Introduction
So you want to learn how to modify your cars intake for increased performance?
In this 74customs article each modification will be listed in chronological order as well as by price and the general order you should take to increase power efficiency!
#1)Porting and Polishing
I’ve mentioned this unique modification multiple times before. It’s an extremely overlooked and underrated modification, but it helps tremendously with enhancing your cars intake performance!
What is porting and polishing?
Porting and polishing is the process of porting or reshaping pieces of your engine and then smoothing them to remove restrictions and maximize efficiency!
What does porting and polishing do?
By optimizing the flow and efficiency of your engine the substances passing through these ported pieces will flow better. The substances usually being:
- Air
- Exhaust
By making these flow better you can make more power by utilizing the pieces ported over stock parts!
What can I port and polish in my intake?
You can port many things in your intake which are but not limited to:
- Throttle body
- Intake pipes
- Intake manifold (upper and lower)
- Heads
- Supercharger inlet and outlet
- Turbo inlet and outlets
For most beginners I would recommend only porting these parts:
- Throttle body
- Intake pipes
- Intake manifold (upper and lower)
However don’t feel restricted by my recommendation this is a guide based off my own and other’s experience!
Warning!
Exercise caution when porting and polishing. Ensure you remove all parts before porting and clean them thoroughly before reinstalling. Only port small amounts at a time.
“A little goes a long way”
#2) Performance cold air intake
The next modification for your cars intake system should be a cold air intake!
What is a cold air Intake?
A cold air intake utilizes a high flow filter and a smooth flowing intake pipe to increase airflow and create more power! A good cold air intake will a have a heat shield to divide engine heat from outside air so you get a colder air supply into your engine!
“A good cold air intake will have a heat shield”
Why should I install a cold air intake?
A performance air intake provides astonishing results for many things! You usually see a gain in horsepower, torque and even an increase in fuel efficiency!
To build your own heat shield see:
How to build a DIY heat shield | 74Customs YouTube
#3) Performance throttle body
Purchasing an aftermarket throttle body is another great way to move more air into your engine.
What does an aftermarket throttle body do?
A modified throttle body is much like your stock throttle body but provides a much more efficient design like
- Larger bore and throttle plate
- Removed factory restrictions
- Smoothed bore for increased airflow
“Removes restriction & flows more air”
#4) Aftermarket Intake manifold
Next modification should be an after market intake manifold or intake plenum.
What does an aftermarket intake manifold do?
An aftermarket intake manifold or upgraded intake manifold helps with many things such as:
- Increased airflow
- Removes factory restrictions and casting marks
- More efficient design
What do you do if your car doesn’t have an aftermarket intake manifold?
Sometimes buying an aftermarket intake manifold is not an option for some engines. So if you are struggling to find an intake manifold for your car, revert back to step one which was porting and polishing. You could also amplify the porting process by viewing forms to see what others have done, you could also port match your lower intake manifold to maximize the flow!
#5) Forced induction adding & increasing
It’s time to get boosted! Or more boosted at least…
If you are looking for even more intake modifications this should be your next step unless you plan to stay naturally aspirated!
What kinds of forced induction are there?
Generally there are three main types of induction you could choose from:
- Turbocharger/Turbo
- Supercharger
- Centrifugal Supercharger
Each of these carry their own set of pros and cons!
How can I make more boost?
If you are already boosted and looking for another way to make boost you are in luck. I’ve written an article on increasing power with a strong section on increasing your forced induction boost!
#6) Performance Camshaft
If you are looking for more ways to upgrade intake performance or make power while remaining naturally aspirated this is a great way! Upgrading to an aftermarket camshaft can be extremely beneficial!
How does an aftermarket camshaft work?
An aftermarket camshaft is a performance version of your factory camshaft with an enhanced lope. This keeps your valves pressed open for longer which contributes to more Air Fuel mixture being injected into your combustion chamber for increased power.
An aftermarket camshaft also keeps your exhaust valves pressed open longer too, which helps to expel more exhaust so your engine stays cooler and you get cleaner combustion cycle!
Tip:
Be sure to do the proper supporting mods as upgraded camshafts can be hard on your stock valve train!
#7) Larger valves
For more intake modification you can have your heads ported for larger valves!
How do larger valves make power?
Larger valves contribute to more power by allowing more Air and Gas mixture to enter your combustion chamber to be ignited. More air fuel mixture, larger combustion, more power!
As for larger exhaust valves you once again expel more exhaust gas! That means cooler internal engine temperatures and cleaner combustion cycles!
Tip:
Adding larger valves is a great modification but requires some valve train modification to support! Keep your engine safe and do the proper supporting mods for your vehicle!
FAQ
Should I upgrade my intake manifold?
If you are striving for increased intake performance purchasing an aftermarket intake manifold would strongly benefit you. This is especially important as your vehicle gets old and depending on the quality of your factory intake stock! You could see some incredible gains to power, torque and even fuel efficiency by doing this modification!
How much power will I make from a cold air intake?
On average you will gain around 5-20HP from a cold air intake! Depending on the engine and the quality of your intake from the factory. You can also see improvements to your torque and to your fuel efficiency also!
Should I upgrade my air intake?
If you are looking to make more power upgrading your intake is critical in the modifying process! Be sure to pair intake upgrades with ignition, fuel and the proper tuning and you’ll be well on your way to having a much quicker vehicle!
Conclusion
Thanks for reading another 74Customs article, I really hope you found some of this information helpful!
Make sure you use these modifications in conjunction with its ignition modification, fuel modifications and adequate tuning! For a more in depth modification guides see:
Stage 1 modifications and Stage 2 modifications
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