ENGINEERMAN

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has ever had their head modified by Lindsey Racing and is using the LR Custom made Intake Manifold? Apparently the Manifold is flow balanced to allow even air flow to all 4 cylinders and the produces far higher flow velocity for superior mixing.

These items aren't cheap but I have the head off anyway to replace the oil pan gasket, rod bearings and piston rings and was contemplating whether I should go whole hog and do these mods along with a Stage II Intercooler mod (replaces the end caps along with internal clean up for better flow) while I'm at it. If any of you have experience with this set up and any measured before and after data, I would like to hear from you.

My car has the K27 Turbo and 3 exhaust, no cat, Flowmaster muffler, 48lb Siemens injectors with adjustable fuel pressure, LR, Fuel Rail, LR Mafterburner system, Innovate O2 sensor set up and LR Dual Port Wastegate and is set up to run 18 psig of boost. I occasionally track the car (and would run only 15 psi of boost at the track). I will be installing a Greddy Profec B EBC as part of the Wastgate upgrade.

The car came with many other upgrades including Big Reds, 18" wheels and big 285 S-02s in rear, Roll cage inside, Recaro's, great stereo, Optima battery, MSD ignition.

The suspension is completed with Bilstein Escort Cup set-up and 400lb springs all around (torsion bars removed and new Grade 12.9 14,mm lower shock bolts)

My thinking is that I'd like to do this once, do it right so that all parts are well matched and be done with the car for a few years or at least 60,000 - 100,000 miles, i.e. probably the rest of my life @ 3,000 miles per year usage (I am looking for good durabillity as well as better performance). I bought the car so right price wise that even with these mods I will have way less than half the cost of anything new invested in it and I can'[t imaging that much will be able to run with it (in a straight line or in the twisties). Heck it ran head to head with a new M3 with just the K27 & exhaust mods.

Again your experiences would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Tom

ENGINEERMAN

I forgot to metntion that as part of the suspension work I will be adding a set of Wrightwood Racing adjustable Camber Plates ( I feel that they are the best) and a Brey Krause Strut Brace. I have designed my own upper spring perches (to adapt to the Hypercoil springs that come with the Bilstein strut kit) and will be machining those shortly.

Skip Wolfe

Where did you get the Wrightwood Racing Camber Plates?

ENGINEERMAN

I got them through a local supplier here in Minneapolis, Bob Vaiu who owns Auto-Edge ($450 plus tax & shipping ~ $500 when all said & done). They are a platinum anodized color and are really first rate. They are similar in design as the Racers Edge plates and maintain the correct (stock) location of the shock mounting point so that you do not lose shock travel. This is not the case with the Lindsey Racing, Ground Control or Paragon Products "flat" plates which cost less.

Let me ask you a question. I am an engineer/designer & machinist and I have taken the time to evaluate the design. I feel that I can offer a slight improvement by modifying the upper spring perch interfaces with the spherical bearing. I was thinking of developing a set of my own Camber Plates which I feel could offer enhanced design over the already very good WR units. Is there a market for it in your opinion? If you are interested let me know or maybe I could just sell you my WR units (they are unused, brand new) once I have made my own set. What do you think?

Ski

I have a stage II head on the street car, which should be on the track car, but the track car has a stage I o-ringed head. LR does good work on the heads. I changed so many things on the car at the same time that I can't give you any gains for the head work.

ENGINEERMAN

Did you also invest in the LR Intake Manifold?

mark944turbo

I have seen the LR manifold lose power over the stock manifold. It was just 1 application (around 470 hp), but maybe worth mentioning. The Lindsey manifold lost power everwhere, not just peak.

ENGINEERMAN

Thanks for the feedback. LR claims that that with the stock Manifold that the AF ratios are not consistent across all cylinders. Do you have any information on that? I have an O2 sensor in the exhaust pipe and tend to run a little on the rich side just to be safe under WOT, full load conditions. Is this anything to be concerned about at the conditions that I am running.

I am not interested in spending thousands to gain a few HP. Are the stock head, Intake manifold and headers pretty well optimized. Remember, I am running the larger K27 turbo. Your comments would be aprpeciated.

Thanks!

RKD in OKC

I had a K27/8 and stage 2 head when I tried the LR intake on some dyno runs. Didn't lose any power over stock intake, but it didn't make much either so I went back to the stock intake. LR was kind of puzzled that it didn't add 15 more rwhp until we discovered the cam was off a full tooth, 3 lifters were shot. and I wasn't getting spark advance. No wonder it just kind of went flat at about 5000 rpm and wouldn't make over 340 rwhp. Considering trying the intake again when I get a few higher priority issues resolved.

mark944turbo

"I am not interested in spending thousands to gain a few HP. Are the stock head, Intake manifold and headers pretty well optimized. Remember, I am running the larger K27 turbo. Your comments would be aprpeciated."

The stock intake and exhaust are good enough to 450+ hp. You might see small gains replacing them, but not worth the money. It would be more effective to run a little more boost, and optimize timing and a/f ratio. I cant comment on Lindsey's heads, I have never seen one, I can say there is room for improvement in the stock design.

It is true that #4 intake runner flows more air. Compensate for it a little by having your injectors flowed and putting the biggest flowing one on #4.

HTH,
Mark