Truck intake vs LS1/LS6 intake for a budget swap: which is shorter and which makes more power?
Shorter: the car intake. Vortec truck engines use taller "truck intake" manifolds with longer runners.
Power: the truck intake's long runners are there to build torque for heavy trucks. The LS6 and TBSS factory intakes do well on car-style builds; Speedway notes they have limits once you add heads and a cam, where an aftermarket intake pays off.
For a swap: check hood clearance — the taller truck intake is the one to measure against your hood. Match the intake's port shape to your heads, and plan for the throttle body and throttle cable: Speedway notes the stock LS1 throttle cable often won't work in a swap, so a universal cable is common.
Confidence: medium — sources disagree or are limited; check the sources below.
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Sources
- Vortec 4.8 LS Build: Horsepower Recipes, Specs and Upgrades — Speedway Motors
- 5.7 LS1 Engine Upgrades: Build Recipes for 400 HP-700+ HP — Speedway Motors