Trying to decide on an intake manifold...
I agree. Though there is nothing wrong with using good parts. More power to you if budget isn’t a concern. Assuming everything is machined and installed correctly, it will be more reliable fo sure. (I’ve always had trouble in those departments locally)
Think the point was for less than half the price of most forged cranks alone, you could buy a complete used engine and easily meet a 700HP goal. $300-600 4.8/5.3 will easily make 700whp in stock form. Also if there’s ever a problem (and there always is). A drop in replacement engine is another $500. No waiting on machine shops or breaking expensive parts.
Another point… My scat forged I-beams weighed less and were quite a bit narrower than a GEN 4 OEM rod. I kinda doubt they are any stronger than the gen4 rod. But they did cost more!
Here is the Scat I-beam next to a Gen 3 rod I bent… Dimensions are pretty similar.
And here is a GEN3 VS a GEN4
Attachment 720561
Think the point was for less than half the price of most forged cranks alone, you could buy a complete used engine and easily meet a 700HP goal. $300-600 4.8/5.3 will easily make 700whp in stock form. Also if there’s ever a problem (and there always is). A drop in replacement engine is another $500. No waiting on machine shops or breaking expensive parts.
Another point… My scat forged I-beams weighed less and were quite a bit narrower than a GEN 4 OEM rod. I kinda doubt they are any stronger than the gen4 rod. But they did cost more!
Here is the Scat I-beam next to a Gen 3 rod I bent… Dimensions are pretty similar.
And here is a GEN3 VS a GEN4
Attachment 720561
Last edited by Forcefed86; Dec 2, 2016 at 11:43 AM.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
Nismo Kid - Wow, that's pretty definitive all right, thank you! That is basically impossible to argue against. The only BAD thing about that is that over the last few weeks, I'd read quite a few posts (yes, right here on LS1Tech!) arguing that the stock intakes were useless for boost - and so I sold the one I had... 
customblackbird, 3 Window, Pantera EFI & LJMSJohn - thank you for providing specific additional info, that's much appreciated.
The fact that you would post this - without having the sense to think "Hmmmm, maybe there's a reason that the engine needed to be built" - marks you as someone who apparently doesn't think before he posts...
For the record, this started out as a fairly-mild, naturally-aspirated build, I was shooting for around 550 hp. I bought a newly-rebuilt transmission that was rated for 700 ft/lbs. (well beyond the engine output that was anticipated at the time), which is WHY I'm keeping the boost relatively low - This is a BRAND-NEW transmission, & I don't particularly want to rip it back out & spend MORE money rebuilding a transmission that's never even spun a gear yet!
Two things happened recently to change the direction of this build:
1) I discovered that the original crankshaft was damaged & unusable; and
2) I transitioned into a new job that pays twice what my previous career did.
Since the crankshaft had to be replaced anyway, & money was no longer an issue, this allowed me to build the entire engine with an eye toward the future. I'm sure that one day I'll probably step up to an even beefier transmission - but is anyone seriously going to make the argument that you can't have fun with 650 - 700 hp??!? Seriously??!? Come on...
Anyway, enough of that. I DO appreciate most of the feedback that's been provided in this thread, especially since it means that I don't have to drop $800 (or whatever) on a bunch of new intake parts. Thanks guys.
customblackbird, 3 Window, Pantera EFI & LJMSJohn - thank you for providing specific additional info, that's much appreciated.
The fact that you would post this - without having the sense to think "Hmmmm, maybe there's a reason that the engine needed to be built" - marks you as someone who apparently doesn't think before he posts...
For the record, this started out as a fairly-mild, naturally-aspirated build, I was shooting for around 550 hp. I bought a newly-rebuilt transmission that was rated for 700 ft/lbs. (well beyond the engine output that was anticipated at the time), which is WHY I'm keeping the boost relatively low - This is a BRAND-NEW transmission, & I don't particularly want to rip it back out & spend MORE money rebuilding a transmission that's never even spun a gear yet!
Two things happened recently to change the direction of this build:
1) I discovered that the original crankshaft was damaged & unusable; and
2) I transitioned into a new job that pays twice what my previous career did.
Since the crankshaft had to be replaced anyway, & money was no longer an issue, this allowed me to build the entire engine with an eye toward the future. I'm sure that one day I'll probably step up to an even beefier transmission - but is anyone seriously going to make the argument that you can't have fun with 650 - 700 hp??!? Seriously??!? Come on...
Anyway, enough of that. I DO appreciate most of the feedback that's been provided in this thread, especially since it means that I don't have to drop $800 (or whatever) on a bunch of new intake parts. Thanks guys.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
From: Danbury, Ct
and break them all the time.
Originally Posted by gtfoxy
No ****. I have seen mustang guys reck T-5's in 13 sec cars yet some of us get them to live in cars that run 11's.
