Opinions On Intake Manifolds

Mineral4.6

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Mar 17, 2015
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Today the plastic coolant line on the back of the intake manifold cracked and broke in half and blew heater hose off. So I need a new manifold, and was looking at American muscle they have a PI replacement W/ gaskets for $199 and a ford racing PI for $215 w/ out gaskets.. Is the ford racing one any better??
 
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I don't know dude. Save for a metal intake, my opinion is plastics and resins are not meant to be under constant heat and pressures at the gauge these intakes are made to. I would save for a Performance Products intake. The Trick flows are overpriced for something that's only gonna net 10 horsepower, with a tune. 700 bucks for Trick Flow. 450 for Performance Products.
 
Money is tight, and I have to have full coverage regardless if it's running or not. Couldn't afford an aluminum one and I can't wait months to be able to put it back together. Went with the ford parts and will put it back together as soon as it comes in.
 
Yep I understand, had to learn the hard way with the Dorman intakes, the intake started to leak almost right away, and the those glued in brass threaded receivers had me stranded, on the Charlotte highway with gasoline everywhere in the engine bay. At least you are going to use the Ford Performance Products first replacement.
 
I've heard and read about too many issues with the dorman intakes... Not worth taking the chance on trying to save $50 just to have to replace it again shortly after.
 
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Plastic intakes are fine. Ford has been using them for almost 30-years on various vehicle, as has the rest of the automotive community. The composite manifolds are better at insulating from heat and are less susceptible to transferring it. They're also more forgiving with heat distorting than the aluminum manifolds are and tend to flow more air than a comparable aluminum unit.....and they're cheaper to produce to boot. The plastic coolant crossover can be a headach because of cracking issues, but Ford for the most part addressed this back in 2001 by replacing the crossover area with a more durable aluminum one.

The only time I would be leary of the plastic manifold is when big hits of nitrous are used.....especially with the Modular manifold design. They've got that nice little valley in the lower portion of the manifold nestled in the middle of the block that just loves to puddle fuel for a nice, dramatic nitrous explosion.

Everything....and I mean EVERTHING made by Professional Products is inferior, oversea's junk IMO. I haven't seen an accurately machined part with than moniker on it yet.
 
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I agree gear, and i believe they hold up pretty well to lower shots of nitrous as long as all the safety precations are installed. A window switch is a must to keep from from blowing the intake to pieces at low RPM, But with that said I believe even an aluminum intake can turn into a grenade with out same precautions.
 
The Ford Racing intake is what came on these cars stock. The cheaper version isn't the same and you'll loose power throughout the RPM band.

A nitrous backfire will destroy any intake, plastic and metal. Backfires primarily occur when N2O pools in the intake (i.e. spraying too low in the RPM range). Properly set-up nitrous system and a knowledgeable user will pretty much eliminate any chance of a backfire
 
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Ford Racing PI intake > EVERYTHING ELSE. Unless you want the looks of a metal intake, don't waste your money (or time to keep it clean). Whatever you do, do not get the Doorman aftermarket version. You WILL lose horsepower. Certain things on our cars are more than adequate from the factory and, the intakes are one of them.
 
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I was initially asking for opinions between the two mentioned in my first post. I can't afford a high end manifold, and besides It wouldn't be any gain with out upgrading TB and plenum. Which I can't afford right now. Main goal is to get it back to running, and then focus on suspension.
 
I have the edelbrock victor jr w/ the fuel rails i love the setup but hated the purchasing and putting it together its the most incomplete mod in my opinion. But the intake is great and i love the power
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