LT1 Airgap Intake Manifold
06-06-2005, 09:07 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 43
LT1 Airgap Intake Manifold
hey guys,
I have been playing with a 94 Camaro with a stock shortblock, lightly touched heads, and CamMotion custom grind hyd. roller, on spray that is knocking on the 10 sec. door, and I wanted to see if converting a stock lt1 intake to airgap configuration would help in getting a little bit more mph.
Basically, an Lt1 intake is a short runner tunnel ram and by removing all the material around the runners I was able to get airflow all around the plenum and runners.
I used aluminum diamond plate to seal off the valley area, and welded the egr holes shut that are in each runner.
Does it work? I think so... I finished it friday night and had a race to go to all weekend at a different track than I normally test at, so I don't have consistent before and after conditions. This weekend at the OSCA race @ Toronto Motorsports Park was very humid and HOT. Most everyone was 2-3 tenths off their normal times, but my camaro was running its usual ET and MPH. More testing to come.
here are a few pics. what do you think?
I have been playing with a 94 Camaro with a stock shortblock, lightly touched heads, and CamMotion custom grind hyd. roller, on spray that is knocking on the 10 sec. door, and I wanted to see if converting a stock lt1 intake to airgap configuration would help in getting a little bit more mph.
Basically, an Lt1 intake is a short runner tunnel ram and by removing all the material around the runners I was able to get airflow all around the plenum and runners.
I used aluminum diamond plate to seal off the valley area, and welded the egr holes shut that are in each runner.
Does it work? I think so... I finished it friday night and had a race to go to all weekend at a different track than I normally test at, so I don't have consistent before and after conditions. This weekend at the OSCA race @ Toronto Motorsports Park was very humid and HOT. Most everyone was 2-3 tenths off their normal times, but my camaro was running its usual ET and MPH. More testing to come.
here are a few pics. what do you think?
06-06-2005, 09:55 PM
#8
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 43
Re: LT1 Airgap Intake Manifold
Thanks guys 
I got about 18 hrs. total including porting the runners and plenum.
My plasma cutter was my best friend last thursday. I would not have even thought about doing this without a plasma cutter. There were about 4 hours of just cutting, but that removed the bulk of the aluminum. The rest of the time was spent flinging aluminum chips around the garage. I managed to cut/grind 6 lbs of aluminum off the intake, taking it down to 12 lbs., including the valley pan too.
I got about 18 hrs. total including porting the runners and plenum.
My plasma cutter was my best friend last thursday. I would not have even thought about doing this without a plasma cutter. There were about 4 hours of just cutting, but that removed the bulk of the aluminum. The rest of the time was spent flinging aluminum chips around the garage. I managed to cut/grind 6 lbs of aluminum off the intake, taking it down to 12 lbs., including the valley pan too.
06-06-2005, 11:41 PM
#9
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Springfield, IL
Posts: 2,195
Re: LT1 Airgap Intake Manifold
very unique! 
and i would have too agree about people paying for you to do that!
i like the idea! gotta help with heat soak quite a bit!..
ever thought about chopping the lid off it and working the runners from the inside and enlarging the volume of the intake?
what all did you have too remove? did you have too add a "floor" back into it?
and i would have too agree about people paying for you to do that!
i like the idea! gotta help with heat soak quite a bit!..
ever thought about chopping the lid off it and working the runners from the inside and enlarging the volume of the intake?
what all did you have too remove? did you have too add a "floor" back into it?
06-06-2005, 11:49 PM
#11
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Surrey, BC
Posts: 394
Re: LT1 Airgap Intake Manifold
HOLY CRAP!
dude i wouldn't doubt if you could make a living off of these for atleast a year
or even patent it and sell the design to a larger company
hell i'd buy one if it were decently priced
dude i wouldn't doubt if you could make a living off of these for atleast a year
or even patent it and sell the design to a larger company
hell i'd buy one if it were decently priced
06-07-2005, 01:23 AM
#15
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Chicago IL
Posts: 451
Re: LT1 Airgap Intake Manifold
That is farkin awsome!! Make some money off of this! People will buy it! I know I would. Nice ***in job man 
If you do decide to do this....email = rmsanta@yahoo.com