MANIFOLDS / AIR INTAKE: LAND SPEED / TOP SPEED
When the guys were trying to find a good intake for the Beast, they bought a Hogan’s intake manifold that just didn’t work for what they wanted. In the long run, there were two extra Hogan’s intakes lying around the shop. Dave purchased an Accufab 105mm throttle body and came up with a plan to build a new intake from one of the old Hogan’s intake manifolds. When RJ stopped by, Dave explained how he was going to cut up one of his expensive intake manifolds.RJ liked the idea and gave his approval.
Dave started the surgical process of cutting off the top of the chosen intake without disturbing the runners or the fuel-rail mounts. Then he used cardboard to create templates for a new hi-ram top. Dave knew there was going to be pressure inside the intake and the panels were going to be flat, so he had to use thick aluminum when building the box. To be safe, he chose 3/16 inch. He cut two sheets together on the bandsaw to make the side panels the same size. After he tacked them in place, he made the front panels. The throttle body had to mount to the front plate, so Dave machined a faceplate out of 5/8-inch-thick aluminum plate. It had to be strong and be able to be threaded for the throttle body. He cut the 105mm hole for the throttle body and smoothed the internal radius with a router, which reduced turbulence inside the intake manifold. Dave closed out the box with a contoured top.
Then Dave turned his attention to The Elephant’s intake tube. The ProCharger outlet has a four-inch diameter, so Dave sourced four-inch aluminum tubing from Burns Stainless for the intake pipe. He added threaded bungs to add the water-methanol injector nozzles and the blow-off valve flanges. Since the intake pipe was four-inches in diameter and the throttle body inlet flange is 4.5 inches, Dave had to built a reducer/adapter. He added ribs to the coupler so a coupler hose would have a firm grip. On the other end, he added an O-ring groove to seal against the throttle body clamp.
The intake tube has changed multiple times over the life of The Elephant. In the past, the angle of the tube was not a concern, so the intake tube was angled from the left side of the engine. In 2015, Dave repositioned the tube to be centered over the top of the engine, and a two-inch cowl hood was installed for SEMA. Only a few inches of the intake tube and carb hat were protruding. This time, Dave built it to be straight up\ the front of the engine, and he mounted both blow-off valves in symmetrical fashion for a great look.
