Afe Blade Runner

[Bob4x4]

Great info,thanks Bob. Someone get him a Glacier to test! I'd like to buy one but one more to get facts on. I DO like the AFE.

I second that :-laf:-laf I do'nt know how a tube could surpass all the engineering and testing that has gone into the others but who knows ? Engineers have been known to be wrong from time to time Lets get one tested... ... ... ... ... ... PMs welcome



Bob

 

[seafish]

Bob, how can you say that the AFE BladeRunner has no bolts in the airpath??-- aside from the internal vanes on mine being VERY roughly cast, they DO have holes through them that allow the bolts to pass through to mount the intake to the motor. Those holes are not in the picture you posted, but they are still there, which means that the bolts run right through the flow of the intake air. Thanks for taking the time to reply and explain what you meant;

 

[Bob4x4]

Bob, how can you say that the AFE BladeRunner has no bolts in the airpath??-- aside from the internal vanes on mine being VERY roughly cast, they DO have holes through them that allow the bolts to pass through to mount the intake to the motor. Those holes are not in the picture you posted, but they are still there, which means that the bolts run right through the flow of the intake air. Thanks for taking the time to reply and explain what you meant;

There are NO bolts up in the airstream,the bolts attatch on the interior flange at the base only.



Bob

 

[seafish]

There are NO bolts up in the airstream,the bolts attatch on the interior flange at the base only.



Bob

Following are pics of my Bladerunner. You can see both the poor casting quality on the inside of the intake, as well as the bolts that pass right through the blades from which the unit takes its name. Also note that the blades themselves are quite rough and uneven in thickness, considering that they are supposed to promote airflow around curves. Do you think that I got a bum unit and that I should exchange it? Was yours of such poor casting quality? I like the idea and flow charts for this intake manifold, but am confused by the quality of the interior surfaces. Whaddya you guys think??

 

[Bob4x4]

:-laf your bolts are in the wrong direction... ... ... ..... you do know that right?

My casting did not have that flaw in it. I would not sweat the small stuff,just get a flap wheel in there and dress it up a bit.



Bob

 

[p-Bar]

Following are pics of my Bladerunner. You can see both the poor casting quality on the inside of the intake, as well as the bolts that pass right through the blades from which the unit takes its name. Also note that the blades themselves are quite rough and uneven in thickness, considering that they are supposed to promote airflow around curves. Do you think that I got a bum unit and that I should exchange it? Was yours of such poor casting quality? I like the idea and flow charts for this intake manifold, but am confused by the quality of the interior surfaces. Whaddya you guys think??

CFish I got a hold of an AFE and cut it into quarters on my band saw , that's about as good as it gets , I'll post pics tonite of this unit fillet out.

 

[seafish]

:-laf your bolts are in the wrong direction... ... ... ..... you do know that right?
My casting did not have that flaw in it. I would not sweat the small stuff,just get a flap wheel in there and dress it up a bit.

Bob

Yeah. . I just slipped the bolts in to so that you could explain to us how they are NOT in the airflow, when they are clearly inside the plenum and pass THROUGH the blades that supposedly direct the airflow--this seems contrary to what you have been insisting that there are NO bolts in the airflow. I don't want to make a big deal out of it, but I am trying to figure out what you mean--If your Bladerunner does not mount the same way and was of better quality castings, maybe you got a prototype or something?? Thanks for clarifying.

p-Bar, look forward to seeing the pics, how do you like your CFM?? How does it fit--I have read somewhere that it rubs up against the master cylinder on some trucks. Did you have to bend the dipstick alot to get it to fit?? TIA

 

[BHolm]

Don't the long bolts go in the other set of holes? I thought what I read was that for the bolt holes you used, a short set goes in there and where you have bolts passing through would only be used as tool access to tighten the bolts that will sit down inside. I could be way off. If the bolts pass through as pictured, thats a pretty poor design.



I would also throw out that my CFM+ unit is a whole lot nicer finished inside, and there are definately no bolts passing through the airflow

 

[MrBee]

Remember... . the biggest gain you will see is at lower boost and that is where the bigger numbers in torque assist you in moving from one place to another quickly. The less pressure the intake has, the more critical the air flow path is. That is why you will see that max HP #s on these aftermarket air intake horns change very little because where you get max HP is at high RPM and greater boost.

Look at the 15-2100 rpm range and you will see a significant boost in the torque (I believe that some quote 50 lbs+ of additional torque. ). Compare to a gas motor without a pressurized intake, every little detail has to be addressed to keep the air moving. Runner volume, shape, all are critical in making any real HP. We make 500 HP with the stock restricted manifold on an inline 6. Now I think that is impressive. It is all about the push followed by the woooosh.

 

[seafish]

OK... me bad, the bolts do NOT pass through the airflow as I thought and showed in my pics; the holes in the blades are ONLY to access the bolts with an allen wrench, which are at the bottom of the flange. I am still disappointed in the quality of the casting, but maybe I'll just grin and bear it like Bob4x4 suggests. Or I'll return it and get the GDP, which seem to be very finely manufactured and a good deal right now too. I do wish someone would test the GDP.

 

[DPKetchum]

You think any testing went into making these intakes or did these others just pop up after Banks sold a few. Figured "well their thought of as eye candy I'd like to make a buck or two also" with no testing at all? Interesting how the CFM+ makes the MOST power and it has a SMOOTH internal bore. Just dosen't seem right that someone had to test these on their own time and the manufactures didn't post their OWN graphs and dyno runs or did they?

 

[BHolm]

I think CFM+ has graphs on their site. I am still trying to figure out the lack of interest in the CFM+. It is as cheap as any of them, performs with the best and I haven't heard a single quality compliant on the CFM+. Why is anybody still considering the AFE?

 

[Heavyweight]

Bholm raises a good point.

Cfish, the casting will not hurt anything... If you clean it up, and dyno, you would not gain anything. Leave it, and do not worry. I know lots of guys polishing intake runners and gaining nothing but piece of mind, not HP.

 

[Bob4x4]

OK... me bad, the bolts do NOT pass through the airflow as I thought and showed in my pics; the holes in the blades are ONLY to access the bolts with an allen wrench, which are at the bottom of the flange. I am still disappointed in the quality of the casting, but maybe I'll just grin and bear it like Bob4x4 suggests. Or I'll return it and get the GDP, which seem to be very finely manufactured and a good deal right now too. I do wish someone would test the GDP.

I have offered on every diesel forum I have registered on to flow test a GDP... ... ..... no takers.

I have talked to Stephan Kondolay, he is up for testing his SS intake when it is built.



Bob

 

[BHolm]

The point was made earlier regarding forced induction. The roughness in the casting is likely of no performance consequence at all when you are pushing air through there at 20-30 psi.



Still, the pics I have seen of the AFE cut open sure don't inspire much confidence. The roughness and the tubes where the long bolts pass through look pretty cobbled up.

 

[Regcabguy]

Casting quality?

Following are pics of my Bladerunner. You can see both the poor casting quality on the inside of the intake, as well as the bolts that pass right through the blades from which the unit takes its name. Also note that the blades themselves are quite rough and uneven in thickness, considering that they are supposed to promote airflow around curves. Do you think that I got a bum unit and that I should exchange it? Was yours of such poor casting quality? I like the idea and flow charts for this intake manifold, but am confused by the quality of the interior surfaces. Whaddya you guys think??

CFish,you might send an e-mail to AFE concerning your quality concerns on the interior casting appearance of your Bladerunner. Include pics of course. Mine is much better than yours with minimal roughness to the casting. They should address it.

 

[seafish]

Bajabob, that's a good idea; I think I'll call them on Monday--just wondering if you remember if the blades on yours were relatively smooth and even, or actually uneven and rough as well?? Did you feel any HP increase or see any EGT reductions after you installed your Bladerunner?? TIA

 

[Regcabguy]

Bajabob, that's a good idea; I think I'll call them on Monday--just wondering if you remember if the blades on yours were relatively smooth and even, or actually uneven and rough as well?? Did you feel any HP increase or see any EGT reductions after you installed your Bladerunner?? TIA

Mine are quite smooth,nothing like your pictures. My bolt enclosures are pretty smooth also. I haven't got around to installing it yet. I know it's gotta come off if truck goes in for warranty claims. Seems like a quick install though. I p. m. 'd you.

 

[BHolm]

I know it's gotta come off if truck goes in for warranty claims. Bob 4x4 posted that Dodge released a whole list of no-no's and I'm sure this is one of them.

I missed that list, does anybody have a link?

 

[Regcabguy]

Error

I missed that list, does anybody have a link?

My error there. No such post by Bob 4x4. My apologizies. These intakes reportedly enhance h. p. over stock,so it stands to reason Dodge could use this reasoning to challenge a claim. Common sense dictates our restoring our trucks to stock before filing a warranty claim.