Custom intake mani design?

[fluffybunny]

Hello all, I was thinking about making a new manifold for my VH45 and was hoping to get some helpful opinions or glean from your insight. I am planning on dropping this into a Z32 and my main purpose is to create a manifold that is low profile, in order for the engine to fit under an unmarred, stock hood. Gain/loss in power is an afterthought as this is only a daily driver, which may see a few midday jousts to and fro work/school. I plan on doing a TT setup, however that will probably have to take place at a more future date as every time I save the money for it...another semester rolls around and I am broke again. So for now it's just NA.
I picked up some more lower manifold runners from the junk yard and was thinking about making a dual log style. The reason for using the original equipment is so I don't have to machine the injector holes. Hopefully I can get these pictures to show up....
This is an overview to see how they would be set up.

This picture shows an approximation of where the manifold would be; trying to get it down into the valley as much as possible. The red line is where I plan to cut away some of the runner and the blue is the "D" shaped manifold. Of course, there would be another on the other bank with an equalizer between the two. The water pipe would need to be removed. Not sure if two throttle bodies from (what?) would be better/easier or having the original Q one out front having the two logs merge together.
So...NICO?

[LEMHEAD16]

Interesting Idea, I've been trying to work out a way to use the lower runners to mount an Eaton super charger.

I would use one TB for your setup. Two would just turn into a nightmare.

[flyingbrick]

I love the idea and have wondered about it myself (for mounting an SC).

you are using two different runners on each side, right?

If you use one type per side are you able to keep the sport spacing equal as i think this would be better than having them paired off like this.

Mounting a SC would be bloody easy- just have a base machined up to bolt down onto those runners and have sides then top SC mounting plate welded on in correct place.

I do have to wonder though exactly if you need the custom intake manifolds. I'm guilty of making basically everything i do more difficult than it has to be (for some reason I enjoy making work for myself) HOWEVER I do suggest that it'd be far easier to just stick with the stock manifold and instead cut the hood - and I think it'd be very very very (!) hard to match the fantastic design and build quality of the stock plenum. Its the best I have ever spied with my own two eyes. Smooth inside, beautiful interior walls/port openings. its just sex.

:-)

[DRFTBLD]

My only concern would be the runner length on a NA based car. If the runners are too short you will run into problems, But the concept is sound for a turbo intake!

[LEMHEAD16]

ARRRGH! Why didn't I see this, I've been trying to figure out a way to mount the Eaton m112 supercharger I have without building a crazy custom manifold. This makes it so easy! I just went out and measured the base of the SC and its almost a perfect fit! I was just about to scrap the whole SC idea and go turbo. Way to think outside the box. I just need another set of the shorter lower runners.

[klh6686]

Will all of the lower runners actually bolt up to the head? I may need to go grab some extras!

EDIT: It would appear that this very famous 240z had it's intake manifolds fabricated in a similar manner that we are discussing here, though it looks to me that they *may* have used the longer runners cut to gain a little more runner length to work with but that's just me guessing from a not so great quality picture.

[DRFTBLD]

Did this ever get made???

[fluffybunny]

Wow those look nice! and...
No, this entire engine swap won't come to fruition until this summer, when I'm out of school.
Currently gathering parts/materials and looking for some good, used turbos to work in there to even justify making some like that.