LT1 Ported intake manifold???
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 668
From: North Fulton Georgia
LT1 Ported intake manifold???
Hey guys looking to bump a little power via a Ported LT1 intake manifold. Only mods so far are a Soler TB and AFE Intake. Only looking for mild improvements. Seems the average cost for the ported parts form GPI is $550 or so. Any thoughts or experiences on this? Not looking to do any more major mods. Want to boost the experience but not via major mods. Considering an MSD ported manifold but not sure that would be worth the premium without way more $$$ in my future. It's my daily driver so need to keep it reliable. Thoughts?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 668
From: North Fulton Georgia
I texted GPI and inquired about their Ported LT1 manifold product, but they don't have performance stats on the product. Will have to search to find any info from a user(s). At this point I'm not leaning towards this. Maybe MSD some day???
Last edited by miami08VETTE; Mar 16, 2023 at 10:48 PM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 150
Likes: 182
From: WA State
I drag race high dollar normally aspirated single carb engines that make a legit 1350 hp and 1050 ft/lbs of tq. I have seen guys spend thousands on ported intakes that see zero difference on the track over a basic good port matched intake. If you have many more mods to do then a different intake will help but stand alone stock intake porting.... save your money.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
The guys on the Camaro forums seem to do a good job of documenting before/after and often times on the same day/same dyno. The ported OEM intake as I recall was 5-7 peak hp on a stock engine and a little more area under the curve down low....hence some saying it feels faster although I still think that's their wallet speaking.
GM did a nice job with these engines and they take some serious mods to get to anything really noticeable.
The MSD pushes the curve right....ie moves things to higher rpms but you'll lose a bit down low which is where you want power on the street.
GM did a nice job with these engines and they take some serious mods to get to anything really noticeable.
The MSD pushes the curve right....ie moves things to higher rpms but you'll lose a bit down low which is where you want power on the street.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 216
Likes: 54
From: central indiana
i went from a pray ported LT1/stock tb to an out of the box msd/stock LT5 tb and the car picked up 14 whp/5 tq peak. it was down 8 ft lb tq at the lowest point. undetectable.
however, the car peaked 5700 with LT1 & 6300 with the msd. big difference was at 6500 the msd was up 30 whp. i shifted the car at 6800. only 14 whp dif on the dyno but the car picked up 3 mph. ultimately went 126+ mph full weight 18 ss 1LE.
i put a mamo ported msd and ati damper on it and picked up another 1.5 mph.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
ftr - former camaro guy here.
i went from a pray ported LT1/stock tb to an out of the box msd/stock LT5 tb and the car picked up 14 whp/5 tq peak. it was down 8 ft lb tq at the lowest point. undetectable.
however, the car peaked 5700 with LT1 & 6300 with the msd. big difference was at 6500 the msd was up 30 whp. i shifted the car at 6800. only 14 whp dif on the dyno but the car picked up 3 mph. ultimately went 126+ mph full weight 18 ss 1LE.
i put a mamo ported msd and ati damper on it and picked up another 1.5 mph.
i went from a pray ported LT1/stock tb to an out of the box msd/stock LT5 tb and the car picked up 14 whp/5 tq peak. it was down 8 ft lb tq at the lowest point. undetectable.
however, the car peaked 5700 with LT1 & 6300 with the msd. big difference was at 6500 the msd was up 30 whp. i shifted the car at 6800. only 14 whp dif on the dyno but the car picked up 3 mph. ultimately went 126+ mph full weight 18 ss 1LE.
i put a mamo ported msd and ati damper on it and picked up another 1.5 mph.
Yep. Pushed the curve right and not many people are going to use 6800rpm for street driving
I can relate
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Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 150
Likes: 182
From: WA State
The lower power band and torque is what makes these engines so good on the street. If you move the power band out with higher rpm, lose low end tq then you will lose drivablity for everyday driving. I don't track my car though since I have 2 rear engine dragsters to race.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 216
Likes: 54
From: central indiana
the msd intake manifold lost an indiscernible amount of tq, even with a larger throttle body. all it did was gain power and ultimately make the car faster. simply stating my story and real world experience. the op was looking for power. there is 0 loss in drivability with a stock camshaft.
edit: i ultimately put 25k miles on a full bolt-on car using ethanol 99% of the time. 0 issues over a 3 year span. car was not my daily and did not get driven in the winter, but i averaged over 10k miles a year with drag strip visits and also long hauling the hot rod power tour every year i owned the car.
edit: i ultimately put 25k miles on a full bolt-on car using ethanol 99% of the time. 0 issues over a 3 year span. car was not my daily and did not get driven in the winter, but i averaged over 10k miles a year with drag strip visits and also long hauling the hot rod power tour every year i owned the car.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 703
Likes: 222
From: Central TX
ftr - former camaro guy here.
i went from a pray ported LT1/stock tb to an out of the box msd/stock LT5 tb and the car picked up 14 whp/5 tq peak. it was down 8 ft lb tq at the lowest point. undetectable.
however, the car peaked 5700 with LT1 & 6300 with the msd. big difference was at 6500 the msd was up 30 whp. i shifted the car at 6800. only 14 whp dif on the dyno but the car picked up 3 mph. ultimately went 126+ mph full weight 18 ss 1LE.
i put a mamo ported msd and ati damper on it and picked up another 1.5 mph.
i went from a pray ported LT1/stock tb to an out of the box msd/stock LT5 tb and the car picked up 14 whp/5 tq peak. it was down 8 ft lb tq at the lowest point. undetectable.
however, the car peaked 5700 with LT1 & 6300 with the msd. big difference was at 6500 the msd was up 30 whp. i shifted the car at 6800. only 14 whp dif on the dyno but the car picked up 3 mph. ultimately went 126+ mph full weight 18 ss 1LE.
i put a mamo ported msd and ati damper on it and picked up another 1.5 mph.
I have considered the msd and bigger tb as my next mod but am hesitant to drop almost 2k for the amount of power you gain if it drops the torque enough on the bottom to notice.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 703
Likes: 222
From: Central TX
Losing a little down low may not be a bad thing.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 216
Likes: 54
From: central indiana
id guess the camshaft already lost about as much tq as possible. even from 40 mph in 2nd gear (3200ish rpm) my camaro would peel those 305 goodyear sc3s for about 50'.
the whole low end tq argument is silly with these engines, imho. unless you're making pulls from 1500 rpm, there is no possible way to tell a difference. the cars spin street tires like it's their job already.
the whole low end tq argument is silly with these engines, imho. unless you're making pulls from 1500 rpm, there is no possible way to tell a difference. the cars spin street tires like it's their job already.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 703
Likes: 222
From: Central TX
Well I decided not to do the MSD and a bigger TB. Not only is that 2k+ in parts, it's another day with the tuner due to the TB change. So let's say $2500 all in.
I talked to Gwatney and EdgyVette and both indicated it would not add a lot of power over my ported stock setup. Not worth $2.5k at least in my book.
For around $3.5k I can get the forged wheels I want and save 20+ lbs of unsprung weight. I plan to do some limited track days and that would be a nice upgrade.
I talked to Gwatney and EdgyVette and both indicated it would not add a lot of power over my ported stock setup. Not worth $2.5k at least in my book.
For around $3.5k I can get the forged wheels I want and save 20+ lbs of unsprung weight. I plan to do some limited track days and that would be a nice upgrade.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 703
Likes: 222
From: Central TX
So the better spend to me is lighter/stronger wheels and worry about more power down the road when I may decide to go FI.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 216
Likes: 54
From: central indiana
i bought a new msd manifold and LT5 tb for <$1100. bought the mamo ported msd used locally and was out $300 after selling the new one i had.
what sucks for the vette guys is that an LT2 intake manifold basically mimics a msd power and performance wise on a basic bolt on motor. i also had one of those on the car for awhile. i spent a lot time comparing manifolds. i still have the LT2 manifold and a gpi ported hi ram.
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 1
Likes: 2
this is something i keep forgetting. the costs are way up vs 3 years ago.
i bought a new msd manifold and LT5 tb for <$1100. bought the mamo ported msd used locally and was out $300 after selling the new one i had.
what sucks for the vette guys is that an LT2 intake manifold basically mimics a msd power and performance wise on a basic bolt on motor. i also had one of those on the car for awhile. i spent a lot time comparing manifolds. i still have the LT2 manifold and a gpi ported hi ram.
i bought a new msd manifold and LT5 tb for <$1100. bought the mamo ported msd used locally and was out $300 after selling the new one i had.
what sucks for the vette guys is that an LT2 intake manifold basically mimics a msd power and performance wise on a basic bolt on motor. i also had one of those on the car for awhile. i spent a lot time comparing manifolds. i still have the LT2 manifold and a gpi ported hi ram.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,207
Likes: 147
From: St. Louis MO
I have a MSD Atomic Air Force manifold on my Stingray and after weeks of driving it, I can't agree with those that say you lose torque on the street. I have an aFe intake, Shorty headers, Soler ported throttle body and the MSD intake, and like vortech347 claims, my car is a beast. Lost torque where??? I sure as hell don't see it!