It’s not just about how much horsepower you’ll gain. It’s about having a setup that supports the rest of your build and won’t let you down when things get serious.
If you’ve ever popped the bonnet and thought, “Should I actually bother upgrading this thing?”, you’re not alone. The intake manifold isn’t as flashy as a turbo or as obvious as an exhaust, but it plays a bigger role than most people give it credit for.
Let’s have a real talk about when it makes sense to upgrade, and when it doesn’t.
First off, what does it even do?
The intake manifold is basically the lungs of your engine. It takes the air coming through your throttle body and delivers it to each cylinder. A good one does that evenly, efficiently, and without restriction.
Most factory manifolds? They’re built to be cheap, quiet, and safe. Cast aluminium or plastic, mass-produced, and not exactly designed for big power. They get the job done for stock setups, but once you start chasing more performance, they can quickly become the bottleneck.
So, when is it worth replacing?
1. You’re chasing big horsepower
If you’re boosting hard or building for high RPM, a stock manifold will eventually hold you back. A billet upgrade can flow a whole lot more air, which means more power, especially in turbo cars. It’s the kind of upgrade that doesn’t scream for attention, but makes a noticeable difference once you’re pushing the limits.
2. Throttle response is important to you
A properly designed manifold smooths out airflow and improves response. You’ll feel it in the way the car reacts, particularly if you’re used to a slightly laggy setup.
3. You’re upgrading injectors or fuelling
Running dual rails? Going to 12 or 24 injectors? Big throttle body? A billet manifold gives you more flexibility and space to run those setups without hacking things together.
4. You’re sick of plastic parts cracking
Plenty of OEM manifolds (especially on older builds) are plastic, and under pressure pushing for max performance, they’re done. If yours is warped, leaking, or just plain ugly, it’s not a bad time to move to something that’ll handle the power.
What’s the catch?
Honestly, the main one is cost. A proper billet intake manifold isn’t cheap. But you’re getting a hand-machined piece of kit that’s designed to handle boost, heat, vibration, and look good doing it. It’s not just for show, though it definitely helps tidy up your bay.
Bottom line?
If you’re keeping your engine mostly stock, you’ll be fine with the factory gear.
But if you’re building something serious, chasing power, upgrading fuelling, or just want a reliable, clean-looking setup, yes, replacing your intake manifold is absolutely worth it.
At CPC, we make all our billet manifolds in-house. We’ve got options for RBs, JZs, and more, from clean street builds to 2,000+ HP drag monsters. Every bit of machining is done right here, and each design is tested on real cars, not just in CAD.
If you’re ready to upgrade, check out our full range of billet manifolds right here.