I am looking for that answer too. I am currently running the 496 and in need of more power.

 

100 hp from swapping manifolds? I highly doubt it. That would mean you could swap exhaust on a stock 496/375 and be putting out more hp than a hp 500. If it were true, I sure wouldnt spend the big bucks for a Hp 500.

 

Whipple--I have one on the 496ho and love the power.

 

Second Take, have you done your exhaust? Manifolds or headers?

There is also an aluminum head swap for you engines. I forget the increase claimed.

 

I've seen the intake and it is very well designed - from an airflow point of view.

Can an intake add this much power? Yes.

However, remember hp increases claimed are not always what you think. Most EFI intakes are tuned (heard the term 'tuned port'? These intakes create a sort of ramming or supercharging effect thru inertia , air waves, etc however, this only occurs at a specified rpm.

Back to hp claims - say we have to motors that are labeled at 500hp. Both motors make 500hp at 5200rpm.
One makes 450 hp at 4000rpm and one makes 350hp at 4000rpm. You can say that one makes a 100hp more - right. Yes. This was just an example - not depiciting two actual motors.

Anyway, what usually happens with these intake types is sharp higher rpm power decreases. One of these can actually drop off 50 or so hp in a matter of a few hundred rpm. It was tuned for a lower rpm, and because of it's design it totally cuts off airflow at higher speeds. So, by design, if you can creat an intake that is tuned for a higher rpm you could effectively make that much more power.

Another example not depicting any actual motors:
Engine A: 425hp at 4800rpm // 350hp at 5400rpm
Engine B: 400hp at 4800rpm // 450hp at 5400rpm.

Again, I'm not knocking on these claims. A very well designed intake, especially with EFI that let's you create tuned ports, can make a boat load of power. You just want to make sure that it makes it's power where you want it.

AZ's design makes a ton of sense and looks as if it should work phenomely - plenums up high and to the side with the long runners going mostly straight for their length and then being lined up straight with the cyl heads intake ports. Yeh, looks good to me - quite impressive. I don't know what cross section or exact length dimensions they used (this impacts power at rpm too) + have not tested one , therefore I am speaking from purely physical looks.

 

Second Take, have you done your exhaust? Manifolds or headers?

There is also an aluminum head swap for you engines. I forget the increase claimed.

Hi Jeff
Did thru hull this winter. 496 ex manifolds are already hi perf. Whipple states no improved performance with CMI vs. stock manifolds on 496 HO. Don't want to go whipple for dependability.

The option to the AZMS system I am checking on is Raylar heads and Manifold but the manifolds are not yet in production. With the manifolds, Raylar claims similar power gains to the AZSM system. AZSM came out with this sytem last year. Hoped to get a little direct feedback from a user.

The last response from CFM (thanks for the input) points to a few questions re: total power curve I should ask of both Raylar and AZSM. Dollar for Dollar, either of these mods claim power gains higher than the HP 500 can deliver stock without all the trouble and $ of an engine change?

I have more questions to ask I guess.

 

Just a comment.

I made about 100 hp just switching the intake to a GT40 on a 5.0 mustang. The GT40 has longer tubes and a large power box sitting off to the side of the upper plunem. This also included switching out the injectors and mass air sensor as well. So not just a simple intake switch.

We also saw an increase of 3mph top speed in the 1/4 mile when adding a half inch spacer between the upper and lower manifolds.

So I also agree with cfg-tech. I haven't seen this intake, but I can bet money they are increasing the size of the air box and going with longer runners. This will create more high end hp, but can cost you some low end torque.

Let us know how it works out if you decide to go with it.

Good Luck!

 

I havn't seen the raylar intake manifold but the AZSM looks just like you describe, much bigger air chamber and longer intake tubes feeding direct into the heads.

I am going to ask both for info on power loss or change at other RPM.

Thanks for the input. Will advise on responses.

 

Here is the AZS&M intake on their engine.

 

Better picture on just the intake.

 

Hell for the price of that intake system Mike, your awfull close to a Whipple!

I know of a company in Buffalo that priced me around the $8000 mark US to install a Whipple, water test, and prop it!

And with a Whipple its not a questionable hp gain. Its real and documented!

 

nice to see we are getting more and more options to upgrade the 496.

 

Try to find the ASM manifold thread on teambajamarine.com. As I recall, a baja owner there was very dissatisfied with the conversion he did - netted him a gain of only a couple mph. I think when they looked at the torque numbers they realized that the increase in hp wasn't being matched by much of an increase in torque, and torque increase is what we're all after. Check it out.

 

There has been a few pissed off customers over the as&m manifold kit I went with the whipple because it was proven hp gain and I belive if you run it right it will last.