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I was watching this video recently which convinced me the Atomic MSD intake is good value when compaired to the Fast manifold. This is because the Atomic can use the stock fuel rails and throttle which is a huge saving.
The atomic makes the same peak power than the Fast in this test although less torque but torque is still on par (or very close) with the LS6 manifold up until 4700 although the Atomic still wins as it holds on to its torque longer and peaks higher at 5500.
Does anyone know if the Atomic looses any low end driveability under 2000 rpm due to its emphasis on high end power?
My only other real concern in purchasing is there seems to be some early quality control problems does anyone know if these issues have been sorted now see link scroll to bottom for reviews. I am in Australia and don't want to purchase a large item like this from USA and have to send it back.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-2702
And video all tested
https://youtu.be/6Ejbwy0srmY
Screenshots of above video LS6 vs Atomic result 30 HP ??
I can’t answer your question but as far as stock fuel rails are concerned that is slightly misleading. My 2000 Z28 fuel rails did not fit. The ls2 rails are what I believe fits... so if that’s a reason for buying then you might want to check your fuel rails.
Also, I had to buy their throttle cable bracket as the stock one doesn’t fit.
When you buy one of these, you have to buy the other brackets, fuel rails, etc. to fit your specific application.
Yes it is a little misleading for Holley to have that on their website and not define which stock fuel rails will work although they are still much cheaper to purchase used than new fast fuel rails, over here Id have to pay $700 plus for fast fuel rails and throttle body and higher initial purchase price for the fast, it makes the Atomic very appealing despite the installation hassles.
Have you checked out VPW? Good for warranty etc in AUS I believe. When you take into account shipping from the US and GST, I haven't actually found cheaper than them for either FAST or MSD manifolds, especially when they have their 10% off sales. They have had 20% off before in tandem with eBay but not seen that in a while.
I have only considered the FAST 92 due to the ease of fitment on an 2004 LS1 (GTO equivalent). I don't know what other parts you need to fit these other than a new Throttle Body (assuming you don't have an LS2 TB already). I think Holley Sniper are popular TB? Probably about $1,400 on top? So, decent investment over here in Australia, although I have seen guys drop $3,000.00 on the Fast intake/TB combo over here (and be disappointed by making no extra or only a few extra rwkw). I'm still thinking about it, just to finish off my combo but shops keep telling me not to bother over the LS6. If you have an LS1 manifold it would be different.
Last edited by Pulse Red; Dec 20, 2020 at 10:46 PM.
It's a decent intake. I'd grab whichever is cheaper between fast and msd. You will need spacers for the ls1 style fuel injectors. Throttlebody cable bracket. The vacuum port for what I believe is the ac is very small and fragile so mind that. It requires a 4 bolt throttle body. You will either need an adapter or an aftermarket unit. I recommend a nick William's. Cant use ls1 rails you will need ls2 rails. They make aftermarket rails as well. When I bought my rails I found ls2 rails off summit for I think half the price as the billet rails and its OEM quality, wont leak. You also need an ls2 water pump from like an 06 gto.
I believe a Nick Williams TB is about $750.00 over here but I may be out of date on that one. Rocket have the Holley Sniper 105, @ $1,067.22, so still not cheap but better than the $1,850.00 I have seen online.
Hi yes it might be better to buy locally, I'm thinking I'd only get 20 HP on my mild set up with the Atomic, the manifold in the test was with a plus 230 duration cam and good heads also not a sub 220 cam like mine.
Unless the tuner knew what he was doing I doubt I'd get 20 HP more, sounds a little like tuners here in a Australia don't know how to tune to suit these manifolds.
I run an LS2 fuel rail on my FAST 102. If you're shifting at 7000 rpm or below, the FAST is probably the way to go.
I'd definitely rather have a fast LSXR 102 intake if I can run a LS2 fuel rail because of better torque all the way up, is that difficult to do?
Hi yes it might be better to buy locally, I'm thinking I'd only get 20 HP on my mild set up with the Atomic, the manifold in the test was with a plus 230 duration cam and good heads also not a sub 220 cam like mine.
Unless the tuner knew what he was doing I doubt I'd get 20 HP more, sounds a little like tuners here in a Australia don't know how to tune to suit these manifolds.
It's an interesting one. I'm still not sure on it myself. I find it hard to believe that the guys here can't tune these manifolds, they do they have the runs on the boards for over 2 decades with strong LS results. They certainly have track times to back up what they are doing for mods vs just trusting dynos.
I think that there's a couple of reasons it may be different here.
A lot of people here go for more conservative cams, less benefit from a big manifold, so low rwkw (rwhp) improvement. Especially if not reving over 7000. I know my baby cam peaks at 6800 so I shift around there. Maybe if I had a new manifold I could shift at 7000?
Bang for your buck. Obviously only the VT series had the LS1 intake, every other 5.7 had the LS6. Less benefit with upgrading for the majority of regular customers. Plus the upgrade is very expensive here. It costs the same as a cam change ($3,500.00 AUD) at least when you add in TB, rails and labour. Cam delivers heaps more for that outlay.
Forced Induction has been a big thing here for forever, so rather than push the limits of an NA 5.7, people just step up to Turbo/blower. Or often even the 6 litre + motors if staying NA. Probably for the cubes as our cars are heavier.
The expense means that usually only guys hitting the track with big cams and chasing that little extra usually add these manifolds over here. I think for a few kw for a street driven vehicle (5-7rwkw and 1 mph being common from what I read).
I guess it's up to you to try it out and show the results to the rest of us
Last edited by Pulse Red; Dec 21, 2020 at 03:32 AM.
Does you new cam peak at 6800 that's really high for that cam?
Yes, my 216/220 peak power is @ 6800 rpm based on the pretty piece of paper from the shop. Higher than the 218/226 it replaced. What's your cam and its peak? Do you have heads as well? LS1 or LS6 manifold/TB?
Yes here is the graph overlaid with my previous cam in same car, when I say peak power I mean the point at which the most power is made. Definitely no point in me reving to 6800.
Yes, we are talking the same thing regarding peak power. Wow, ok. That is low. My car surges past that but now that I think about it, my 218/226 actually dropped off like that at similar rpm. It was one of the reasons I hated it after my 214/217 which loved to rev. I can understand why you are looking at a better manifold. LS1 on your VT, right?
Edit: Just dug out my sheets. Unfortunately, the dyno sheet for the 218/226 doesn't show rpm, it shows road speed for some reason. Also, to be exact, the 216/220 peaks just under 6800, where it starts to drop.
Last edited by Pulse Red; Dec 21, 2020 at 05:33 AM.
Normally any cam in a LS1 will not peak above 6300 even if it's a 230 duration and above cam because the LS6 manifold largely determines this. A hotter cam will still make more power and hold on to it longer but the LS6 manifold becomes a restriction to it peaking at higher rpm. 43 IVC is usually what is needed for 6300 peak (usually 220 plus cam) mine is much less at 38 IVC. What's your IVC?
Actually the results in the test at top of the thread in the video appear to be an exception but see it still flatlines around 6300 and dips up a little right at the end although that is a serious cam with a very wide spilt a comp 231/247 113 LSA
Yes I think the Atomic would help my set up. Although it would be cheaper for me to put in different cam.
Where did you hear that? I've had 2 cams that go against what you're saying and seen many more over the years. I'm sure there's others, even on this site where the vast majority use big cams, that go against this.
Surely if you change the cam again, you would still need to look at the manifold anyway? So, best optimise what you have?
Nasty Performance makes fuel rails for tall injectors with LS3 and LS7 intakes (I've owned them both). That allowed me to use tall injectors with my LS3 FAST 102R intake, and an LS7 MSD intake. Wouldn't surprise me if they also make usable rails for LS1 MSD intake. Benefit is it keeps the nozzle in the air stream.
I don't know how the LS1 MSD compares, but one thing I noticed between the LS3 FAST 102R and the LS7 MSD is that the MSD intake was enormous by comparison. I don't know the numbers, but it's obvious the MSD has a much larger volume. It's so big that some people have mistaken it for a supercharger until they look closer.
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A few questions re the Atomic MSD intake 
