In the quest for better performance, many enthusiasts start with the exhaust system first.  And if they’re really serious about it they come all the way up to the engine with that performance exhaust system.

Well just think about it.  Look at this stock exhaust manifold (left) compared to this nice swooping header (right). Amazing difference, but exhaust systems are only a small portion of the equation, you next have to go under the hood of the vehicle.

That means that you need something like this K and N induction system.  It’s going to allow more air to move into the engine and it’s going to smooth out the flow of air into the engine. 

So now we have lots of air coming into the engine, we’ve got the ability to get lots of air out of the engine but we may not get all of the performance that we really and truly want.  So what’s the problem?  Well, the problem is this giant choke point in the middle of the engine.  You see the stock components: the intake manifold, the air plenum, the throttle body and so on, they may not be up to the task. 

So you might want to change the entire intake system, but even after you’ve done that you may still not be there because right here in the cylinder head are intake ports and are exhaust ports and they’re all matched to the stock configuration, the stock amount of air that can flow through this engine.

So to get the ultimate in performance you want to go to a better breathing cylinder head as well.  So exhaust first, make your plan there, then intake, as far as the air filtering components and the air delivery, then into the air plenum, intake manifold, and the cylinder head at the same time.  By doing this you’ll get the best performance out of your automobile and you’ll really be able to take advantage of your modifications. 



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