I know the LS1's is plastic, and the heat dissipation is way better than an LT1. It gets heat soaked so fast, with a plastic intake manifold heat soaking would not really be a problem.

Is this a viable idea or am I just dreaming??? I think it would be a good idea.

 

I seemed to remember a post a LONG time ago about this. A person was going to try injection molding the intakes for distribution. Apparently there was much more involved in it than he and his financial backing (if I remember right) thought.

Haven't heard anything since.

Sorry I can't be of more help but the details are a little fuzzy about the entire setup he was looking to make.

 

the actual LS1 intake manifold is plastic??? how does it not melt on the heads?
how is the weight as compared to the lt1 intake?

 

It's not some cheapo grocery bag plastic, it won't melt. I just know that it helps greatly with how easily the engine gets heat soeaked. I've always been told that cold air, cold heads, and a warm combustion chamber was what you want.

Would it really be that hard to duplicate the LT1 manifold in plastic or even fabricate a new mold where you could inject a high temp plastic into???

 

I was just discussing this subject on the weekend at the dragstrip, someone really should come out with this.

I hate having to wait two hours in the pits for my intake to cool off, and even with a bag of ice on the intake for a half hour it still doesn't get totally cool. When I had my LS1 I could run back to back all day and not slow down, but with my LT1 it slows by two tenths or more once that intake heats up.

I'd rather not need to wait so long between runs, or go to the hassle of icing the intake just to run the best ET. When you're driving on the street the intake does stay cool, but the problem is that as soon as you stop moving, the intake starts building heat almost right away, and it just takes forever to cool it back down again.

 

It seems to me it could be done with a really good cad model and a rapid prototyping machine....

 

Over the past couple years I've heard of stories of people spearheading this project but for some apparent reason it doesn't even reach the prototype phase. I understand the process and materials are costly but there has to be someone out there who can make this happen with enough generated interest. Anyone.............

Johnny

 

Does anyone know how to do Carbon Fiber? I know its slow and time comsuming but its an option besides thermoplastics.

Also if someone is gona go the length of designing prototyping and manufacturing an LT1 intake why not improve upon it?


One thing I never understood (for lack of better knowledge) is for why does the LT11 seem to produce all the torque Below 5000 RPMs when the Intake has short runners. Arent short runner Intakes resonating at higher RPMs? and then the LS1 intake has (what appear to be) longer runners yet it produces the power at higher RPMs. I know there is room for improvement there without having to redesign the Hood.


If someone produces a better breathing Intake made out of Thick Thermoplastic or CarbonFiber I would be very interested in doing that Mod.


Marvin

 

I can tell you from lots of experience with composites, it would be both very expensive and highly involved to make a carbon intake for the LT1.

I just got finished writing a program for a HDMP plug for the stock elbow and that took many hours to write for a CNC. the finished product is awesome though...

 

The only good uses for carbon fiber are weight savings and apperance. You couldn't really make the enitire intake out of carbon fiber, because it wouldn't dissipate heat very much. You would have to use some type of thermoplastic.

The problem is it would be very costly to produce this. I am not an injection molder nor do i have access to one. Basically what would have to happen is the intake would have to be drawn 3d in CAD. Then it would have to be machined to be used in the injection molder. Once this is done, you have to attach it to the molder and then you're done. The problems that i can see arise are #1. Drawing the entire intake in CAD, unless someone already has access to one that is drawn. #2. Machining the intake correctly for the injection molder. I have access to CAD (Mastercam) and i have access to CNC Routers. Not quite a mill, but similar. My problem is i have never made a mold for an injection molder. #3. Typically an a company who has an injection molder has to a great quantity (1,000 or more) of runs to make it worth the money. This is mainly do to the set up time it takes for changing out each mold.

With that said, if someone has access to #1, i would be willing to do some checking to see exactly what it would take to get this accomplished.

 

I'm sure GM engineers have a CAD model of the intake.....

 

And how many of them do you know?

 

You talking Heat transfer.. question. Arent materials that transfer heat easily, also the same materials that absorb heat easily? as in Aluminum? it absors heat very well. The intake manifold is not generating Heat. its absorbing it from the Engine Block and Heat soak... I would say a poor Heat conductor would keep the Intake air colder for longer periods of time here. Am I correct??

Just wondering.


Marvin

 

Your first statement is partially true. I am no engineer or anything, so this is just my opinion. But, if you take iron, it absorbs heat pretty quick, but doesn't dissipate it very good, as opposed to aluminum. Yes, aluminum absorbs heat quickly, but it also dissipates heat quickly. And yes, the intake would just be absorbing heat from below, so a poor heat conductor should work effectively.

So, does anyone know the exact material the LS1 intake is made of?

 

Maybe these guys are the answer to all of your problems.

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tech/phr_0309_fast/