Is it worth it? Intake swap

[HoustonLX]

Plans are to compete at the HRP index event coming up in Feb. More then likely I will run in the 13.5 (i.e. slower then dirt) class. Problem is the car usually only runs around 13.7's at 97-98 mph in the heat. The MPH is a little low, but I believe that is because if the blow-by the motor suffers from in 2 cylinders. I don't know if the cooler Feb air will be enough to drop .2 and as the car sits. The 13.7 was at Ennis in warm air with 8.6 1/8's. It has run 8.50 in the 1/8 since in cooler air. I am hoping to find a little hp somewhere to get me closer to the break out point. For those that don't know, the motor has stock heads, intake, cam, TB, and injectors. What it does have is a Pro-M 75mm MAF and 1.7 RR's. I have a Holley Systemax II intake laying around. I was not going to install it untill I was ready to redo the entire motor and install a better set of heads and cam. However, I was wondering if you guys think, if I port match the heads to the intake, if I would actually see some bennefit to intalling this intake onto the stock heads and cam? Again, keep in mind I am not looking for much. Only need a lil more hp. Swapping intakes is not a hard thing. Would only take a few hours at the most. But is it worth it considering I only need a tad more? I am trying to find some hp without spending any money here guys. :retard:

[White90GT]

Not really sure if it would help at all given the Holley is a fairly big intake, ie more suited for higher rpm (up to 6500) or boosted cars. A cobra intake swap would probably pick you up .1 or .2 though.
Why not try to take some more weight out of it? Are you racing it with all the seats in? Have you already removed all the sound deadener, etc... Get some front skinnies to put on it. Is it dead hooking?

[Timebomb]

I also think that the Holley will be too much for your stock motor and you wouldn't see any gains from it. Velocity is a key when talking about horsepower. I know when I had my custom GT40 uppper it killed the velocity going into the lower intake, I swapped to a cobra upper and picked up .2 in the 1/4 mile. The Holley intake will flow a lot of air but the stock heads will create a bottleneck that the airflow can't overcome. The holley will work but I don't think you will see any benifit at all going to it. Now if you want to trade it for a ported Cobra intake let me know...:)

[Guffinator]

I tend to agree with them. I'm not sure that intake will give you the increase that you're looking for. On a side note, if I'm not running that race I'll loan you my skinnies for a little weight savings.

[maveRick]

Skinnies was the first thing I thought about too. That and removing the driver seat (and a few of those trophies from the hatch) should make a difference. Two tenths? Dunno. Maybe that combined with cool air will do it.

$0.02 deposited


Good luck.

[BigRed]

Lighten it up any way possible.
Do you have a pulley on it?
I have a race crank pulley your more than welcome to use.
If your running a full length belt now switching over to a short belt and this pulley will cover the index with room to spare.
I think if you installed the intake I'd pull 4 degree's or so out of the cam.
It's not a stock geared rear is it?
I have an extra timing gearset for you if you'd like to try that.

[HoustonLX]

Lighten it up any way possible.
Do you have a pulley on it?
I have a race crank pulley your more than welcome to use.
If your running a full length belt now switching over to a short belt and this pulley will cover the index with room to spare.
I think if you installed the intake I'd pull 4 degree's or so out of the cam.
It's not a stock geared rear is it?
I have an extra timing gearset for you if you'd like to try that.

ok lemme go more into what already done to the car. Hell, I need to make a list of my own anyway since I am sure I have forgotten some of it.

under-drive pullies (deleted AC and smog pump)
Elect. fan
CAI
Pro-M 75mm
1.7 RR's
FMS double roller timing gear set
FMS lifter
FMS plug wires
180* thermo.
Edelbrock water pump
MSD coil (still need to wire up my MSD Digital 6 ignition)
BBK 1 3/4 LT's
BBK 2 1/2" H-pipe (been meaning to swap to a Dr Gas X pipe)
Dynomax ultraflow stainless steel 2 1/2" cat-back
FMS HD clutch (even though cheap, I can't seem to make it wear out!)
Steeda Tri-Ax shifter
FMS 31 spline rear with Moser axles
3.73's
Lakewood shocks/struts and Eibach springs with airbag in right rear

I have already removed the sound deadener and complete stereo system (ok, thieves removed the radio and I went ahead and removed all speakers). Still has the rear seat which I have been meaning to remove. I really don't want to remove the passenger seat as I can't stand the "stripped" look since its a street car. I will if I absoluetly have to, but trying to avoid it. No way is it worth all the trouble just to retard a stock cam. Race weight with me last time at Ennis was 3,240 lbs. Sad part is I have had the car as light as 3,010 lbs back when it was a H/C/I car and on Draglites.

I think the biggest thing that will help me is 60'. The 8.6's at Ennis came with only 1.81 60's. The 8.5 at HPM a few weeks back came with a 1.79 60' all on my worn out BFG's. On those passes, I did what I consider easy 3,200 rpm launches for consistancy. With the new MT DR's I have and a more aggressive launch, maybe I can get into the mid 1.7's which might get me into the 13.5's. Just depends on if I can get these small 255/50/16's to hook well enough. Hell, might even try a powershift or two. :ity:

BTW, Rick, if I remove the drivers seat, what the hell am I gonna sit on?? A bucket? :drunks:

[Chad82GT]

If cooler weather will do it, try icing the intake b/w rounds. Also try upping the fuel pressure a tad with the iced intake and see how that works for ya. $5 worth of ice is certainly worth a shot at trying it to see if it gets you where you need to be. Maybe try a thin phenolic spacer to keep the upper cool, and bypass the coolant lines near the throttle body... All in the name of cooler IATs :)

[BigRed]

Bypass the power steering.
If you have a crank pulley with a stock wp and alt I have the belt length.
A little massaging from a rat tail file and it's a real nice setup.
Back seat w/ all hardware is 50 lbs.
Skin the stock hood for some more saved weight. (Not very hard)
Then just pull the 40lb pass seat if you need some more.

[HoustonLX]

If cooler weather will do it, try icing the intake b/w rounds. Also try upping the fuel pressure a tad with the iced intake and see how that works for ya. $5 worth of ice is certainly worth a shot at trying it to see if it gets you where you need to be. Maybe try a thin phenolic spacer to keep the upper cool, and bypass the coolant lines near the throttle body... All in the name of cooler IATs :)

Kinda hard to do the ice thing in the later rounds when you are practically hot lapping. Coolant lines stopped going through the TB a LONG time ago.

Brian, hood insulation was remove over 3 years ago. ;)

[Chad82GT]

I have a Cobra intake if you want it... $250 shipped to your door. If you want the 65mm TB that's on it, call it $300 shipped. This is an untouched, unported intake that went 10s on Anuerysm's supercharged car before he pulled it appart.

Sorry if anyone thinks this is SPAM, but he asked for options! ;)

[FE_rex]

Shane,
Rule of thumb for weight / et is a 0.1 for every 100 lbs in the 1/4 and 0.07et /100lbs in the 1/8th.

I'd go for the front and back seats (90 lbs as reported) and the the short belt to bypass the power steering pump. May want to put a switch on the alternator to turn off charging while at WOT. (~1-2 hp).

If you do run front skinnies watch the tire pressure. We usually get 0.03 reaction time loss for every psi we take out.

[kbrew8991]

the seat is real easy to temporarily pull, i used to do it all the time with mine. 4 - 15mm bolts and one wiring clip and its out

[rsnow]

If you're running 13.7's,you are already there for the 13.5 index!!!!Example you cut a .550 light and run 13.7 and your competitor cuts a ..751 light and runs 13.5 dead nuts,you win!!!If you go looking for more power or less wieght and end up breaking out you'll be pissed.Cooler weather will make the car pick up .2 easily,even a 5-7mph tail wind will pick the car up a tenth or so,don't change anything Shaner!!

[gt350mustang]

i am interested in the results from the intake swap. do it and see if it plays out as predicted

[HoustonLX]

If you're running 13.7's,you are already there for the 13.5 index!!!!Example you cut a .550 light and run 13.7 and your competitor cuts a ..751 light and runs 13.5 dead nuts,you win!!!If you go looking for more power or less wieght and end up breaking out you'll be pissed.Cooler weather will make the car pick up .2 easily,even a 5-7mph tail wind will pick the car up a tenth or so,don't change anything Shaner!!

If only it were that easy. Even though it will be an index event, we will be racing off a sportsman tree. I can cut .520's all day long thanks to all the bracket racing I do. Problem is I imagine many others will be doing the same. Also, the slower index classes usually bring out sandbaggers. Even with a good light, I think being .2 off the index will mean an early exit. When it comes to index racing, I much prefer to have my car dial'ed in within .05 of the index.

I think I may head out to HRP some time in Jan and try out a few things and see where I stand. Besides, I need more 1/4 practice. Out of all the racing I have done this year (est. 120-140 passes), only twice have I raced full 1/4. That being FFW's at HRP and Ennis. Most were at 1/8 tracks like Evadale, HMP, and Sealy. Since I have never messed with timing and FP ever since returning the car to stock, I may experiment a little. Who knows. I may find that extra .2 just in tuning it. :ity:

[HoustonLX]

i am interested in the results from the intake swap. do it and see if it plays out as predicted

Since it is a reletively easy thing to do, I may go ahead and try it. Even if it doesn't help, I can't see it hurting much.

[White90GT]

Pull out the back seat, you'll never use it! Make you a home made rear delete kit like I did to keep it looking clean. You've seen my kit. Its nothing but 1/8" thick wall paneling cut out to the proper dimensions, then wrapped in cheap black carpet. Its flimsy, so you can't really sit much on it, but it weighs like 3-4 lbs if that and looks nice. Then passenger seat is the 4 bolts, have it out in 5 minutes. Lose the drivers seat and find a summit racing bucket seat for track events like this, those things will get you the number right there, thats over 120 lbs for all of it.

[Otis!]

Shane,

Try the Cobra intake, and if it doesn't work or when it comes time to get rid of it, I'll buy it!

O!