Custom low budget cross ram intake
#63
TECH Senior Member
UP from the grave the old thread arose...…. lol Sorry couldn't resist! It IS a cool manifold!
#64
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Haven't gave up on it , just have had too many life things get in the way of ALL my projects last 3 years. Gotta finish up my widebody project at least to primer & possibly a few small things before likely starting a different header project which could affect intake room. This is why I'm figuring on the 8 into 1 or 180 degree headers with tri-y merges which will need to be upswept under hood NOW. I want this crazy upswept header design to leave enough room for intake. I will need to factor in heat shielding/rejecting into all this.
Took a step back yesterday & partially built a roll around cabinet / work bench/work surface to hold buffer, sanding supplies,bench drill press on top, etc.. This is part of progress.
Now on to the intake. It's on my main shop bench staring me in the face.
Things it needs:
Need to finish grinding a few weld protrusions inside of my polished stainless tubes, all fitment on cuts wasn't perfect. Later figured out I could have slid an aluminum sleeve inside tubes to shield it somewhat. Have decent polish on tubes just to look at, needs a little more deep sanding. I did stainless because I wanted a mirror shine .
Cut off LS1 nylon intake to attach tubes to with rubber. They are d-shaped, need to epoxy & sand outsides to make a little rounder for best seal. I chose nylon base for heat rejection & many engines have rubber sleeves on intake systems. Need better sleeves to replace rubber plumbing parts in pic.
Plenums started as 20 ga stainless, which I couldn't weld to a non warped perfection, so switched to aluminum with flange plates on runners. Flanges are a little ugly & need a sealant method. Maybe a slip on cover? Plenums are decently finished raw aluminum, may paint or have coated.
Need to fab up a 2 into 1 between plenums & a throttle body mount. Need throttle cable bracket. Need vacuum connections. Rear balance tube??
Think that's about it.
If I could go back in time, should have just started in all aluminum runners & plenum, 1 piece. would have been long done with it.
Again, no time for a good while, but not giving up. I need any cheering on I can get. Thanks.
EDIT:::: I see vararam never marketed theirs, Maybe I'll finish before them, even if I don't use on the el camino.
Took a step back yesterday & partially built a roll around cabinet / work bench/work surface to hold buffer, sanding supplies,bench drill press on top, etc.. This is part of progress.
Now on to the intake. It's on my main shop bench staring me in the face.
Things it needs:
Need to finish grinding a few weld protrusions inside of my polished stainless tubes, all fitment on cuts wasn't perfect. Later figured out I could have slid an aluminum sleeve inside tubes to shield it somewhat. Have decent polish on tubes just to look at, needs a little more deep sanding. I did stainless because I wanted a mirror shine .
Cut off LS1 nylon intake to attach tubes to with rubber. They are d-shaped, need to epoxy & sand outsides to make a little rounder for best seal. I chose nylon base for heat rejection & many engines have rubber sleeves on intake systems. Need better sleeves to replace rubber plumbing parts in pic.
Plenums started as 20 ga stainless, which I couldn't weld to a non warped perfection, so switched to aluminum with flange plates on runners. Flanges are a little ugly & need a sealant method. Maybe a slip on cover? Plenums are decently finished raw aluminum, may paint or have coated.
Need to fab up a 2 into 1 between plenums & a throttle body mount. Need throttle cable bracket. Need vacuum connections. Rear balance tube??
Think that's about it.
If I could go back in time, should have just started in all aluminum runners & plenum, 1 piece. would have been long done with it.
Again, no time for a good while, but not giving up. I need any cheering on I can get. Thanks.
EDIT:::: I see vararam never marketed theirs, Maybe I'll finish before them, even if I don't use on the el camino.
Last edited by jlcustomz; 11-17-2018 at 11:26 AM.