BBK SSi Intake or LS6 Intake?

**Naaman** · 03-18-2011, 07:46 AM

Anyone ever used the BBK intake manifold? They are going for around $500, which seems to also be the going rate for the LS6 manifold, but BBK claims theirs is an improvement over the LS6. It has an 85mm throttle body opening. Will a stock throttle body fit that?

**JunkyardZ** · 03-18-2011, 08:01 AM

Some say the bbk is no good because it is metal instead of plastic so it heats up more. If it isn't a car that gets raced every day then I wouldn't worry too much about some heat in the intake. If I had a car without the ls6 intake I would give it a try but why use the stock TB when you have an intake that can flow an 85mm TB? Thats my opinion.

**blackbird0230** · 03-18-2011, 09:08 AM

Agreed^^ If you're upgrading from an ls1 then try it. And since you have the 85mm get a matching throttle body

**Naaman** · 03-18-2011, 09:18 AM

Well, yeah... a bigger throttle body would be on the list, but I can't afford both at once. Would I NEED a bigger throttle body to match the intake?

**pewterz55** · 03-18-2011, 09:38 AM

well if your on a budget you can pick up a used ls6 for around $300

**Naaman** · 03-18-2011, 09:40 AM

Thinking about it... would an 85mm TB fit on the stock LS1 intake manifold? If so, I could just get that first and upgrade the manifold later. I'm assuming that the 85mm is referring to the opening on the back end of the TB, where it meets up with the intake manifold, right?

Originally Posted by pewterz55

well if your on a budget you can pick up a used ls6 for around $300

That was my original plan, and still the one I am more inclined to carry out. Just was looking up stuff to add to my car and came across this option.

**408WS6** · 03-18-2011, 12:54 PM

Those BBK intakes look so great when they are polished though. Not sure I buy into the heat soak theory 100%. Theoretically, yes. But I've seen no evidence to prove either way. And if an intake performs better, it performs better. Heat soak or no heat soak.

**LS1_ws6** · 03-19-2011, 08:41 PM

I think it looks nice under the hood but damn does it heat up quick. at idel it gets really hot but once you start going its alot better.

**98maro** · 03-19-2011, 09:09 PM

i need some info on this too..

the way i think for an up grade on ls1.. should be ls6 or FAST but some of us cant afford the FAST intake,, so my option is ls6..
if is a minum difference from ls6 to kbb intake i would go for ls6,, if its a huge minum then that case go for bbk..
i like how bbk looks but i like how the plastic looks better under the hood..

**tatertot91** · 03-19-2011, 09:30 PM

If you got the BBK cheaper than an LS6 id say get it, otherwise the LS6 intake just makes sense.
As far as a fast like said above, unless you're running a heads/cam setup or even just a cam/only car, the cost wouldn't justify the gains by any means

**Nolar.Bear41** · 03-20-2011, 08:52 AM

I'd pick the BBK over the ls6 simply because it's shinier

**408WS6** · 03-20-2011, 08:55 AM

When I see this thing, I see nothing but WIN:

**Nolar.Bear41** · 03-20-2011, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by 408WS6

When I see this thing, I see nothing but WIN:

my point exactly

**LeadFarmer** · 03-20-2011, 09:29 AM

I plan on swapping out my ls1 intake here in a few months and a LS6 would prob be my third choice, right after the Typhoon intake and this BBK, my thinking is since they'll all prob give me the same power gain I might as well incorporate looks in to my decision

**Z28_Driver** · 03-20-2011, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by 408WS6

When I see this thing, I see nothing but WIN:

pretty shiny thing.

**blackbirdbrain89** · 03-21-2011, 04:25 PM

ls6 100% lol. i run it on my 00 ta with dart 205s and comp cams 228 230 .57ish cam and i rev it out to 7k

the ls6 runs me out to about 6700 b4 it dies off... i start pulling a slight vac after about 4500 but that might be my lid and or filter choking it off... above 100 the little bit of ram air seems to help that and stop pulling a vac till about 5500...

in all its hard to beat GM. few ppl do.

**JayTA98** · 03-22-2011, 06:59 AM

I got my LS6 intake brand new with new fuel rail from ebay. It was from a crate engine. I paid $350 shipped.

**Naaman** · 03-22-2011, 07:31 AM

So what's the true cost of swapping to an LS6? Assuming labor is free, you need the manifold itself, but are there other parts that need to be swapped? I understand that you have to delete the EGR. Is this just done with a tune, or do you have remove other parts from the car to make the manifold fit?

**tatertot91** · 03-22-2011, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by Naaman

So what's the true cost of swapping to an LS6? Assuming labor is free, you need the manifold itself, but are there other parts that need to be swapped? I understand that you have to delete the EGR. Is this just done with a tune, or do you have remove other parts from the car to make the manifold fit?

Egr is the tube running off the top of your intake to the passenger side exhaust manifold. If you swap intakes you have to remove the piping with the valve and block off the exhaust manifold. You could also go with race style headers which don't come eith erg provisions.
You don't need a tune but I would recommend one, your pcm adjusts for the recycled air that comes from your exhaust from factory. Besides the cost of the maniflold, blocking off the exh. Manifold, and a tune (if you wish to do so) that should be it.

***SMWS6TA*** · 03-22-2011, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by Naaman

So what's the true cost of swapping to an LS6? Assuming labor is free, you need the manifold itself, but are there other parts that need to be swapped? I understand that you have to delete the EGR. Is this just done with a tune, or do you have remove other parts from the car to make the manifold fit?

EGR inlet tubes on the exhaust manifold will need to be capped if you do not get headers right away. Removal of EGR and Air Pump cost nothing but time. I also pulled the fuse to the Air Pump.

Installing the Intake can be done in a couple of hrs (just the Intake, if you do the below items then it will take an afternoon for a beginner).

I'd wait for a tune until you get headers if you have plans too. If you do just the Intake and TB no need for one till then.

Costs:
EGR Cap Plates - $ 15
LS6 Intake - $300, got mine new from craigslist
P&P TB - $100 S2 Performance, should be new $150 but the same seller sold both the Intake and TB together so I go a discount price if I got both.
OPSU - $55 - This you may have to have on hand, it becomes brittle of the lifetime of heat cycles and most 1st timers that remove the Intake break it. It is located behind the Intake on the drivers side. And yes I did break it too even after Orion warned me.
Tune - $150, I got mine from Frost

Options while doing an Intake change:
LS6 Valley Cover Tray Mod (this deletes the crappy pcv system on the LS1s) $58
99'-02' Knock Sensors and Wire Harness upgrade for LS1's yrs > 98's - KS $ 34 x 2, WH $37
Catch Can - $70 - $220, depends on where you get it and how it's setup.

I also painted mine to my body color, spent $30 for adhesion promoter, primer, color, and clear

Recommend doing these because you will have to take the Intake off IOT do these later (-) the catch can.