i'd rather spend a little bit more money on the AMS intake manifold.

 

what is the advantage of a sheet metal intake?

 

I can't see any aftermarket intake manifold being of much use with the stock turbocharger. Most SMIM move the peak and overall powerband higher in rpm range. Doing this is at odds with the stock turbo, as it's already out of airflow capacity before you hit the limits of the stock intake.

I would say not to even look at a SMIM unless you have a significantly large turbo that can make serious power in the 8000-9000rpm range. IE, GT35 or larger.

 

The advantage of a sheet metal intake is that it shifts the power up to an rpm that ususally matches the camshaft and turbo selection. It makes more high rpm power, and sacrifices some low end power.

This is good if you have 280's, GT35, and enough sack to rev/shift at 8500-9000. Up real high rpm, a good SMIM should be worth significant power.

This is bad if you have small-street cams, stock turbo and at 8500rpm the turbo can't even hold 18psi. Then your wasting your time.

 

in simplest terms, the advantages are what it allows you to do. These manifolds, be they sheet metal, or some other material (Kansai is cast, JUN is stainless for example), have internal volumes much large than stock. The runners also tend to be longer, which increases velocity into the head. Given their larger volume, they also allow for installation of a larger throttle body, which means a larger upper IC pipe, larger endtank, and larger turbo outlet...they all work together.

On the head side, the increased volume and velocity really make the cams sing.

All in all, it is a mod that people tend to do when they have a serious, and I mean serious setup

 

That is a good point.. I should mention that I have almost everything else upgraded, or will have..

I do personally think an intake manifold upgrade (whether ported or sheet metal) is best for more highly modified cars with upgraded turbos, but they do great with any turbo that can sustain higher boost or air volume... a ported intake manifold, and head, are a good start for a stock turbo though.

 

so what you guys think, results be on build 2.3 stroker taking it t0 8000RPM, with build head and WR turbo. Also 272s cams running with alky at 25-26psi.???

 

you would have far better results saving the $600-$800 on the intake manifold, and combining it with the $1300 of the WR turbo, and buying a larger turbo than the WR.

IMHO a sheet intake and a little WR turbo are a missmatch. The stock intake manifold would likely have a better overall powerband with this small turbo.

 

So basically I will lose power with sheet intake and stockish turbo.??

Starting from What turbo and what boost levels would the manifold make sense?


Thnaks

 

The manifold is designed to maximize high rpm power (e.g. 8000-10,000 rpm) at the expense of some low speed efficiency and increased lag. Your factory turbo is not sized for high rpm power. Therefore, what happens is you get some increased lag, and your turbo falls flat on its face in the region where the manifold really starts working. Additionally, your short duration 264 cam set isn't suited for 8-10k rpm even if you had a turbo that could do it, and gears won't resolve that.

The most fundamental strategy in making performance modifications is selecting components that match, and you're talking apples and oranges.

 

Smash that nail! Well said.

100% agreement with Ted, as ususal.

 

agree as well..I would not bother going through the time and expense of a stroker and a built head only to choke it with a WR. If you are going to go for that sort of setup, which is on the order of a pretty insane motor, strap on a turbo with some cojones and enjoy it