Simply put, an engine is a pump. By increasing its ability to ingest fuel and air, convert it to energy, and evacuate the remains, it will make more horsepower. We set out to show just what you can expect from installing a better-flowing intake manifold on your mildly modded LS1 Pontiac using Chris Kirchner’s ’99 T/A.
If you’re just joining us, here is a little background information. We started off with a lightly modified LS1 that had an old MTI T1 cam (221/221 degrees duration at 0.050 and 0.558/0.558 lift on a 112-degree LSA, versus the 202/210-deg, 0.496/0.496 lift, 116-LSA that came stock), a set of mid-length headers, a Hooker exhaust, and an LS1 Motorsports lid. The mid-length headers were tossed and we picked up some power by going to new BBK 1.75-inch-primary long-tube headers. We converted the car to a 90mm LS2 intake so that we could run a Zex plate nitrous system.
The two engine mods we’ve installed so far have enhanced the performance of our LS1, but now we’re looking to take it a little further by ditching our modified LS2 manifold for the FAST LSXR 102mm intake. For an apples-to-apples comparison, we installed an LS1 intake to establish a new baseline on the Ramsey’s Performance Dynojet.
LS1 and LS6 Intakes
The LS1 intake flowed adequately for a stock LS1 back in the day, but was retired after the ’00 engine model year. It was replaced by the LS6, another 76mm intake, which flowed considerably better.
Previously, we were running a modified LS2 intake on our T/A to utilize the Zex Plate Nitrous System. For the sake of this test, we demoted the car back to a stock LS1 intake with a factory 76mm throttle body.
F-Body LS1 and LS6 intakes are easy to differentiate since the LS1 has an EGR provision behind the inlet and the LS6 does not. However, don’t be fooled. To this day there are still people trying to pass off LS1 intakes as LS6s to make a buck. Corvette LS1 intakes did not come with the EGR provision, so it visually looks identical to the LS6 intake. The only sure way to tell if its an LS6 is to flip it over and see if there is a flat bottom, identifying it as such. See the chart to check your intake manifold. The average price for a legitimate LS6 intake on eBay is around $400-$550, used and new.
LSXR 102
While the LS6 is a good intake, the manifold developed by FAST is even better. The engineers flipped the LS1 market on its head when it came out with the original 78mm and 90mm intakes. Since then, FAST has made dramatic improvements over its previous designs to bring out its ultimate creation, the 102mm LSXR. While the 346ci LS1 doesn’t come close to utilizing this intake’s full potential, it still did well in our test. With a good set of heads or a more aggressive cam, the intake will efficiently deliver even more power.
Greg Lovell at Anti Venom lent us a spare LS1 and LS6 intake for our testing. Side by side, it’s hard to tell the two apart.
Not only was the LSXR 102mm intake developed as an upgrade over the previous units, it was also designed to work with four-bolt, popular-sized throttle bodies without a problem. Brian Reese, vice president of product and business development at the Comp Performance Group, discusses the LSXR series manifold.
Brian Reese: “The 78mm manifolds were discontinued years ago because people weren’t buying them. Then, we replaced the 90mm intake with the 92mm, which required making some tooling changes to the original LSX manifold. I figured if we are forced to change the tooling, we might as well improve the manifold and increase the bore, yet still ensure that all FAST and OEM 90mm, four-bolt throttle bodies bolt on.
“Our latest manifold is the 102 LSXR, which also accepts 90 and 92mm four-bolt throttle bodies, so producing a 92mm LSXR is unnecessary. The LSXR replaced the LSX manifold because it offers multiple improvements and value over the LSX—it has both front and rear MAP sensor provisions, handles higher levels of boost, has individual runners and increased plenum volume, and it fits Corvettes without modification.
“There’s a rumor that the larger diameter manifold is too big for stock or small-cubic-inch LS engines. This is 100-percent false. The larger size simply reduces restriction, this is true regardless of engine size or modifications.”
Let’s see how the LS1, LS6, and FAST intakes compare on the dyno.
Conclusion
The swap to the LS6 certainly delivered an impressive gain at a great value, making it a worthwhile upgrade for any stock or mildly modified ’98-’00 LS1. That’s why GM used it.
Though the LSXR 102 represents a substantial monetary investment, we think its performance improvement over the factory intakes was worth the time, money, and effort for our project because we not only have more power, but more importantly, further engine upgrades will not outgrow the intake. With a set of heads and an aggressive cam, the power difference over the stock intakes will be even greater. If we go with bigger cubes, there is no factory intake that can rival the ability of this manifold.
So for those looking for an intake that will make more power on a mildly modified engine right now and then make the most horsepower at any level above that, the FAST LSXR delivers.
Special thanks to Greg Lovell at Anti-Venom and Dennis and his staff at Ramsey’s Performance, all of whom helped find an LS1 and LS6 intake and for providing services and dyno time.
Fast LSX Intake Parts
146302
$979
Fast 102mm intake for LS1, LS2, and LS6 cars
54102
$510
Big Mouth 102mm Throttle Body
54028-KIT
$125
Fuel Line Conversions Kit for ’98-’02 LS1
146032-KIT
$193
Billet Fuel Rail Kit for LSXR LS1
Gen III LS-Series Factory Intake Swapper’s Guide
12561269
This is the LS1 intake found on all LS1 F-Bodies from ’98-’00. It clearly has an EGR provision just behind the air inlet. The bottom of the intake is curved. PN 12560688 was formerly used for this same intake.
88894095
Here is the part number for the deceptive ’97-’00 LS1 Corvette intake manifold. It does not have EGR, and when installed, looks identical to the LS6 intake. It also has a curved bottom—a dead giveaway that it’s an LS1 intake. PN 12557846 and PN 12556333 are also associated with this manifold.
88894339
This part number is for the LS6 manifold found on all LS1-powered ’01 and ’02 Camaros and Firebirds, ’01-’04 Corvettes and Z06s, ’04-’05 CTS-V, and the ’04 GTO. There is an assortment of part numbers associated with this intake: 12573572, 12561184, 88890524, 88890523. 88894339. Recognized as the current factory replacement is PN 88894339.
