Got the Middle East Variable Intake today from DHL. It came in a box with no stuffing! Has a dent to the valve lever actuator but hopefully still functions OK. Front and back pic below:


The pic below is to demonstrate the lever operation. Left is the closed position. Right is open, with vacuum applied (ie. me sucking on the tube). Takes about 15 cmHg of vacuum to open the valve fully... which I think is a lot. For reference, my manifold vacuum is 21 cmHg at idle.

 

Shot showing lever and the depth of the secondary chamber.


Shot showing the TB, IAC/fast idle ports.


Lastly, shot showing the EGR port. Notice that there is NO HOLE (WTF!?!)... I guess emissions recirculation was not provided for. I'll have to drill that out.


OBS: I looked very carefully at the valves and the intake runners. It seems to me that the secondary "plenum" is not a plenum/runner AT ALL. Bascially the valves open up a large cavity but that cavity does not appear to exit out to the runners. This is totally different from 5th Gen intakes. Can someone tell me how opening up a large and otherwise closed cavity will generate better breathability? I just don't get it.

I would also like to add that I have no idea how I'm going to get the lever working to a secondary vacuum outlet that works almost opposite to manifold vacuum. I understand from Matt's post that you need a vacuum reservoir (sustained via manifold vacuum through a check valve), an RPM switch and probably a solenoid to switch from air to vacuum at a set RPM set by the switch, but implementing it is way over my head. Can someone with a 3rd gen VE or 5th genner possibly capture a pic of what their variable intake valve actuator system looks like? Anyways, I hope someone with more car experience can come up with a solution.
(sorry for the length)

 

This is too weird. I am looking down the intake at the valves and the runnners. An inche and a half down the runners there appears to be outline of a small circle, maybe 5/16", on each runner that would appear to underlie the secondary cavity up top. It looks like a guide for where to drill a hole so that the upper plenum does communicate from the runners to the valves. Could this intake manifold be an unfinished product? (see the blocked EGR). I may have to open the top cover (8 bolts) and drill those holes!!! What do you all think? Can others who received the intake manifold comment on this to see if theirs are the same?

Oh Yeah: Thanks to RoadBeast for getting me the intake manifold!

 

I dont think your valve lever actuator is bent because mine looks the EXACT same. I thought mine was bent as well when I first got it.

 

I think I wet my pants, Good job once again and those pics are really detailed as are roadbeasts.

 

anyone dynoed?

 

 

call JWT, they might be able to help.

 

I have been wondering about this too...because I don't see any shorter runners, it still looks like it has the long runners same as on our cars, but just with a big cavity on top. I am puzzled on how it works???

 

The EGR hole is just plugged, it tapped out with a hammer and screw driver.

What strikes me as VERY wierd is you intake runner ports look like they are round. Mine are oval like and match up to the lower perfectly. Yours look like it wont match up. Is their acasting number on it, mine is a 38U.

When the chamber is open it connects all six runners and the main plenum area to creat a huge plenum and volumetrically shorten the length of the intake runners.

 

Looks good so far guys .. Be sure to keep us updated on the progress, I'm still waiting for mine, but I think I'm lacking on the experience to be the one to get it to work, so I'm gonna be hoping for some more writeups

 

So the manifold casting relates to valve type then, correct? Just noticed Don in Texas has the same 38U casting stamped on his valves in another thread.

 

You are right about the intake runner ports. The manifold I have looks totally different. The valves on mine are circular as well and not oval. I really don't see how this is going to fit. My point about the top chamber is that on mine, it would appear that the only way to get to it is via the valves. It does not communicate with the runners otherwise so does not create another path for air. I think my casting number is 35U. In any case, lining up the gasket I have with the MEVI runner ports shows me that there is no way any amt of porting is feasible. The oval size of the gasket extend past the size of the ports INCLUDING the metal on this smaller MEVI--the ports including the metal are just too small. I am wondering if this even came off of a Maxima.

I hope Roadbeast will honor his return policy because there is no way that this will fit.

 

Here's my last pic showing how the MEVI that I got is just too small at the runner ports. Every runner port on the OEM gasket extends past the metal which rules out any possibility of porting. This was definitely made for a different lower intake plenum.

 

Yes indeed, I think I will wait for a few more satisfied customers. Good Luck

 

I bet this is off of a VQ25.

 

i was thinking the same thing also..

 

That looks like the same pattern as the Q45 VG30DE lower intake manifold but only the single T-body one.

 

Now thats what I like to hear

 

It's OK. I know that these intakes all look the same. I even did not notice the difference until Matt pointed it out. In any case, I am not angry, just sad... Everytime I do something with my car, I always seem to hit a snag. Now my Hanabi HID bulbs do not match up (one pure white, the other slightly bluish tint). It is always something...

In any case, I emailed you. Roadbeast, the only way I'd be interested in another is if it is possible to include the vacuum/rpm system to activate the valve. It is too hard for me to try to rig up something...

 

The vacuum actuated lever may be the same, but the butterfly valves are small and round and not oval like it should be. If you find another intake for me, it should have the butterfly valves included. Hopefully the cover/gasket will be reuseable from this one...

 

Don't think he is talking about the one that was sent to you??

 

OK, so anyone expected to get an intake manifold from Roadbeast willing to receive my intake manifold from him with your shipment and then reship to me here in Cleveland? I will cut you a check or paypal for UPS costs, of course. I would REALLY appreciate it... I live in Cleveland, Ohio.

 

Look like alittle up stream won't work because the throttle cable plate is in the way. Maybe I can tap them into the lower plenum?

 

I paid for mine yesterday and I would be willing to help you out. Why don't you e-mail roadbeast and me in the same mail and we can figure this out and we will not clog down the org. My e-mail is tifosiv122@hotmail.com

Erik

 

I've been MIA for quite a while (too many board politics, I needed a break) and I know nothing about this, other than this and Mardi's thread. How much did these things cost? Where did they come from? I'd ask about install issues, but it seems too soon for that. I'll wait til people actually get them in.