Awwwwww well. I'm always ready to be on the cutting edge when it comes to new stuff. Now we need to find the next edge to cut.
spoiler on the hood.
Update:
We got to look hands on at the 1.4L intake manifold a few days ago and have been talking about it here ever since.
We have to be honest; the design is great from the factory. Nice long straight runners, large plenum for the size of the engine, structurally reinforced with ribs within the plastic...
We don’t know how it would be any better in sheet metal, other than "look better." We doubt there can be any performance increase reached at this time. Plus with the complex design, we fear we could not even make it for $600 in our cost. For these reasons we are currently not going to develop a product that does not help.
Many might not like this, but truth is, we don’t want to sell something that does not meet up to its hope. We are not here just to sell product, we are here to offer upgrades that help everyone achieve their performance goals. So in the future when we do release a product, you will know it is worthy from TTR!
Only item that we did notice, in which members do already, is port the manifold at the outlet side. We assume that rib is there to cause turbulence to atomize the fuel better at lower RPM. Porting should help top end air flow, but you may see a decrease in MPG do to the porting. We would consider it top end power increase @ the expense of giving MPG at cruising speeds. GM put it there for a reason...
Thanks for including us in the thought process here, and for not releasing a product that you think would be merely cosmetic. Does make me think more highly of any other products you come up with.
On the other hand "GM put it there for a reason" shows more faith and credit in giant corporations than I can really stomach. Often the "reason" seems to have been "to make the car quieter", rather than mpg or power... worst, to me, is their tune, which seems to be developed specifically to make the car run at its worst at all times, presumably because they don't want people whining when they get less power on a hot summer day than they did on a cold day in January when they did the test drive.
Yeah, "a reason" but one that we'd want to support? That's what you aftermarket guys are there for, fixing the "reasons" of corporate so called thinking.
Question (and this would make it even more expensive I know) would it be possible to have a retractable rib, so you could choose between optimal power flow and optimal mpg flow?
Also, how much does the stock manifold weigh vs how much would the theoretical replacement weigh? I know some folks are working hard at losing even a few lbs at a time...
I heard a guy made massive power with PVC pipe and elbows. He beat GM with Home Depot.
Update:
We got to look hands on at the 1.4L intake manifold a few days ago and have been talking about it here ever since.
We have to be honest; the design is great from the factory. Nice long straight runners, large plenum for the size of the engine, structurally reinforced with ribs within the plastic...
We don’t know how it would be any better in sheet metal, other than "look better." We doubt there can be any performance increase reached at this time. Plus with the complex design, we fear we could not even make it for $600 in our cost. For these reasons we are currently not going to develop a product that does not help.
Many might not like this, but truth is, we don’t want to sell something that does not meet up to its hope. We are not here just to sell product, we are here to offer upgrades that help everyone achieve their performance goals. So in the future when we do release a product, you will know it is worthy from TTR!
Only item that we did notice, in which members do already, is port the manifold at the outlet side. We assume that rib is there to cause turbulence to atomize the fuel better at lower RPM. Porting should help top end air flow, but you may see a decrease in MPG do to the porting. We would consider it top end power increase @ the expense of giving MPG at cruising speeds. GM put it there for a reason...
I am always open to new products and trying new things and trend setting. But I'm afraid this is what I said a week ago that no one wanted to believe or hear. I didn't understand why no one understood or believed what I said. Oh well. I think we need stiffer valve springs. And bigger valves. And ported head. Then bigger turbo. Bigger replacement valves are available from GM
I I think we need stiffer valve springs. And bigger valves. And ported head. Then bigger turbo. Bigger replacement valves are available from GM