MSD Atomic vs OEM LS2 intake (06')
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Heel & Toe
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MSD Atomic vs OEM LS2 intake (06')
Has anyone tried out the atomic swap from an OEM LS2 intake? I'm curious what type of gains can be expected as well as if the install went smoothly. (Yes, trying to decide between a Fast or Atomic at this point).
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
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Le Mans Master
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I was looking for this answer on a LS2 as well but everything I see is LS7.
I am looking to upgrade my intake and will probably do the FAST but if someone would say the MSD is just as good I'd probably pull the trigger on the MSD just to be different.
I am looking to upgrade my intake and will probably do the FAST but if someone would say the MSD is just as good I'd probably pull the trigger on the MSD just to be different.
Last edited by hippy; Dec 18, 2015 at 10:11 PM.
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Heel & Toe
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The next question would be, how does the MSD perform with the OEM throttle body? The 30hp gains seem to always include a larger 600+$ throttle body so it's hard to see what the intake itself actually does on it's own.
Race Director
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If stock motor, then just porting the stock intake will pick up the 10hp that your going to gain with anything else instead (for a lot less money as well).
And as pointed out, running sizes has to do with over all RPM powder. Hence if the runner size is too large for the motors needs, then you can loose HP down low instead (Think tunnel rams, that don't start to make decent power until you hit mid range and up instead).
So before you do anything, get a base line dyno pull to start with, and after the mods and tune, compare the entire RPM differences back to the stock dyno pull. Hence with the wrong mods, you may pick up max HP at red line, but could be loosing power lower in the RPM range instead.
Last edited by Dano523; Dec 19, 2015 at 10:00 PM.
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From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
So, I was at my engine builders shop for a Christmas party and he said the FAST was better at low end and the MSD was better at the top end. Once again, it was on an LS7.
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Next you throw in mods, and with the change in the air intake requirements, your back to square one again.
So for top end HP, you almost want a tunnel ram type system to give all the air to the heads they want (MSD), but for lower RPMs, then you want the runner lengths and sizes correct to deliver the need smooth flow of air at the lower RPM's instead (Fast).
Last edited by Dano523; Dec 20, 2015 at 03:34 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Pasadena CA
Honestly, the MSD on anything other than the LS7 is junk. They discontinued the LS3 version since it didn't make any power over the stock intake and I wouldn't be surprised if they discontinued the LS2 version.
My buddy installed one on his LS6 and had major issues issues and ended not even making any power. His shop had to dremel down the intake and install a new water pump and TB due to clearance issues. Search through the C5Z forums and you'll see plenty of issues. MSD is not even willing to help anyone out or take ownership of it.
A ported FAST 102 will net you some awesome gains on a heads/cam LS2.
My buddy installed one on his LS6 and had major issues issues and ended not even making any power. His shop had to dremel down the intake and install a new water pump and TB due to clearance issues. Search through the C5Z forums and you'll see plenty of issues. MSD is not even willing to help anyone out or take ownership of it.
A ported FAST 102 will net you some awesome gains on a heads/cam LS2.
Last edited by LinxuSx; Dec 21, 2015 at 12:01 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Honestly, the MSD on anything other than the LS7 is junk. They discontinued the LS3 version since it didn't make any power over the stock intake and I wouldn't be surprised if they discontinued the LS2 version.
My buddy installed one on his LS6 and had major issues issues and ended not even making any power. His shop had to dremel down the intake and install a new water pump and TB due to clearance issues. Search through the C5Z forums and you'll see plenty of issues. MSD is not even willing to help anyone out or take ownership of it.
A ported FAST 102 will net you some awesome gains on a heads/cam LS2.
My buddy installed one on his LS6 and had major issues issues and ended not even making any power. His shop had to dremel down the intake and install a new water pump and TB due to clearance issues. Search through the C5Z forums and you'll see plenty of issues. MSD is not even willing to help anyone out or take ownership of it.
A ported FAST 102 will net you some awesome gains on a heads/cam LS2.
Last edited by timd38; Dec 21, 2015 at 07:09 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 7,033
Likes: 12
Honestly, the MSD on anything other than the LS7 is junk. They discontinued the LS3 version since it didn't make any power over the stock intake and I wouldn't be surprised if they discontinued the LS2 version.
My buddy installed one on his LS6 and had major issues issues and ended not even making any power. His shop had to dremel down the intake and install a new water pump and TB due to clearance issues. Search through the C5Z forums and you'll see plenty of issues. MSD is not even willing to help anyone out or take ownership of it.
A ported FAST 102 will net you some awesome gains on a heads/cam LS2.
My buddy installed one on his LS6 and had major issues issues and ended not even making any power. His shop had to dremel down the intake and install a new water pump and TB due to clearance issues. Search through the C5Z forums and you'll see plenty of issues. MSD is not even willing to help anyone out or take ownership of it.
A ported FAST 102 will net you some awesome gains on a heads/cam LS2.
Team Owner
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
WUTRURMODZ Hippy 
Whats up dude long time no talk
I doubt these intakes are junk, GMs just building better stuff so the gains are smaller imo thats all. Never had my hands on the MSD one but have worked with a # of fasts...youll only get so much outta ea piece then its dig into the motor....same ol story.
Whats up dude long time no talk
I doubt these intakes are junk, GMs just building better stuff so the gains are smaller imo thats all. Never had my hands on the MSD one but have worked with a # of fasts...youll only get so much outta ea piece then its dig into the motor....same ol story.
Race Director
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From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Honestly if I had to do my toy over again it would be mild, big head moderate cam/gearing and a blower. Hardly any maintenance and all the power you need.Still stuck in big head/compression/solid roller/deep gear bs. Never goes away
Le Mans Master
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Hey Ron, what IS the current toy? Do you have a LS toy now? Yea, I don't want magic but I don't have a car that I really want to dig into, so my thought is if I can pull 15-25 hp with just an intake and not much work I'd go that route.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Tom, 89 and Z are long gone finished the Camino a few yrs back did a stout solid roller Gen 1/6 spd
Thought about an Lsx but think they look outta place in an old car so unless I fell into a S/C motor, a big ci SB2.2 would be next. Not holding my breath though
Thought about an Lsx but think they look outta place in an old car so unless I fell into a S/C motor, a big ci SB2.2 would be next. Not holding my breath though
Last edited by cv67; Dec 22, 2015 at 10:10 AM.