Product development interest thread
 

What is the interest like for a full carbon fiber intake manifold? I'm considering making both a full CF upper and lower and also have the option of asingle piece more rounded plenum with a 90mm throttle adapter. Don't want to get wrapped up in it if I'm the only person that would want it. Also where would you guys like to see the price for something like this. Again, this would be a completely CF intake manifold with only the engine intake port flange being aluminum or another lightweight metal if it were necessary, and not a CF cover. I've attached a picture

How would the resin/fiber handle the heat on the LIM portion?

i had the same question, but i would be interested.

Not sure if this would work. The rotary engines have the Intake and Exhaust ports on the same side putting the Carbon intake near the turbo which gets glowing hot at times.

I know to make fiberglass cure faster you have to heat it, but the heat conditions may be a bit too extreme for Carbon Fiber.

I think if the Carbon intake is created and maybe more layers are added and a thermal coating is added of some kind it would work, but there is only one way to find out :-)

I could address the heat by using what would basically be an aluminum flange at the intake ports and use high temp resin . Admittedly 1600 degrees is a lot of heat, so the flange would most likely include a partial runner. Say 3 inches or so in addition to the flange. I could also just make the upper intake in cf if there would be more interest in that part and the plenum similar to the one I posted for a cleaner look in turbo applications.

I am sure these will be very expensive since carbon is not cheap. On the brighter side of things, using carbon instead of aluminum could help keep the tempt a little cooler :-)

Drooooooool..... i probably could never afford this in my wildest dreams but id like to see this happen.

Besides looks, why not a more common composite/plastic design like on an Rx-8 or Mustang/Camaro?

what about where the air temp sensor would go? make the threads out of the carbon or have another metal piece in the carbon fiber to screw into?

like PierRX said, "i would not be able to afford this in my wildest dreams" either.

I'd only be interested in it if there were performance improvements. Either from more air flow, or lower intake temps. The weight savings is not of interest to me, and neither is the CF look.

Price would depend on how much performance could be extracted. 5HP not interested. 10,15,20 depending on other mods then I could justify it.

I don't have access to plastic / composites . at least not immediate access. I'll look into it.

I would use small metal threading as well as metal vac nipples for the MAP sensor and any other necessary provisions.

This whole concept came from an i dea i had originally to make a manifold that could run ITB's in an NA or turbo configuration ( something similar to Logan's original NA 20B manifold) without having to p-port my engine. As for performance gains I would like to get the gains from the Xcessive lower and a better looking and more free flowing plenum and runner design.

What would be the gain of this and would the price justify the spending? Why re-invent the wheel if you don't have to.

With alot of things on our cars. Cost to performance ratio isn't everything or else everyone should be getting performance tires. Of course, this is the the cavat that it's within your affordability and you don't have something that needs the money more. If the goal is to pull the potential of the car out then this could be justifiable. I'm more worried about reliability and durability.

I'd consider using inconnel or titanium for the UIM/LIM and downpipe/mid-pipe if I could get costs down in a group buy.:icon_tup:

Depending on the pricing for just the UIM, I might be interested in something like this.

As for the plenum design, comparing the 13b-re UIM(with a plenum) against the 13b-rew UIM(with no plenum). The plenum is usually only better at very high boost and power levels over 500hp. As the stock rew UIM actually "pulses" the air into the engine. One of the reasons why I'm using the rew LIM/UIM instead of the re LIM/UIM on my 13b-re motor.

Either way, sounds like a cool idea if it can stand the heat.

Both Iconnel and titanium would be extremely expensive. Aluminum will handle the heat just fine. The housings are after all made of the same material. I was thinking about using a 13B-REW upper as a mold. Then modifying accordingly. As far as affordability I'd like to try and keep costs around 5-600 for the upper and less than 1K for a set.

seems intriguing, but I echo the reliability question?

If it actually gets tested on a car I don't see why they wouldn't sell for 1K for the set.

If you get this tested on a track car with hours of heavy track use and a change in temps, I am pretty sure they will sell.

Now if people are just going to paying 1K for the set just because its looks cool, then you may run into issues.

I only support on track and real world testing.

+1

I think the intake manifold will deteriorate with all the fuel,heat,water,oil,pressure and constant abuse ect. Just like carbon fiber hoods and body parts fade and eventuly chip off after years of sitting in the sun and rain...

One of the reasons why car company`s are using plastic engine part is due to the high cost of aluminum, But i can gaurentee that after a few years of a buse these plastic engine parts will become stale crack..

i doubt it will work as well as you hope. the heat factor is eventually going to destroy it, add boost on top and it looks like an explosive device with a long fuse.

it would definitely be a nice showpiece though for those fast n the furious guys who don't actually drive their cars but trailer them everywhere.

what would work is if you take an aluminum base and form the CF around those pipes, but it's still going to discolor and fade sitting above the turbo.

it's a nice idea but more for a naturally aspirated purpose.

Contact FreeLance Motorsports if you want an aftermarket upper intake manifold. I think they're going to release it in 2012. I'll ask if I can post a picture.

Wow, nice
Would it be possible to make the CD-7 dash mount while retaining the openings for the idiot lights? (check engine and whatever)

(Wrong thread)