Truck Intake VS Mustang (I searched)

[207RAcing]

Ok, I did a search and found that this topic really hasn't been covered, or I suck at searching, or the search function sucks (besides being covered by the ad). Anyway, I know this is a mustang site, and my question is for a Bronco, BUT, my Bronco is mostly Mustang....SOOOO....

There seems to be an ongoing debate amongst truck owners on which intake to use on the trucks when putting Mass Air EFI on. Since I have each sitting on my garage floor, and really dont feel like doing this twice, I want to ask the Mustang owners what they think the best one for low end and towing would be.

I have done some research and just when I think I have decided, I find something to steer me in the other direction. Well, it is getting close to go time to put the EFI back on this thing so I need to choose soon. On the one hand you have the truck manifold, large diameter runners (good flow for high RPM?), Long runners (low end), dual plane (low end), and a SHARP bend for cylinders 1 and 5 from the TB to their respective runners (bad). ON the other hand you have the Mustang manifold, small diameter runners (low end), runners not as long (high rpm), single plane (high rpm), throttle linkage different then truck(fabrication, time consuming).

So, which is better, smaller, shorter runners which supposedly give low end, or larger longer runner which supposedly give low end? Or will the performance be about the same and I should just go with whatever is easier.

The motor is a basicly stock 5.0 HO, I have shorty headers, bassani full exaust, comp cam high energy roller cam, and 1.6 roller rockers. That is about it. I just need to have a daily driver, and also be able to tow a moderate load.

Thanks in advance, and I hope I am not reposting, this looks like a great site, if I had a mustang I would probably be here all the time.

Scott

 

[v8only]

I'm pretty sure the truck intakes are very large aren't they? You may have to run a cowl hood with it

 

[Mustang5L5]

Truck Intake makes better torque which you want in a heavy truck.

They both such though.

 

[bt15]

Truck intake all the way. I added 5.0 Mustang headers to my '88 Bronco with the truck intake and it was a torque monster with decent horsepower. I've never seen such a difference in performance with such a single, inexpensive mod. Mine was a 5.8 liter, but the 5.0 Mustang headers really fit the bill. I was able to drill a hole in the header and weld the EGR tube up (MIG or TIG due to stainless EGR tube). I added dual exhaust for about $300.00, but the headers were free and that thing pulled like a freight train from 1200-4500 rpms until I sold it with 180,000 trouble-free miles on it. I know that's mixing apples and oranges (header comments on an intake post), but it's something to consider if you haven't already.

 

[207RAcing]

I'm pretty sure the truck intakes are very large aren't they? You may have to run a cowl hood with it

This is in a Bronco, so it will fit under the hood.

BT15, I have headers already.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Ranchero5.0]

Did a AZ 302 install on a '88 bronco and added 1.72's and BBK headers and it ran very well. I don't think you'll gain much torque with a mustang intake vs the truck regardless of theorys for the amount of work to make it work. On the other hand, a GT 40 would work very well for torque and HP.

Jamie

 

[RydeOn]

Edelbrock makes the best torquey truck intake. It still is a dual throttle body design though so you will need to have a y adapter fabricated. If you want a truck intake with a single throttle body you go with the Lightning intake or a GT40 intake flipped around.

 

[207RAcing]

Ok, decided to use the stock truck intake. I will probably upgrade way down the road to the edelbrock. Now, do I port and polish what I can, or just leave it. Desktop dyno really only show inprovement from 4 - 5000 rpms when porting, but that is not the real world. I dont want to loose any low end from this thing. I did see that the throttle body is bigger then the opening in the upper manifold so I will match that up.

thanks again
Scott

 

[tmoss]

I port these things all the time, and the truck intake would need to be welded on ALL runners for any real porting whereas the Mustang only needs it on the front two runners at the backs of the knees". Properly ported (not hogged out) intakes will always make more torque than a stock lower - either one. My factory ported lower made SAE corrected 260ft-lbs @ 2,000 rpm (261ft-lbs avg 2,000-5,200 rpm) and I got my Explorer to make SAE corrected 270ft-lbs @ 2,000 rpm (284ft-lbs 2,000-5,600 rpm). If you choose your intake/cam/head combination correctly, torque will be their early and hang on into the upper usable rpm band.

 

[207RAcing]

so what is the flow rates on a truck lower. Since you have to weld all the runners, are they equally bad, or just equal and not so bad. shoot me a PM with a price quote for you to so the porting also. I am assuming that the edelbrock upper and the stock ported lower would be a great combo.

Thanks again
Scott

 

[tmoss]

I won't port a truck lower for a performance car - I don't think it's worth it and I won't take your money to do it. I'd rather have you POd at me now than dissapointed and out $130 later. Edelbrock intakes will not work with a stock lower intake - only the stock upper intake works with it (unless your gonna put a KB 15000 blower on the stock lower).

 

[207RAcing]

It is for a Bronco, not a car, does that make a difference? I was talking about a ported truck lower with the edelbrock truck upper.

Thanks for the help tmoss.

Scott

 

[tmoss]

It doesn't make a difference in my eyes. I believe the 5.0 intake is the better intake for your application. The EDy upper is wasted on the truck lower imho. I can't port the stock truck lower as far as I can the 5.0 lower without welding a bunch and that gets $$$$. These intakes are restricted enough that I think the best lower should be used for ANY application - even a truck. That's just my opinion and $.02

 

[RydeOn]

207RAcing, you should compare lowers on the Edelbrock truck manifold vs the stock manifold. BIG HUGE difference. Tom is a good guy who does great work but, really take a look and compare because then youd know what he is talking about. The Edelbrock is so much bigger and thicker and the stock piece is so small that the guy just doesnt have room to work with it. I know the Edelbrock is big $$ but from what I hear its worth it. I'd of gone the Tom Moss route if I could but the stock truck stuff really is just trash.

 

[207RAcing]

It doesn't make a difference in my eyes. I believe the 5.0 intake is the better intake for your application. The EDy upper is wasted on the truck lower imho. I can't port the stock truck lower as far as I can the 5.0 lower without welding a bunch and that gets $$$$. These intakes are restricted enough that I think the best lower should be used for ANY application - even a truck. That's just my opinion and $.02

I believe you, was never doubting you. I was just confused by your statement that you wouldn't do it for a performance car. I guess what I am getting at, if I just stick the 5.0 upper and lower on compared to the truck upper and lower, is there going to be any difference? The ports on the truck intake are huge, they bend a ton so probably have some issues, just wasn't sure if in the mean time of getting something better, which one I should use. And if there was anything small I could do to help before I installed.

I just took a second look at the 5.0 upper and lower and noticed that it doesn't say 5.0 HO on the top plate, I am wondering if this is out of a cougar or towncar and not a mustang, are they different or just have different cover plate?

Darn, and I already fab'd a 2 into 1 pipe for the thing, looks trick too. Now looking like I just need to make sure the throttle will hook up.

 

[tmoss]

The "HO" is cast in on the upper intake underneath the top plate. If it's not there, it's not an HO intake.

 

[207RAcing]

The "HO" is cast in on the upper intake underneath the top plate. If it's not there, it's not an HO intake.

*&%#!! It isn't there. It has 7.1 cast in it. Well that sucks, and probably makes a huge difference. Guess it is the truck intake after all then. Is there a huge difference between the HO and regular intake?

 

[tmoss]

Haven't done or seen any testing on other intakes in stock form myself.

 

[207RAcing]

Hmmm, wonder what they changed. Is the lower the same on both, they look the same from what I can see in pictures. Just looking at this upper, I really cant see anything different except the underside on the HO has plumbing tapped in the large section, this one does not, just the regular vacuum lines in the center.

 

[tmoss]

Haven't been inside the non HO upper, but the runners may vary in cross section. The truck lower runners for example are smaller than the HO lowers.