how hard would it be to make my own sheet metal intake for a holley 4ble, b/c i figure it would cost like $50 to make opposed to $230 to buy one from racing beat.. i have a design drawn up and it i can find some one with a scanner i will post it for ya guys.. thanks
Dave

 

Getting it to flow as well as the RB casting is probably gonna take far more than the $170 you'd be saving.

 

How hard would depend on the tools at your disposal and your fabricating shop skills.
It's not THAT hard to do the actual work if you already have all the dimensions and specifications figured out, and have proper tools to use.

 

I did build my own intake manifold. $230 for a new one is pretty reasonable. I did alot of research into my runner diameters and lengths and also to the plenum design. Yes you can build one cheaper and if it were on a fuel injected car I would say go for it. The only way I would personally recommend building one for a Holley is if you are absolutely certain that theirs does not meet your performance requirements and that your design will. According to flowbench testing, the Holley manifold from Racing Beat is the single best flowing intake manifold available for rotaries. This does not apply to the old J-tech Holley style manifolds. It even outflows all of the IDA/DCOE style manifolds. It would be really hard to improve upon the original design since the runner bends are gentle and smooth. There are easy ways to modify the Holley manifolds to change their hp/torque peak.

I am curious to see your design however and also the specs of the motor you intend to put it on. You may be on to something with the design but if the sole intention is to do it for cheaper I'm not sure it will be of a great advantage. It takes longer than you think to design and actually build one. If you do build it i hope it works fantastic. You'll get props from me for the effort

 

well for tight now it will go on my stock port S4 with S5 rotors adn all accessorys are gone and i got a RB header with strait pipe.. this summer the manifold will be on a brifge port with S5 rotors.. i will see if i can go to my grandmas and if i do she has a scanner and i will post some scetches of my design.. i am sure i can make the manifold in school during shop class asi have access to all the tools..
Dave

 

i bet you could make it out of faberglass for pretty cheap by using a foam core, wraping it in the FG and then dissolve the foam with something like aceatone. Have to be carful not to dissolve your resin.

 

i got pics can someone host them please