Best intake manifold for a stockish engine?

[dz187]

It started with buying valve covers, because the paint is peeling off my stockers and the gaskets are a little leaky. Since then I've decided to get some 1.7RRs along with new pushrods and lifters to freshen up the top end. I figure since I will have the intake off I might as well replace that as well. I plan on doing some sort of power adder in the future, but that is a long while off because I will need to rebuild my 160k mile engine. However, it runs great, gets 18+mpg city and doesn't burn a bit of oil so I plan on doing supporting mods and suspension for now.

I tried doing a search, and I found all sorts of manifold information, just not what I need to know. Mods are in sig.

 

[wythors]

Personally, I think that lifters and pushrods are a waste of money at this point. I'd put that money towards something that will actually improve your performance.

As far as a manifold goes, I'd recommend a Cobra or GT40. On my friends otherwise bone stock 88 Saleen, he picked up 23 dyno-proven horsepower with nothing except a Cobra intake swap. The Cobra, Explorer and GT40 are all essentially identical in performance.

 

[bentley429]

Or a edelbrock performer. Whatever you can pick up for a reasonable price out of those options would be fine.

 

[FastDriver]

I concur with all of the above, but would also add that the BBK intake is supposed to target the same rpm range that the others mentioned to, and would be a good match as well.

 

[50specialist]

Explorer intake.

 

[jrichker]

95-97 Ford Explorer intake manifold & throttle body $150-$300. The intake manifold flows 220 CFM +, much better than stock. Throttle body is 65 MM, bigger than the 60 MM on stock stangs. I got a 96 with EGR passages that match the stock setup, so my smog gear works just like factory. You’ll need a 65 MM EGR spacer & new gaskets for $65-$90 so you have a place to mount the EGR & throttle linkage.

94-95 Mustang GT MAF - $40-$100. It is 70 MM instead of the stock 55 MM on regular stangs built prior to 94. It uses a slip on duct on the side that goes to the throttle body and a 4 bolt flange on the other. You need a flange adapter to fit the stock slip on air ducting that goes to the air box. Wiring plugs right in with no changes. *1 *2

*1.) Metal flange adapter Kurtz Kustomz Motorsports, Inc. KKM Buy the TR70 for $44.95. Or spend some time on eBay looking for one that may fit.
Try AutoZone and ask for 81413 - Spectre / 3 in. Aluminum Intake Mass Air Flow Sensor Adapter at $12.00. You may have to order it online.

*2.) MAF & sensor interchange
The 94-95 Mustang 5.0 MAF & sensor is also found on:
1995-94 Mustang 3.8L F2VF-12B579-A2A,
1994-92 Crown Victoria 4.6L F2VF-12B579-A2A,
1995-94 Mustang, Mustang Cobra 5.0L F2VF-12B579-A2A,
1994-92 Town Car 4.6L F2VF-12B579-A2A,
1994-92 Grand Marquis 4.6L F2VF-12B579-A2A,
Evidently the –A1A, -A2A, AA, etc. on the end of the part number is a minor variant that did not change the operating specs. You should be able to ignore it and have everything work good.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I put a Cobra intake (US-made version) on my then-stock '88 and felt a huge difference over 2500RPM. Really pulled harder.

 

[bryce93lx]

the new cobra intakes are junk go with trick flow or edelbrock, or a older "real" cobra intake (I.e the us made ones)

 

[gwiedner]

I have a trick flow and felt a big difference

 

[Vinnietbird]

Explorer intake.

I agree.I got mine a couple of years ago ,and after the install,there was an actual difference you could feel.I converted the Explorer 65mm t-body for the Fox body setup.

 

[50specialist]

Nice! I installed one also with Explorer 65mm TB and 65mm EGR spacer from Professional Products. Woke up my stang. I also installed the Explorer injectors, since the ones that came with the intake were also 19 pounds.

 

[Vinnietbird]

I used the skinny Explorer injectors as well.It was a great upgrade for cheap that actually made a difference.

 

[50specialist]

Yup. They atomize the fuel a lot better. In fact, after completing the swap, my exhaust fumes are not even half has potent as they used to be with the stock intake and fuel injectors.