Do you work on your car? Chances are its intake manifold is iron or aluminum. The latter used to be somewhat special to performance fans but today we are in a golden age of the aftermarket, with computers and other technologies making the way we did things “the old way.” Witness the below dyno-test video from Performance Design.
Performance Design took the Carbon XR, their dual-plenum, cross-ram manifold that is made from both carbon fiber and aluminum, to Lingenfelter Performance for some dyno testing. It’s only available for the LS7 “corporate” motor (made famous by the Corvette Z06 but due in the upcoming 2014 Camaro Z/28) but Performance Design is developing one for the LS3.
Buyers have a choice between two throttle bodies: twin 75mm or 90mm, with the latter able to handle 1,300 horsepower. The intake runners are 12.5 inches (a full inch larger than factory), helping add 48 lbs.-ft. of peak torque to the LS7; the dyno also showed a 33-peak horsepower increase. President of Performance Design, Caleb Newman, told Engine Labs, “A lot of people struggle to believe it makes [that much more] until they see it for themselves. Aside from putting on headers and a cam, there are not many more ways to pick up power naturally aspirated.”
Interestingly enough, the destination for the Performance Design is not late-motor vehicles, as the height of the intake may not clear the hood; rather, older cars receiving an LS7 transplant will be the recipients of this intake. Retail price should be just under $5,000 but it won’t include injectors or fuel rails.
Comments
What a Kool and badass idea!
I have a 1995 Buick Regal with a 3.8 L V6 and a plastic intake manifold, so I have the benefits of a carbon fiber manifold but I paid much less.
Your benefits don’t include longer runners