Intake manifold comparison: Edelbrock vs. AIR manifold

[boosted hybrid]

I finally got the AIR manifold installed this week. Fitment was rough, the fuel filter needed to be relocated, new IC piping fabricated, mounting of the remote IACV bracket, etc. Yesterday I finally got to test it. Here are the results: Both at 10psi Dotted line represents the Edelbrock, Solid lines represent the AIR manifold. In a nutshell the manifold is amazing, and lives up to all the hype that was generated from it a year ago. It simply does not retain any heat. Back to back dyno runs, with ambient temperatures around 80 degrees in the dyno bay and the intake air temperatures (with the IAT probe mounted on the plenum) were around 85 degrees. The IM felt warm to the touch, but wasnt even close to being hot at all. I was able to move the vtec engagement point from 5,000rpm's to 4200rpm's, and gain 35-38 ft-lbs of torque in that area. This is due to the volumteric effieincy of the intake manifold being much greater at a lower rpm due to the longer runners. The air/fuel between the comparision was 12:1, and the timing maps were untouched. The car feels wickedly fast on the low end on the street, and the top end pull is much better (torque held better at high rpms). *Note* the t3/t67 was switched out in favor of a gt3071. The best dyno results of the newer gt3071 with the edelbrock still installed was the run that the comparision graph is based upon. I lost peak power and top end pull by the turbo switch, but gained much more midrange (smaller turbo, quicker spool). With the AIR manifold installed the top end is once again the same as with the t3/t67. Overall I am very happy with the intake manifold. To me the price was well worth it considering that it wont retain any heat during hot lapping situations my car will be experiencing while doing open track events (road racing). Eluder200k made a ride along video right after getting it tuned: http://cs.widener.edu/~epanek/Jeff%20Ridealong.mpg Modified by boosted hybrid at 7:40 AM 9/22/2004

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[Ri5e]

That's awesome! Any chances of getting a dyno of the AIR Manifold versus a sheet metal intake mani (STR/Venom) ?

[Irishweird00]

Thats the Carbon AIR manifold right?

[B18Flip]

good stuff jeff

[boosted hybrid]

Originally Posted by BG Boost

That's awesome! Any chances of getting a dyno of the AIR Manifold versus a sheet metal intake mani (STR/Venom) ?

Probably not. I dont have access to one, therefore I cannot test it. I would most likely need to fabricate new IC piping as well, which isnt a huge issue at all. The STR/Venom/GE manifolds will work about as well as the edelbrock cast piece.

Originally Posted by Irishweird00

Thats the Carbon AIR manifold right? ?

Correct, its carbon fiber. AIR only makes the manifold in carbon fiber to my knowledge, they do have an all motor and forced induction version though. I am using the FI version. Check the video upclose shots of the manifold.

[boosted hybrid]

Here are some pics of the edelbrock and the AIR pre-installed:










Modified by boosted hybrid at 7:41 AM 9/22/2004

[Irishweird00]

I'll be the first to say it.... YOUR NUTS....

I drove down that street if it's the one I'm thinking of.... and your crazy for driving that fast down it. I almost ripped my underbody off driving 40 through there.

crazy bastard jeff

[Slick GS-R]

looks good jeff

[B18Flip]

are you going to dyno it against the manifold you made?

[boosted hybrid]

Originally Posted by B18Flip

are you going to dyno it against the manifold you made?

I would like to. Geoff at full race has it right now in AZ, so its not going to happen for awhile. My intake manifold vs edelbrock did the following:

Blue lines are my IM:
Red lines are the Edelbrock:



That comparison was with the t3/t67 turbo on my engine, and letting the engine cool down between runs. All things considered, I had to let my IM cool down between runs, whereas the AIR I didnt at all.


Modified by boosted hybrid at 7:42 AM 9/22/2004

[project dc2]

what happened to the one you made?

[Full-Race Geoff]

the manifold that jeff made is currently at our shop. I have 6 different intake manifolds here currently that i have been using for testing.

We are prototyping an aluminum manifold with CNC machined runners and a pretty aerodynamic high volume plenum. We're trying to keep this as affordable as possible, too.

The AIR is a beautifully mfg'd and designed manifold, but the prohibitive cost and the risk of cracking carbon (anyone who saw papadakis's old carbon intake manifold has probably seen the cracks and patches) will scare most people away.
Great test jeff!

[GOLDBERG]

wow how much will yer manifolds be runnin cost wise?

[AlphaMike]

Great test Jeff Dude you're nuts flying up that road like that...LOL

[Ri5e]

Originally Posted by GOLDBERG

wow how much will yer manifolds be runnin cost wise?

I'd like to know too. I would love to own a Full-Race intake manifold that's designed for the forced induction camp

[Charles B.]

nice test and vid makes me wish i had roads like that around where i live.

very cool i like to edelbrock vs venom

[Phil Koury]

The car has an extremely sick powerband. Jeff was just partially on it today and we were going about 100mph before I could look up from the laptop and back again. The car pulls so crazy hard now its unbelievable...haha you guys think Jeff is crazy on that hill??

Awesome vid Evan

[Full-Race Geoff]

Originally Posted by pkoury

Awesome vid Evan

as usual, you have awesome skills sir!

[TurboChrgd_Civic]

Great comparison. The AIR manifold looks badass! How did it set you back???

[TurboChrgd_Civic]

crazy ass video too! Was it raining?

[done]

Originally Posted by Full-Race Geoff

the manifold that jeff made is currently at our shop. I have 6 different intake manifolds here currently that i have been using for testing.

We are prototyping an aluminum manifold with CNC machined runners and a pretty aerodynamic high volume plenum. We're trying to keep this as affordable as possible, too.

The AIR is a beautifully mfg'd and designed manifold, but the prohibitive cost and the risk of cracking carbon (anyone who saw papadakis's old carbon intake manifold has probably seen the cracks and patches) will scare most people away.
Great test jeff!

I have pictures of that manifold you speak off.. I saw it at nopi 3-4 years ago!!!

that AIR manifold freaking rocks if it can pick up low end power..

Before my car blew, my turbo was starting to spool around 3500 instead of 4200rpms.. and thats at t3/67. The car felt amazing on low end before it blew.

[2point2]

wow. looks like you could have reved it higher for bigger numbers!?!?

[Irishweird00]

those things go for around 900-1000 bucks don't they?

Originally Posted by Irishweird00

those things go for around 900-1000 bucks don't they?

x2

Introductry price was ~1100-1200 but i think there like $1800 now.