WBX Intake runner replacement?

[keithwwalker]

Anyone do an aftermarket replacement of the WBX intake runners?

I was thinking of some nice stainless steel runners, are you listening TK?

and yeah, I know I can paint the existing ones, but they are crappy...

Keith Walker

[allsierra123]

anyone know where to get the boots for the intake runners?
_________________
95 GMC Yukon 6.5 TD 2 Door Tow pig/ Daily driver.
91 Vanagon GL. 1.9TD Conversion Sold
81 Vw rabbit 1.6 Diesel. Sold

[tencentlife]

Keith, I'll be working on this at some point. There's nothing wrong with the OEM runners, though, unless yours are just rusted out or something. Stainless there would be an utter waste of money since it costs three times as much while having no advantageous properties in that app. In fact the OEM intake is pretty well-designed, and like a lot on this motor has capacity to handle a lot more power without need for alteration. But having runners slightly longer would help to tune the power band into a better range for roadability, according to my math. Do that along with a larger-volume plenum (and a nice new TB!) and I think there could be some real improvements to VE. I would use the OEM end castings and just alter the tubing.


Oh, yeah. Way to hijack, 123!
_________________
Shop for unique Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/

Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is kryptonite to doctrine.

[justcairns]

BD has them

[keithwwalker]

I assume you are talking about the boots:
http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=039133241

[Terry Kay]

I think that the stainless runner's would look neat , and this is where it would stop and start.
Not much advantage , other than looking pretty when you took off the engine cover.

Now it you made the intake runner's longer & taller so you might get some more oomph outa the hole--it might be to your advantage.

But this modification would take a bunch of flow bench testing to get the max. benifit.
( Kinda like the Mopar guys did with the 6ft. long runner's sticking outa their hood on the orignal Ramcharger's 49 Plymouth, with two AFB's on the top of the box plenum they built)

Anyway, the blue high pressure /high temp hose would be a real good update from the dried up rubber garabage that came on the intake runner''s and would last a bunch longer than the cotton covered rubber stuff the BD offer's.

Think about it---and it would look good too.

If you want BLING, take the runner's & plenum out, have them chrome plated or power coated, throw a set of the blue silicone hose's on them, and some stainless clamps on them--it'd look real good.
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T.K.

[allsierra123]

thanks TK could you PM me a source for that stuff. I like the powder coating Idea it may clean it up a bit in there.
_________________
95 GMC Yukon 6.5 TD 2 Door Tow pig/ Daily driver.
91 Vanagon GL. 1.9TD Conversion Sold
81 Vw rabbit 1.6 Diesel. Sold

[funagon]

I went to the auto parts store for a can of temperature resistant engine paint in semi gloss black. It cost about five bucks and you don't need to prime before you paint:

Of course you have to sand the rust off and rough up the surface a bit. I did that, then cleaned off with some spray can brake cleaner, then shot it with a couple coats of black. Did the plenum, intakes, valve covers, coolant crossover pipes, engine carrier. Even if you do a messy job with the paint, it makes your clean engine look nice when it's all put back together.
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1990 GL 7-passenger
2.2 liter WBX

[keithwwalker]

I like the way you think, TK. Anyone know the inner diameter of the intake rubber hose boots? I assume the ID is identical at the inlet and outlet.

Anyway here are some silicone links from the UK, I don't know who does this stuff in the USA.

http://www.samcosport.com/us/home.asp

http://www.sfsperformance.co.uk/index.asp

Don't forget that small bore silicone tubing is great for vacuum applications as well.

Keith Walker

[allsierra123]

The semi gloss looks good man. I like that silicone comes in colors. Not sure why I do I just do. I wonder If you can get some of this stuff to run the MAF over to the snorkel.
_________________
95 GMC Yukon 6.5 TD 2 Door Tow pig/ Daily driver.
91 Vanagon GL. 1.9TD Conversion Sold
81 Vw rabbit 1.6 Diesel. Sold

[Terry Kay]

I'll check the ID of the intake runner hoses tomrrow--

I have or can get either glossy blue high temp /high pressure silicone hose or the cloth look alike blue silicone hose, plus the clamps, as a package deal.

Here's another concept--and I'm only going to offer this because one of my best friends is the largest Zinc, Zinc Nickel, Zinc Chromate, plater in the midwest.
Plus there is an excellent top shelf powder coater a block from work.
I have several intake set up's I can have plated or power coated on an exchange basis--only of the intake runner's & plenum you guys have aren't real maggoty---

Drop me a line, let me know who wnat's what and I'll find out what it'll cost.

I'm not going to do this for one set up---
Make it worth my while.

Take Care
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T.K.

[rblake3]

[tencentlife]

They're 1.5" OD.
_________________
Shop for unique Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/

Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is kryptonite to doctrine.

[Terry Kay]

If that be the case, I have mass quanities of the blue silicone hose in the two varieties in stock--and the stainless non pinch aircraft hose clamps too.

Now all's ya have to decide is how ya want the runner's done.

Zinc nickel looks good, and is very rust resistant.

Zinc Chromate would look neat too on the runner's & plenum.

Maybe shocking pink powder coat with the baby blue hoses would be cosmic on your ride--- ~ 8 )-
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T.K.

[allsierra123]

well if you get enough people I would be interested. Otherwise i will just get some of the silicone and try to source it locally.
_________________
95 GMC Yukon 6.5 TD 2 Door Tow pig/ Daily driver.
91 Vanagon GL. 1.9TD Conversion Sold
81 Vw rabbit 1.6 Diesel. Sold

[Terry Kay]

The hose is no problem--I have unlimited quanities of that in stock.
Same as the clamps, double wrap silicone or the standard single wrap stainless.

What I was talking about was walking over to the powder coater or taking a drive to my buddies zinc plating shop---that's 35 miles away---to see what the plating would cost.

I could call him, but he has no clue what a Vanagon is let alone the intake runner's.

I'll have to take them to him for a quote, and then in each plating process.

For one set it wouldn't be worth the trip--the powder coating I could get the price easier, as it's a lot closer.
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T.K.

[keithwwalker]

That stuff looks like th SFS Hose.

[keithwwalker]

TK I would be interested in getting the runners plated. Possibly the plenum too (inside and out).

Anyone know of any photos of chromed runners and/or plenum?

Also, are the 1.9 and 2.1 plenum and runners the same?

The other things like the silicone hoses, clamps and powder coating I can source myself locally.

Problem is that my runners are scaly. Wellington made me an offer, so maybe I will have a set.

[Alan Brase]

[keithwwalker]

Yeah, back to square one, it might be better to get these manufactured....