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Old Jan 6, 2020 | 04:25 PM
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Default Throttle Body/ Intake Selection

Need some advise on selecting a TB/ Intake setup. I've been searching several threads and forums and getting some good info but still not everything i need. Building a 6.0 Lq9 w/ AI 226 CNCd 799 heads and a torquer V4 cam. From what i been reading Nick Williams TB and Fast Intakes are as good as it gets so i want to stick with those brands. Please correct me if im wrong but i want to go with DBW. From what I've read it has better drivability characteristics (cold start/ better at controlling idle surging, easier to tune etc.) than DBC. As for an intake I want to go the fast route. Again correct me if I'm wrong but in regards to intake selection bigger is not always better, and for a street car going with too much intake you could loose low end torque and throttle response the same as going with a cam thats too large or heads with too large of a intake runner for your cam combo. I wanted to go with a FAST 92mm intake, but after searching there's not a DBW Nick Williams 92mm to match..... just DBC??? at what point would the 92mm start to become a restriction and would you need to upgrade to a 102mm??? ive also read that the 102mm units are harder to tame and tune. Going with a PSI harness and spoke with them today and believe i got myself more confused on the situation. I cant find any specs as to what style harness or what pedal or Pcm i need to run any of the throttle bodies. Can someone give me some direction here before i purchase something wrong or something i regret.... sometimes i overthink stuff. Doing a LS swap on a 87 Monte Carlo SS
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Old Jan 6, 2020 | 05:01 PM
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For what you are doing a Dorman LS2 intake manifold might serve your needs. Older FAST tooling was used to design it. Various OEM DBW TB's will fit that and keep your LQ9 fed.
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Old Jan 6, 2020 | 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by G Atsma
For what you are doing a Dorman LS2 intake manifold might serve your needs. Older FAST tooling was used to design it. Various OEM DBW TB's will fit that and keep your LQ9 fed.
Shouldn't i see more power gains from a bigger aftermarket throttle and a Fast intake??
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Old Jan 6, 2020 | 05:17 PM
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You stated you want DBW. A general lack of aftermarket DBW TB's limits your choice of setup.
The LS2 TB is 90mm AND DBW. It is also used on the LS7 which is over 500HP.
The FAST manifold is huge $$$$$ compared to the Dorman unit and will allow more power, but not a huge amount.
Bang for the buck is where I'm going here.
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Old Jan 6, 2020 | 05:33 PM
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Originally Posted by G Atsma
You stated you want DBW. A general lack of aftermarket DBW TB's limits your choice of setup.
The LS2 TB is 90mm AND DBW. It is also used on the LS7 which is over 500HP.
The FAST manifold is huge $$$$$ compared to the Dorman unit and will allow more power, but not a huge amount.
Bang for the buck is where I'm going here.
Very true, what would i do for a harness in this case??? Engine is Gen III, that throttle is Gen IV and im assuming i would have to match it with the same year and model Throttle pedal as the TB..... would the ecm would have to be Gen IV also???
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Old Jan 6, 2020 | 05:59 PM
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A fast 102 will make more power than a fast 92 or a dorman. I don't understand why people still think a 102 is "too big." Intakes are not just about the size of the mouth at the front.

TB size doesn't need to match, either. Who cares if you run a 90mm TB on a 102? A 90mm throttle body will flow a considerable amount. A 102 TB might gain you 5hp peak, might gain you zero. Depends in what your engine wants. Not getting the larger TB won't break you. Then you have to consider the TB is the end of the pipe that goes into the manifold, that starts at the air filter. Not much point in getting a massive TB if something upstream flows less.

Do some research on intake manifold design. Runner volume, length, shape, plenum size... a lot of factors go into how an intake manifold effects performance.

Last edited by dreadpirateroberts; Jan 6, 2020 at 07:06 PM.
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Old Jan 6, 2020 | 06:04 PM
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Originally Posted by G Atsma
For what you are doing a Dorman LS2 intake manifold might serve your needs. Older FAST tooling was used to design it. Various OEM DBW TB's will fit that and keep your LQ9 fed.
It was used for the bottom, lol.
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Old Jan 6, 2020 | 06:34 PM
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Originally Posted by dreadpirateroberts
A fast 102 will make more power than a fast 92 or a dorman. I don't understand why people still think a 102 is "too big." Intakes are not just about the size of the mouth at the front.

TB size doesn't need to match, either. Who cares if you run a 90mm TB on a 102? A 90mm throttle body will flow a considerable amount. A 102 TB might gain you 5hp peak, might gain you zero. Depends in what your engine wants. Not getting the larger TB won't break you. Then you have to consider the TB is the end of the pipe that goes into the manifild, that starts at the air filter. Not much point in getting a massive TB if something upstream flows less.

Do some research on intake manifold design. Runner volume, length, shape, plenum size... a lot of factors go into how an intake manifold effects performance.
Yes but will it loose power down low? what about average Hp/ TQ??
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Old Jan 6, 2020 | 07:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Speedman87
Yes but will it loose power down low? what about average Hp/ TQ??
You shouldn't lose down low. Perhaps a few hp below 2000 or 2500, but i have yet to see anyone who starts a dyno pull lower than that, so i really don't know. Many of the fast 102 vs stock manifold dyno's i've seen online haven't shown a loss anywhere. Most have shown an increase across the board, with more as rpm increases.

People have had gains going to the FAST 102 with just bolt-ons, stock heads and cam.

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Old Jan 6, 2020 | 07:14 PM
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If it makes you feel better, my LS1 is stock-headed and has the smaller "truck" cam that many gen iii LS motors came with in later years. I haven't noticed any loss of performance, although i have never had it dynoed.
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Old Jan 6, 2020 | 08:15 PM
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Originally Posted by dreadpirateroberts
It was used for the bottom, lol.
There is a reason it performs MUCH BETTER than the factory LS2, which is widely regarded as a disappointment.
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Old Jan 6, 2020 | 09:02 PM
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How can i make all this come together as far as ecm, harness, pedal and TAC module being that its a gen III engine? I know i can use a x-link connector.... is this the only option??? is this a reliable option??
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Old Jan 8, 2020 | 02:10 PM
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Well after further research and speaking with a few tuners, the only way to make this work is with the x-link connector which is hit or miss. Some setups work and some has there bugs.... therefore even though i wanted DBW for better drivability and ease of tuning, i'm going to go with a DBC. Would hate to invest in a harness, x link connector pedal and tac module for something not to work or have intermittent bugs
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Old Jan 8, 2020 | 02:39 PM
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Originally Posted by G Atsma
There is a reason it performs MUCH BETTER than the factory LS2, which is widely regarded as a disappointment.
most intakes perform better than the stock LS2.

Had they gone with a lost core construction like they had the LS6 intake, it would have been a much better piece.
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Old Jan 8, 2020 | 02:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Speedman87
Well after further research and speaking with a few tuners, the only way to make this work is with the x-link connector which is hit or miss. Some setups work and some has there bugs.... therefore even though i wanted DBW for better drivability and ease of tuning, i'm going to go with a DBC. Would hate to invest in a harness, x link connector pedal and tac module for something not to work or have intermittent bugs
You could just do a GTO harness and an e40 ECM.
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Old Jan 8, 2020 | 03:31 PM
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Originally Posted by dreadpirateroberts
You could just do a GTO harness and an e40 ECM.
ECM would be expecting different crank signals i believe. 24x vs 58x. And also requires an external TCM
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Old Jan 8, 2020 | 09:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Speedman87
ECM would be expecting different crank signals i believe. 24x vs 58x. And also requires an external TCM
E40 is 24x. I would imagine that's what you have... unless you decided on a 58x reluctor for your build. Just use the OEM TCM. I don't see why having a TCM is an issue... what kind of transmission are you running?
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Old Jan 8, 2020 | 10:30 PM
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Originally Posted by dreadpirateroberts
E40 is 24x. I would imagine that's what you have... unless you decided on a 58x reluctor for your build. Just use the OEM TCM. I don't see why having a TCM is an issue... what kind of transmission are you running?
yea you’re right. 4l80e
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Old Jan 9, 2020 | 12:31 PM
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I was hoping you'd say 4l60 or 65, lol.

That option might be messier than you want, then. It can be done with the T42 trans controller and the 4l80e, it just isn't plug and play. There is a conversion harness, and there are also some DIY's on how to modify the harness yourself, and of course you will need hptuners to modify the T42 calibration...

you might want to go ahead and seek an aftermarket option.
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Old Jan 13, 2020 | 02:51 PM
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I'm upgrading from a ported Dorman LS2 to the Fast 102. For 350 It is a solid choice and is super sleepy with it's oem look. I doesn't quite flow as well as the Fast 102 though. I ponied up the cash for the Fast and am curious to see how it performs in a few weeks.
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