best intake manifold for the money?

**35th-ANV-SS** · 12-31-2012, 07:21 AM

Originally Posted by LeadFarmer

with the stock ls1 intake and bolt ons I made 335 to the wheels. 380 to the wheels with my cam and ls1 intake. Picked up a ported FAST 92 with a 92mm throttle body and made 420ish to the wheels. A proper intake can give you just as much of an hp gain as the cam or heads, don't skimp out.

I find it very difficult to believe you made an additional 40rwhp from an intake swap. Your car on the same DYNO on a different day could have picked up 15rwhp, and who knows the difference on a different DYNO as they all are different.

**Firebirdjones** · 12-31-2012, 12:11 PM

There were dyno comparisons a couple years back when the 102's first hit the market. It was shown that the larger 102 stomped the previous smaller versions. Even Tony Mamo who was part of that session explained there is no reason to avoid the 102 even for a small 346 cubed LS1 engine, it doen't hurt performance because the intake is a dry intake, it only deals with incoming air and doesn't have to atomize fuel unlike a carbed application, so larger size has no bearing as far as hurting power. Fuel is all taken care of at the injector right above the cylinder head ports.

So don't shy away from the 102 just because. It'll work fine. If you are spending the money for a FAST, may as well get the latest design for your money.

Personally, for even a head/cam car that is primarily street driven, the LS6 does the job. Plenty of them I've seen run bottom 11's. Even cam only cars with the LS6 will dip into the 11's easily.
I only see the FAST setup a cost effective upgrade IF you are a serious track car that is class racing and you're looking for every last tenth. Just my opinion but I can't see spending $1500-$2000 on an intake setup for a street car. There are many other things that I could put that money to better use with.

**LeadFarmer** · 01-16-2013, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by 35th-ANV-SS

I find it very difficult to believe you made an additional 40rwhp from an intake swap. Your car on the same DYNO on a different day could have picked up 15rwhp, and who knows the difference on a different DYNO as they all are different.

The power jump was also due to the tune. Because I was originally running the ls1 intake with stock T/B my tuner was very conservative with the initial tune, and even left it slightly rich to compensate for future mods...didn't turn out to be a great idea. I got it re-tuned right after the intake and T/B were installed. 6 of the 8 runs booked around the 410 mark, last run was without the paper filter (was on the car due to heavy rain that week), putting it at 420.
That power is pretty much smack in the middle of what's expected with a bolt on ms3 m6. Not unusual at all.

**cpop98ws6** · 01-16-2013, 04:54 PM

I picked up 28 rwhp going from a LS6 intake to a FAST 92/92 and some bigger injectors.

**Whamhammer** · 01-20-2013, 01:38 PM

Thanks kinda what I was hoping to hear. My car is an 02 WS6, so it has the LS6 intake already. It's really hard for me to rationalize spending about $1,000 for an intake manifold and then getting a throttle body about that for a street car. I could put that sort of money to help out the bottom end, a lighter K frame or something. Plus that intake screams "look at me", but doesn't really deliver all that much more it seems (especially dealing with the smog police).

**2002ssslp** · 01-20-2013, 05:03 PM

LS6 is the best way to go for the money.

**BrntWS6** · 02-01-2013, 04:28 PM

I picked up 20rwhp going from a LS6 to a FAST 92 on my H/C car on the same dyno.

**Whamhammer** · 02-03-2013, 12:32 PM

But is the 20 hp really worth getting a $1,000 manifold? Did you also by a larger throttle body? What cam specs are you using?

**98TransAmWs-6** · 02-03-2013, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by Whamhammer

But is the 20 hp really worth getting a $1,000 manifold? Did you also by a larger throttle body? What cam specs are you using?

There are people who spend that much on an exhaust set up to get around the same gain. My 102 didn't cost $1000, it was $823 new from Maryland Speed. For the FAST depending on how much you get it for it is between $40-50 per hp.

**Firebirdjones** · 02-03-2013, 02:13 PM

It's actually alot more than that if you do it (what I consider) all the way.

You need a matching throttle body, and it's all for not (in my opinion) unless you do an air intake setup to match the size if the new throttle body/intake so a better lid and couplings are in order. So that's more money. Then there is the whole fuel rail/fuel injector upgrade issue, more money.

I've priced this stuff out before, it barely comes in under $2,000 by the time it's all said and done. So unless you buy used, or find a shop going out of business that's having a clearance sale, it's alot of dough for an intake upgrade.

That's not to say I wouldn't do it. If I were competitively running an LS based engine that was fuel injected and looking for all I could get short of going with a sheetmetal setup, then the FAST would be my choice. For a mostly driven street car however I really don't care about the small gain from an expensive intake, the LS6 gets the job done well enough.

**nosnova** · 02-21-2013, 02:21 AM

do these ls-6 intakes fit the 2012 camaro's with a L99 engine and if so would there be any power gains

**88gtman** · 03-22-2013, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by fbodynut

So, any one have the BBK or Holley intakes??

I have had a BBK on my car now for about 2 years and I love it. Looks good and definitely seems to pull harder from 4-6K rpm. It was one of my first mods. IMO you can't really go wrong with the LS6 or BBK. To me the FAST is way overpriced, JMO. I hear many mixed things about the Typhoon intakes. Personally after reading all the arguments and talks I decided to go with the BBK and am very please with it.

***SMWS6TA*** · 03-22-2013, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by Whamhammer

But is the 20 hp really worth getting a $1,000 manifold? Did you also by a larger throttle body? What cam specs are you using?

Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

It's actually alot more than that if you do it (what I consider) all the way.

You need a matching throttle body, and it's all for not (in my opinion) unless you do an air intake setup to match the size if the new throttle body/intake so a better lid and couplings are in order. So that's more money. Then there is the whole fuel rail/fuel injector upgrade issue, more money.

I've priced this stuff out before, it barely comes in under $2,000 by the time it's all said and done. So unless you buy used, or find a shop going out of business that's having a clearance sale, it's alot of dough for an intake upgrade.

That's not to say I wouldn't do it. If I were competitively running an LS based engine that was fuel injected and looking for all I could get short of going with a sheetmetal setup, then the FAST would be my choice. For a mostly driven street car however I really don't care about the small gain from an expensive intake, the LS6 gets the job done well enough.

This is what exactly how I feel. If I was seriously in track racing then yeah I could justify the expense. But seeing how this is my weekend car and overall play toy that I want to have fun in I can't see me dropping that amount of coin. I'm not saying I'd reject one if it landed on my doorstep but I have other items on my build list that have higher priority.

Whamhammer, don't get wrapped up in the HP numbers game. Figure out what you want and decide from there.

***SMWS6TA*** · 03-22-2013, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by nosnova

do these ls-6 intakes fit the 2012 camaro's with a L99 engine and if so would there be any power gains

No - The L99 and LS3 are GEN IV motors that have rectangular port heads. The intake you would want is the LS3 or L76 style intake to work with the L99 stock heads. It should already come with this intake.

The LS6 intake is designed for cathedral port heads.

The LS3/L76 intake also has more volume of air flow over the LS6 intake.

***SMWS6TA*** · 03-22-2013, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by 88gtman

I have had a BBK on my car now for about 2 years and I love it. Looks good and definitely seems to pull harder from 4-6K rpm. It was one of my first mods. IMO you can't really go wrong with the LS6 or BBK. To me the FAST is way overpriced, JMO. I hear many mixed things about the Typhoon intakes. Personally after reading all the arguments and talks I decided to go with the BBK and am very please with it.

I've seen his car and the BBK does look good.

When we going to do your headers?

**BrntWS6** · 03-23-2013, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Whamhammer

But is the 20 hp really worth getting a $1,000 manifold? Did you also by a larger throttle body? What cam specs are you using?

It's all relative I guess. It was worth it to me, but I also wanted to paint it for some extra bling under the hood, so tack on an extra $200 for a powder coat. It looks sick though. I did get a new TB, MAF, FTP lid & bellows to complement it. No one ever said this hobby was cheap. Cam is a 231/234.

**jonnyman** · 03-23-2013, 06:48 PM

love my fast 102

**35th-ANV-SS** · 03-24-2013, 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by BrntWS6

It was worth it to me, but I also wanted to paint it for some extra bling under the hood, so tack on an extra $200 for a powder coat. It looks sick though. No one ever said this hobby was cheap.

Do you enter car shows?

**98TransAmWs-6** · 03-24-2013, 08:14 AM

I didn't think you could get plastic powder coated? Where did you get it done?

**BrntWS6** · 03-24-2013, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by 35th-ANV-SS

Do you enter car shows?

I do mostly go to car shows / cruze nights, sit around for hours BS'ing and to drink a few beers. I really wanted the FAST more for looks I guess. The HP increase was just an added bonus.

@ 98TransAm.....I got mine Powder coated from a company called "the powder pro" in Woodstock IL. They do great work....they did my rims, brake calipers and catch can.