darkside mk4 intake manifold

pkhoury · May 15, 2017

Just wondering if anyone else has installed this on their Mk4, and how much of a noticeable improvement I'd see. I already have a Stage 4 tune, but I'm thinking of also upgrading to PD150 injectors at the same time, and would also upgrade my TIP pipe to the darkside kit (that I already have in my possession), along with a PD150 airbox and MAF.

http://www.darksidedevelopments.co....ustom-aluminum-1-9-tdi-8v-inlet-manifold.html

eddieleephd · May 16, 2017

I cannot answer your question as for the improvement to expect, however, there is a noticeable amount of air flow capability in the manifold you are looking at.

The benefits other than that is the race pipe being built in.

flee · May 16, 2017

I doubt that your current manifold is a bottleneck. You already have a PD130/150, yes?
If not, those are pretty easy to come by.

pkhoury · May 16, 2017

flee said:
I doubt that your current manifold is a bottleneck. You already have a PD130/150, yes?
If not, those are pretty easy to come by.

Right now, the car has stock PD100 injectors, stock airbox, but the SMIC is the upgraded darkside kit, along with the VNT17. I'm looking at actually doing the injectors as well, and I can't get the darkside tip kit/PD150 airbox because the current intake manifold is in the way.

FraggyTDI · May 16, 2017

I just installed this manifold but wont be running for another month. I believe it will have a flow benefit but it could end up no having perfect distribution but I don't think it will be a very big deal.

[486] · May 16, 2017

Sure they did a bunch to help with charge distribution, but they did nothing about the second worst part of the manifold, the bottleneck where the ports bend from the boxed plenum.

Cut one open and be amazed at ports the size of an american quarter at the point directly above the bolt bosses.

flee · May 17, 2017

pkhoury said:
Right now, the car has stock PD100 injectors, stock airbox, but the SMIC is the upgraded darkside kit, along with the VNT17. I'm looking at actually doing the injectors as well, and I can't get the darkside tip kit/PD150 airbox because the current intake manifold is in the way.

Ah, in that case you can use the pd150 mani and stay factory and maybe save $$.
It's a good flowing manifold and has the engine cover mounting stud, etc.
That being said, RyanP is a great fellow and I would not hesitate to buy his gear! (Shameless plug, I know!)

pkhoury · May 23, 2017

flee said:
Ah, in that case you can use the pd150 mani and stay factory and maybe save $$.
It's a good flowing manifold and has the engine cover mounting stud, etc.
That being said, RyanP is a great fellow and I would not hesitate to buy his gear! (Shameless plug, I know!)

Is RyanP affiliated with darkside? I thought of staying factory, but nah - factory gets boring after a while (although I'm still impressed with my CR with mostly factory parts, sans the turbo and tune).

3L3M3NT · May 23, 2017

Ryanp and I believe his brother own/run Darkside Developments. So when you're talking about a Darkside product, you are essentially talking about Ryanp.

flee · May 23, 2017

pkhoury said:
Is RyanP affiliated with darkside? I thought of staying factory, but nah - factory gets boring after a while (although I'm still impressed with my CR with mostly factory parts, sans the turbo and tune).

My thought is to spend your money on parts that will increase performance over your current setup.
If you will be keeping the VNT-17 your current manifold or the PD130/150 ones
won't be a bottleneck. Same with your current airbox, TIP and SMIC.
You'll need to upgrade that stuff if you go to a bigger turbo and injectors IMHO.

pkhoury · May 24, 2017

flee said:
My thought is to spend your money on parts that will increase performance over your current setup.
If you will be keeping the VNT-17 your current manifold or the PD130/150 ones
won't be a bottleneck. Same with your current airbox, TIP and SMIC.
You'll need to upgrade that stuff if you go to a bigger turbo and injectors IMHO.

I might upgrade the turbo in the future, but probably not for the time being. Had I known a year ago, I would've picked up a GTB turbo. Live and learn.

InfoSec · Jun 1, 2017

Get a VNT1756vk, and you won't need the tubular intake. I got one from RyanP, use Race 520's, Malone Stage 5 custom and it screams. Intake wouldn't make much of a difference, per Whitbread. I would probably need head porting, bigger cam, bigger turbo (all within the next few months) to make the intake worth while. Pushing 28psi.

darkside mk4 intake manifold

pkhoury

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eddieleephd

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flee

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pkhoury

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FraggyTDI

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[486]

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flee

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pkhoury

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