I've been doing some thinking on the shape of the TPI intake. How it makes a big U shape from the outside and across into the heads. I was wondering if the reason why the LT1 and LS1 intakes make so much power up higher than ours is because their intakes flow air from the inside of the plenum and outwards to the heads. Does that make sense?
I know its too late for this but if the runners were reversed to have 8 holes in the center and flowing down into the heads if that would work. I guess I'm describing a tunnel ram or even the Stealth Ram. But then we wouldnt have any room for the EGR under the plenum.

I'm going to sit down and read all of the replies and respond on Monday.

Thanks Bryan. While you are taking questions what is the inside diameter of the runners? At the head port entry does the intake manifold radius nicely into the head or is it like the stock one with no radius?

In short Bryan, we hope it flows better than a Accel Super Ram. If possible, see if you can do a comparison between the two. Me personally want to get rid of my Super Ram for your BBK TPI System. I hope the BBK TPI System will flow more than 275cfm over an Extrude Honed Super Ram at 266cfm. If so, I'll be there pick it up as soon as possible.

Send me an E-mail with your Phone number so that we could sit down together and figure out the best way to make this system work. I live in Ontario California. You work about 20mins from my home.

Price- This system is comprised of fairly simple and lightweight aluminum castings. I think the price quoted is fairly accurate and I don't know why it would change from the original projection.

Function-The stock fuel rails are retained and all of the factory emissions and EGR remain functional.

Smog/CARB/E.O#
Since all of the EGR/PCV/emissions related functions are retained, there is no reason why this unit would not pass a CARB test to acheive E.O. status. Obviously, that testing procedure takes time and the product must be produced and released before it can go through the testing so it won't have an E.O. # the day it comes out but when it does get a # all units will be covered.

Design-
The pic I posted may leave a lot to the imagination.

The set-up consists of 3 castings
What you see (or don't see there)is;
1. A unique lower intake with our own pattern.
2. A flat base plate that sits on top of the lower (and on top of the injector rails).
3. A top casting that bolts to the baseplate.
1-3/4" tubes that connect the baseplate to the lower intake.

The baseplate has openings around the perimeter to connect to the runner tubes.

The baseplate and top cover attach with bolts around the perimeter. At this time they are going up from the bottom, but I am going to have them going down from the top because trying to get them going from the bottom sucks and requires a retarded ratcheting allen head tool which I'm sure almost nobody has.

As you can see there are 2 bolts that go down behind the throttle body to attach the upper to the baseplate.

The runner lengths are right at 14".

We are doing our best to make all bends and transitions smooth.

Comparison testing-
At this time I am working on getting the final fitment dialed in and then a dyno test at the end vs. a ported TPI intake (car came in with that).

All other comparison testing will be editorial projects for a later date.


Bryan

^ Excellent!

Bryan, thanks for the reply and the new TPI product.

"The baseplate and top cover attach with bolts around the perimeter. At this time they are going up from the bottom, but I am going to have them going down from the top because trying to get them going from the bottom sucks and requires a retarded ratcheting allen head tool which I'm sure almost nobody has."

Good move.

Will be interested in the final numbers. Sounds like Vincent is wishing for his high output car be used for a test bed. Actually it would make a good test car for your intake manifold to test the limits.

thank you, I owned a Accel Super Ram and this was the main reason I sold it.

Having nice little cap head screws on the top showing is just fine, and might even look cool.

That is a lot of very good information... THanks a bunch for the update. I cant wait until it comes out (and get CARB OE#) cuz I am thinking that I want one!!!

Thanks for keeping the interest in TPI alive!



-Tim-

Thanks for the details Bryan.

2 questions if I may,

1. When you say 14" runner length.... is that total length?

This is what I have

Stock TPI manifold ...................8” ...............runners 11.25”............... cylinder head 6”.............total 25.25

2. Vortec head compatible version?

I believe you would have to add the head to the 14" number. There is no way Bryan would know the length of the runners in the heads as there are variations. So in your case total runner length would be 20".

okay so what can I directly compare? Give me some numbers of what we know

I think the 14" compares closely to the Accel Superram for runner length. The LS1 is somewhere around 9" with a total of 14" including the head. The stock TPI is around 26-27" with the heads included.

Bryan, you might want to consider making the inside diameter of the runners 1.75" or so. I believe that would be a good compromise between the stock motors and the higher horsepower motors.

Personally I would like to see around 1.8" on the runner ID and then have the intake manifold taper down to the correct port size to fit a stock head. This way it would be easy for the high horsepower guys to open up the intake manifold at the head. Hey nothing but R&D.

Will it fit under a stock GTA hood without hacking the hood?

Good question.

Looking at the pic, based on the spacing between the TB holes and intake base and assuming the base itself isnt taller (or much) it should fit fine.

After looking back through the thread it looks like it was built to fit under a vette hood which means that it should fit under a T/A hood. I just want to be sure that that didnt change along the way.

With the way the plenum is designed you could also build custom plenum spacers, like the import guys have, to tune the plenum taper and volume to exactly what your car needs.

It fits under the hood of the GTA we have here.

I only measured the length of the runners on the parts that we make, so the heads are not part of my equation.

From the top of the steel tubes (under the lid), through the lower intake, and ending at the head port opening (but not entering) = 14"

The difference from the other intakes will be our lid design. I believe it will be larger in volume than the other offerings.

We are looking into a Vortec style lower since that is the most popular choice of head mods out there.

It won't take much for us to make that happen since we design and machine everything in house and there is plenty of room to make adjustments in the castings (which can also be easily changed).

This may not be a question you can answer, but is there a projected release date? While in the process of rebuilding my engine, id like to add this for some extra power.

Still unsure of the release date....

Sorry.

photo bump for the drool effect

If this is a $400 intake that is a direct swap for TPI's, you have my business.

if this out when i finish my engine, and the price stays at 400. you defently have my business!

Same here

10-4 on that.

Ill have my order in the mail in the first week if this is $400. it looks so beasty!

Couple questions

Will it cover heads that take a #1206 gasket? I got a LPE intake and I could look down into the heads when I tried to put it on, I had to go with a HSR. I am not worried about porting the intake out to the #1206 gasket, but will it have enuff meat on the intake to do so?

The other question is how well will it seal under boost? I have seen people have to add extra bolts to the lid of there super ram. Will this intake be solid on its own or will we have to do extra work to keep it sealed too?


http://www.stealthram.com/flowcomparison.html Scroll to the bottom to see the HSR gasket set-up

I am running AFR 195 Comp port heads

"Will this intake be solid on its own or will we have to do extra work to keep it sealed too?"

The way the runners "attach" to the intake manifold I doubt it would do you any good to buy it by itself.

I think you missed the word "solid" LOL

Will the Vortec distributor (96-99 truck) clear the intake manifold? This is important for anyone using the OBDII system. See sticky thread.

after looking at that pic,, that would look killer, if polished and the bbk logo and those lines painted black..

I'm looking at the original post here and I followed the link......

I looked all over our website and I can't seem to find any info on this intake.

I know this sounds ridiculous, but where did the original info come from?

Bryan, your Co. has obviously replaced the link. The orignal info was taken from your site back in 2004. I'd hope your team or your Co. didn't decide to ditch the product 8(

I did see on vehicles needed for R&D free parts was a C4 vette. That would use the same intake setup I think right?

I might have missed it but does $399.00 include the plenum,runners and base?If so i will join list of people that want one and would be intested in prepaying if it would help with the release date coming any earlier!!!!

I agree. Man, I'll be outside your office with coffee and donuts the morning it comes out...but not in a creepy way

Here's the link to BBK's original information on this intake under the heading "November 1, 2004 - BBK engineering team is set to release our all-new GM Tuned-Port EFI intake manifold in early 2005".

http://www.bbkperformance.com/news-archives.shtml

For that $399 price BBK set this intake for, I'll pick one up as soon as it's available. But I really wouldn't be surprised if BBK doesn't hold to the $399 price and charges more.

Thanks for sending the link..

Yea, looks like a lot of R+D and material to me to hold the price down that low. Maybe I'm wrong... but... based on the TB prices I'm not so sure.
Hopefully it comes out priced ok for us to buy and for them to keep making it.

Thanks for the fitment info, Bryan.

I look forward to seeing it hitting the shelves and possibly the top of my engine.

With the listed price there competing with the Holley, if they want to be taking a chunk out of the HSR sales they would have to keep it close in price

Another quick question, will it clear aftermarket AFPR? particularlly the Holley with the adjustable wheel? and if so will it be easy to get to and adjust?

also any guestimate on availablity? spring 2008

The GTA we have in the shop has that regulator on it.

It will be a pretty tight fit on that, but it does clear.

Is there anyway that you can give us some flow numbers of the manifold and manifold with runners?

Anybody?

pg 51:

before

after

Here you go Bryan. Feel free to take this pic and let your catalog people have their way with it.

original size in JPG here and PNG available through PM

There will be at least one

ok..im sure you have head this qustion a million times.. when will this intake be available as i am building an engine and need would like to have this intake befor i put it in..