Best LS3 ported intake manifold
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 65
Likes: 3
From: Baton Rouge LA
Best LS3 ported intake manifold
Looking for input for the best LS3 ported intake manifold. Interested in hearing about real world dyno proven improvements (or track improvements) after ported manifold. I have read about decent gains, no gains and even lost hp with ported manifolds. Looking to see who has the best ported manifold. Any input and data greatly appreciated.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I can't comment on the exact performance difference, since I didn't document that mod very well. But I'd guess it was somewhere in the .10-.15 second area for the Pete Incaudo ported IM from VMAX. I also have his ported TB, that I had installed a few mods earlier. The ET/MPH didn't change enough to note, however it seems to improve the throttle response on my friend's M6 Vette. He sold his car recently and returned the TB swap, but I haven't been to the track since.
A few years ago, someone did an independent dyno test of several LS3 manifolds. I don't remember the exact results, but they were posted on this forum.
A few years ago, someone did an independent dyno test of several LS3 manifolds. I don't remember the exact results, but they were posted on this forum.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,499
Likes: 261
From: Miami Florida
The LS3 intake is an excellent intake with the rite porting and attention to details it will be hard to beat in my opinion is the best balanced LS intake of the LS family that is not to say is better than the Fast.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,504
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The LS-3 is a great intake, and does not have the problems like the LS-2/ that way the Ls-2 was produced to cause turbalance problems.
So your not going to pick up much in what way of convantial porting of just smoothing the runners.
Where such gains will come from, it blue printing the runners to match the head runners in regards to a stock'ish motor.
In regards to a heavy mod'd motor, even with radical porting, may still have a problem with it not being able to keep up with the higher air demands of the heavy mod'd motor.
So bottom line, to really pick up gains on a stock motor and mod'g The LS-3, it's blueprinting the runners together, and your talking big bucks for the very small gains your going to see isntead.
So your not going to pick up much in what way of convantial porting of just smoothing the runners.
Where such gains will come from, it blue printing the runners to match the head runners in regards to a stock'ish motor.
In regards to a heavy mod'd motor, even with radical porting, may still have a problem with it not being able to keep up with the higher air demands of the heavy mod'd motor.
So bottom line, to really pick up gains on a stock motor and mod'g The LS-3, it's blueprinting the runners together, and your talking big bucks for the very small gains your going to see isntead.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,499
Likes: 261
From: Miami Florida
Take a look at post 113 of thread link below using an ls3 intake to what I believe to be it's best in a heads and cam only swap.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...results-6.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...results-6.html
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 375
Likes: 31
From: San Antonio TX
Gwatney does a radius-rod, ported LS3 manifold. And their turn-around time is WAY faster. Ask me how I know! 
https://gwatneyperformance.com/product/ls3-intake-mod/
KW
https://gwatneyperformance.com/product/ls3-intake-mod/
KW