Ford Performance Parts Fuel Injected Intake Manifold

Ensuring even distribution of the combustion mixture (or air in direct injection systems) in your fuel-injected Ford engine is crucial for achieving maximum power output. You can make all the performance-enhancing upgrades you want, but if you are running the wrong intake manifold your ride will never reach its potential.

Ford Performance Parts is a leading supplier of aftermarket high-flow intake manifolds specially designed to maximize power output in various late model Ford Mustang engines.

WHY YOUR INTAKE MANIFOLD MATTERS

At the most basic level, every fuel-injected intake manifold comprises a series of tubes that supply air to each intake port in the cylinder heads; however, some are better at this task than others. Stock intake manifolds mated to most Mustang engines are designed for functional consistency and cost effectiveness—not for achieving maximum power. This is why upgrading your intake with an aftermarket manifold is a great way to increase performance, especially at a higher rpm range.

Intake manifolds are made up of two primary sections:

• Plenum – This large cavity at the top of the manifold is the first area where air enters the manifold before circulating into the cylinders.

• Runners – These tubes carry air from the plenum to each cylinder head intake port.

The design of the intake manifold impacts how much air is delivered to the cylinders and how fast it gets there. Performance intake manifolds feature larger, more sophisticated plenums and runners than their stock counterparts, leading to increased airflow and altered performance curves. Other differences—such as the diameter of openings, runner shape and length, and plenum tapering—can drastically improve air distribution.

WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?

Ford Performance Parts supplies intake manifolds optimized for everything from road-worthy GTs to Sprint Cup cars, and you can find them here at Summit Racing.

• 4.6L 2-Valve Performance Improvement (PI) Intake Manifold—Offered as original equipment on 2001-04 4.6L SOHC 2-valve Mustang GTs, these composite manifolds provide an excellent, value-driven alternative to aftermarket performance options used with PI heads in custom engine builds. The are designed to fit 1999-2004 Ford Performance Parts PI head ports, but they also can be used on 1996-98 engines with PI heads.

• 4.6L 3-Valve Performance Intake Manifold—Built around the 3-valve engine found in 2005-10 4.6L Ford Mustangs, this performance intake manifold is an ideal choice for builds using forced induction. When paired with the right components, it makes it possible to increase airflow without sacrificing much torque on the bottom end. Other features include high-flow runners, an open plenum design, and a composite construction that offers improved heat soak over aluminum alternatives. Please note, that it does not fit with Ford Performance strut tower braces.

• Boss 302 5.0L Modular Intake Manifolds—The exact same manifold that came standard on 2012-13 Mustang Boss 302, 302S, and 302R race cars is available as an aftermarket option through Ford Performance Parts. Designed for those seeking a serious boost in power and performance, this manifold features a huge plenum, coupled with short, straight runners that offer increased airflow at the upper RPM range without sacrificing low-end torque. By comparison, stock manifolds found in 2011-14 Mustangs tend to choke off airflow at the top end, making this an excellent upgrade for reaching peak engine power.

• Cobra Jet 5.0L Coyote Intake Manifolds—Based on the manifold used in the naturally aspirated Cobra Jet Race Car, the Cobra Jet is widely regarded as the best Ford Performance manifold available. Featuring a total intake volume of 635 cubic inches and runners tuned to 7,750 rpm peak power, it is a popular upgrade choice for enthusiasts running 5.0L Ford Coyote engines, including those found in 2011-2014 Mustang GT, 2012-13 Mustang Boss 302, and 2015-19 Mustang GT models with manual transmissions.

• GT350 5.2L Coyote Intake Manifolds—Tuned for 7,500 rpm peak power, the GT350 5.2L Coyote intake manifold from Ford Performance is designed to maximize airflow in your engine for greatly improved top-end power and torque. This manifold is a direct fit replacement for the GT350 and GT350R Mustangs, but it also fits 2015-21 Mustang GTs equipped with Ford’s 5.0L 4-Valve DOHC V8 engine. Be aware that this manifold requires the use of a GT350 87mm throttle body.

• FR9 NASCAR Intake Manifolds—Need ultimate top-end power? Intended to be used at a range of 6,000 to 9,500 rpm and approved for open Sprint Cup events, Ford Performance Parts’ FR9 NASCAR intake manifolds deliver just that. Each manifold is made of A356-T6 aluminum casting and features an open plenum design.