Intake manifold

[LostPanda]

Getting fed up with the slim to no carbon intake manifolds available in the market, those that are available are asking a few grand or much more. No thanks. I have tools and equipment to reverse emgineer and make my own.

If successful I might make a few, but I need to get an intake for dirt cheap first...

Any thoughts?

[DSilk]

Originally Posted by LostPanda

Getting fed up with the slim to no carbon intake manifolds available in the market, those that are available are asking a few grand or much more. No thanks. I have tools and equipment to reverse emgineer and make my own.

If successful I might make a few, but I need to get an intake for dirt cheap first...

Any thoughts?

Look for wrecked M3s at the auctions or go to a wrecking yard.

[LostPanda]

Also not sure if it will be fully carbon, depending on the design of the bottom part of the dome..

[roastbeef]

Have you seen the bottom of the dome? The trumpets inside? The throttle body collars? Sounds like you need to look at some pictures.

[LostPanda]

I understand its a monumental task, I also understand the components in it. Ive been trying to research it and look at photos, but even that is limited. I'm gauging how much of it I will tackle without engineering it from the ground up.

[tdott]

S54, S14 cf intake boxes sell for several thousand, I don't see how you can get one for less than that unless you make one yourself.

Let us know how it goes.

[roastbeef]

What is your goal? Purely cosmetic? Save the trouble, cut the top half off, mold a cast, and make a carbon replica and glue it on.

[LostPanda]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

What is your goal? Purely cosmetic? Save the trouble, cut the top half off, mold a cast, and make a carbon replica and glue it on.

This was what I was thinking about doing. I'd like to have a carbon dome for the looks, but the accordion would make it even better. Thats what I'm really getting at. It seems the OEM dome is mold injected then sonic welded together.

[///M3Fresh]

Originally Posted by LostPanda

This was what I was thinking about doing. I'd like to have a carbon dome for the looks, but the accordion would make it even better. Thats what I'm really getting at. It seems the OEM dome is mold injected then sonic welded together.

I think solely for looks, its not worth it one bit. Especially considering the hood will hide it 99% of the time.


The noise the S65 (induction) is awesome, I am sure you'll amplify it some but again not worth the amount of time and money to make a CF variant.

If you want power, I think you can get a great amount of gains by redoing the pipe between the filter and intake. Also the amount of turbulent air from the main intake (front driver vent) thus resulting in much more air being forced up into the intake.

[spazzyfry123]

If you're just after cosmetic, why not just do a carbon fiber hydro-dip of the one you got?



I get involved with the type of project you're talking about doing with my job, and if you're after making just a one-off with no intention to make batches for sale...yowza. That's going to be a task ($$).

[M43S7RO]

Skip the box and make variable length intake venturi tubes, that'd be great!

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by LostPanda

This was what I was thinking about doing. I'd like to have a carbon dome for the looks, but the accordion would make it even better. Thats what I'm really getting at. It seems the OEM dome is mold injected then sonic welded together.

well, the lower part is part of the..... lower part. thats a bit more of a task. you might be able to add a little more plenum volume and noise by just doing the top half, but doing the bottom half is quite a task. that is why they are upwards of $3k.

i have always thought it would be cool to do a molding of the top half in a clear plastic to make the trumpets visible. no benefit other than cool factor. if you're going to hydro dip this thing, we'll make fun of you.

[LostPanda]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

well, the lower part is part of the..... lower part. thats a bit more of a task. you might be able to add a little more plenum volume and noise by just doing the top half, but doing the bottom half is quite a task. that is why they are upwards of $3k.

i have always thought it would be cool to do a molding of the top half in a clear plastic to make the trumpets visible. no benefit other than cool factor. if you're going to hydro dip this thing, we'll make fun of you.

Lol, hell no. Carbon or nothing, although clear would look bad ass. I have the right tools amd equipment to reverse engineer it. The ITB connectors would be machined and the box would be fully carbon. I dont plan on making it a production thing, more like a few if i did. Like you and the few above said, I crunched the numbers. It'd be time and money thats not worth it. I'd probably be better off buying one, but thats still a hell of a lot of moolah.

[///M3Fresh]

Originally Posted by LostPanda

Lol, hell no. Carbon or nothing, although clear would look bad ass. I have the right tools amd equipment to reverse engineer it. The ITB connectors would be machined and the box would be fully carbon. I dont plan on making it a production thing, more like a few if i did. Like you and the few above said, I crunched the numbers. It'd be time and money thats not worth it. I'd probably be better off buying one, but thats still a hell of a lot of moolah.

what ball park man hrs/costs are you projecting. I am sure you could spread that out over 5-10 units and (try) break even financially and have a unit for yourself that only cost you time.