jude Donor '07
