Home made SMIM

Right now (well im taking a break) I'm making my own smim. I decided that $500 plus for a magnus one was a little too much. It's going pretty good just taking a while. I will take pics as i go. Materials cost about $80 and so far I have about 5hours of labor and I'm about 1/4 of the way done. I will have some left over steel so i was thinking i could make another one. the dimensions are: plenum 13.5x3.5x3.5. runners 5x1.5x2 3/8. If anyone wants me to make them one i was thinking $200. Anyone interested?
ps I'll have pics later on.

I'll take one, for an exchange of me not starting your house on fire.

I might be interested once I see pics. Are you going to offer an AF member discount:naughty:

$200 is the af discount!!! LOL it will probably take ~12 maybe 18 hours to finish. Plus materials and tools (i need a new hole saw everytime i cut the hole for the tb)

well I cant wait to see pics then. Better look awsome:wink:

I would be interested once I see pictures and if they really do work better than the stock one. What are you making it from, steel? Aluminum? I may be able to get into welding next quarter where I plan on making my dp back exhaust, but this would be a great project too.

building a decent smim with dimensions that can flow properly would be very tough. I'm very interested in seeing some progress pics.

are you going to flow bench it?

are you going to flow bench it?
I wasn't planning on it. But maybe, any idea how much that would cost? It's made of steal.
As for getting it to flow right what do you mean? I basically took the design of te magnus im and squared the end (the magnus tapers toward the #1 cylinder) because i've heard it is better to have a large plenum.

well...if you let me guinea pig one I can get it flow benched this summer and let you know :wink:

I think magnus tapered it for a reason.

Yeah, flow bench it. If it does flow better, I would be in line for one.

I think magnus tapered it for a reason.
I thought that at first too, but then i saw ams has a smim that had like 2whp better than the magnus and it wasn't tappered. Only problem $850!!!!!!!! I'm sure it will flow better than stock it's just how much better?

so how about my offer:lol:

I'm my own pig!! Let me see how long this takes, if i have enough people who want one I'll buy some better tools and find somewhere cheaper to buy the steel from, and maybe the price will come down a bit. It's still probably 3-4 hours of welding alone!

The reason I offered is because of the classes that I will be in this summer. The teacher is a pro engine builder/machienest/porter/everything else and I could get profesional advice and also what type of cylinder head setup matches up with the best ect

How thick of metal are you using? Its going to be beastly heavy wont it?

How thick of metal are you using? Its going to be beastly heavy wont it?
16 ga for the plenum and runners, 1/4 flange, and 3/8's for the tb to manfold. shouldn't be heavy at all.

On the magnus on the inside they have those things that look like ITB's almost, are you doing that to?

i want pics fucker :grinyes:

On the magnus on the inside they have those things that look like ITB's almost, are you doing that to?
I couldn't find anything that would work for those (they're called velocity stacks) they do make a slight difference but i really don't know how to make them. Magnus has one without velocity stacks and it made like 2 or 3 less whp.

Here are some pics, not too much to show. Basically some hole in metal :wink: .
Here's a close-up of the flange, I used a 30mm hole saw and a sawzall, now i'll bore the rest out with my die grinder and a carbide bur.
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/729/smim0018ia.th.jpg (http://img92.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0018ia.jpg)
Here's the whole flange, some holes are drilled, pretty much same as other pic just the whole thing.
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/2659/smim0022zi.th.jpg (http://img395.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0022zi.jpg)
Here's the future plenum, at the lines it will be bent 90 degrees to form a square with as few welds as possible.
http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/6942/smim0030az.th.jpg (http://img375.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0030az.jpg)
Here's where the throttle body will bolt up. A little still need to be shaved off the top and the holes need to be drilled and tapped.
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/1443/smim0053wz.th.jpg (http://img395.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0053wz.jpg)
Here's me drilling hole in the plenum with the hole saw.
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/5709/smim0065qm.th.jpg (http://img395.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0065qm.jpg)
Here's the future runners again they'll be bent 90 degrees at the lines to minimze welds and weight.
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/2610/smim0079fu.th.jpg (http://img395.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0079fu.jpg)

Very interesting. If it does well..I'm sure we could get an AF group buy. Keep us posted.

Very interesting. If it does well..I'm sure we could get an AF group buy. Keep us posted.

I agree I think a group buy could deffinately happen if your willing to build that many. What type of welder are you using? I am assuming MIG since your using steel. (Not to metion a TIG welder is pretty expensive just to have lying around the garage.;)) Keep us posted.

Yeah it's a mig welder. I'd love to have a tig. Hopefully I'll make some good progress tomorrow. I actually got a lot more done than i though i would. I'd be up for making a few more if you guys want them. does anyone know anywhere to buy steel cause it was damn expensive at lowes.

Yeah it's a mig welder. I'd love to have a tig. Hopefully I'll make some good progress tomorrow. I actually got a lot more done than i though i would. I'd be up for making a few more if you guys want them. does anyone know anywhere to buy steel cause it was damn expensive at lowes.

I would check with some local machine and welding shops if I was looking. Most of those places buy there steel by the semi, and might give you a good deal on a small amount. Also check with your local Industrial Supply companies, they "should" be cheaper than lowes. :thumbsup:

I was just thinking about the velocity stacks, and you could probably getto some by cutting an appropriately sized donut in half. Probably still not an ideal shape, and expensive and labor intensive, but would be fun none the less :D

This is one of things I like to leave to the pros that test these things day in and day out, but it's always good to see people give it a shot! Good luck with it. If you can, try to at least get some trap speeds before and after to quantify the fruits of your labor. :)

I actually never thought of the donut idea. I'm up for a bit of labor any idea where to get them? I was at the hardware store for a while looking and couldn't find anything near the right size. I just looked online and the only thing i found that looked like it might work was a cock ring i'm not sure how that came up in my search...

I was at the hardware store for a while looking and couldn't find anything near the right size. I just looked online and the only thing i found that looked like it might work was a cock ring i'm not sure how that came up in my search...

That is some funny shit. :lol:

You should see that douche bag work, It makes me sick, Here I am in his garage porting my exhaust manifold, thinking that I'm hot shit, then I turn around, the faggot is makeing a fucking smim. Man, that put me in my place. He should take more pictures, If you guys would just understand how this idea came out of nothing, he started with just metal pieces.

Even I can see now what the shit he is building. If he can get that to flow pretty damn well, He could start his own little business, oh and building those 4" turbo back exhausts lol. He got real far, I am surprised too, because he usually takes like 1-9 naps a day.

Wow, was that a compliment from aaron? LOL jp. I was thinking i might get close tomorrow after work if things go smoothly.

Well, I'm almost done. Holy crap it's been a lot of work. I've had fun though i'll have more pics up later tonight i should be able to finish tonight and put it on my car tomorrow. If anyone wants one pm me $200, believe me thats a deal for how much work it is lol.

Well not to ba an ass or anything but it isnt worth anything if it doesnt work. Once you can get written proof that it works then you will have a line forming

A long line. After monkey-fuckin around for 3 hours today with the intake manifold/manifold bracket dea,l I would be very anxious to get a SMIM so its easier to get the bastard off!

Not to be an ass or anything =P. But if you guys look at the best CHEAP option out there for our cars, it's the 1G manifold, now if you have a chance to look at that, look at the runners, see how it isn't really straight into the head? It takes a long ass route to get to the head. This will already out flow stock 1G's that are ported with no problem.


If he gets off his lazy ass, and posts some of the pics that his brother and I have taken. You guys will get the full picture of how much of a differance there is between the 1g's and EZ's Intake manifold. The runners are directly from the plenum (SP?) to the head. no bends, no slip 'n slide shit to the head.

As I said before, this shit looks nice as hell. Once he puts some chrome spray paint or polishes it, it's going to create a problem for the monopoly of magnus and it's SMIM. LOL, this would be like around $300 bucks, or the $200 AF discount. (Roughly don't quote me on this just yet) As he said earlier, this is a shit ton of work, and things only get better as you do them more often, so if this "test" one works better than the 1G (which it will) just imagine the 2nd one, the 3rd one, etc. The desgin will only get better. I hate him, so take this as a unbias account of this shit I am witnessing. (J/k)

I totally agree with people needing to see a flow chart or "the proof" of it flowing better. Patience, if you really want to spend $600-$800 bucks on Magnus shit, go ahead, but I say be patient. Imagine the other mods you can do with that extra cash you will be saving. That is a brand new turbo for me right there (evoIII). But what I said earlier, he needs to post some of the most recent pics, I think the current problem is making the velocity stacks, not sure if he is going to have them on his "test" one.


Is there anyone with guinuine intrest if this flows better? I mean I don't want to see his hard work not pay off. Who would be intrested?

if it works as good as you hope it does believe me I will be one of your first buyers

Good, being a friend of his, I understand that I could preach this whole time about how good IT COULD BE, we'll just wait and see.

I would definately be up for one. Sorry to jack your idea, but I have study hall 4th hour (and last hour, 4 period day), but I have track right after school so leaving would be pointless. I am going to talk to the welding teacher, he may let me use the shop if I pay for materials and shit, so I am going to order some bends and straight pipe for a catback and I will just use some of the sheet metal to make my own manifold. If I cant get into the shop I would absolutely buy one from you.

booo on you thor lol. if you make me a turbo back exhaust. then we are cool

:lol: You wanna trade? If you guys make me a SMIM, I will make you an exhuast. We should start a fabricating business. ;)

not a bad idea and I am not joking, we were thinking about doing exhausts, but smim are more money =P, we should tlak about that OUT

Waiting for the paint to dry so here are some almost finished pics.
Never give aaron the camera...
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/6660/smim0197ro.th.jpg (http://img95.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0197ro.jpg)
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/6208/smim0211qe.th.jpg (http://img95.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0211qe.jpg)
You can't even tell but this is being held against a 1g im...
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/7509/smim0227bk.th.jpg (http://img127.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0227bk.jpg)
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/5234/smim0233zo.th.jpg (http://img127.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0233zo.jpg)
The runners...
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/705/smim0353sv.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0353sv.jpg)
Cool pic doesn't show much though...
http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/7532/smim0390ev.th.jpg (http://img111.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0390ev.jpg)
http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/7803/smim0411hl.th.jpg (http://img111.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0411hl.jpg)
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9602/smim0426ml.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0426ml.jpg)
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/6192/smim0443za.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0443za.jpg)
http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/7702/smim0469fg.th.jpg (http://img111.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0469fg.jpg)
http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/6774/smim0471ub.th.jpg (http://img111.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0471ub.jpg)
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/8837/smim0488xt.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0488xt.jpg)
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/5972/smim0498fp.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0498fp.jpg)
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/423/smim0500bk.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0500bk.jpg)
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/7361/smim0543mp.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0543mp.jpg)
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

hmmmm, maybe if you posted some painted pics, I won't have to kick your ass for waking me up, it's almost 2 lol. I have fucking skewl lol. Looks bad ass, you could smooth things out on the welds, and espically where the manifold goes to head, those welds are blocking air flow! I hate you. Look at your email. overall, looks good.

PS WHY THE FUCK is the military .com popping up after I click on the pics?

Oh shit, i actually did grind those welds down i must have taken that pic before i did it. Have fun a schoole suker (see i don't has to go to schoole I's smert enouf)

take more pics asshole, sweet job, now you know what yoru doing, so you can pump them out like in 4 hours bahahahhahahhha

take more pics asshole, sweet job, now you know what yoru doing, so you can pump them out like in 4 hours bahahahhahahhha
I'll take more pics tomorrow when the paint is dry. Yeah 4 hours...maybe if i get a mill and a drill press, until then, it's gonna take like 10 hours each.

:disappoin welding with no eye protection

actually, he was doing that for a pose, his brother wanted to see what it would look like in a picture when he was welding, he is dumb, but not that dumb.

:disappoin welding with no eye protection
LOL, i was just doing tacks to hold it together, i was closing my eyes.

Maybe you should buy those things ell, make some money, so you can bath in it, and maybe you could sell the rights to your SMIM to magnus, =O. Why are you up so early, I hate you.

Maybe you should buy those things ell, make some money, so you can bath in it, and maybe you could sell the rights to your SMIM to magnus, =O. Why are you up so early, I hate you.
Oh i'm up cause i had 8 pieces of steel in my fucking foot!!!

Oh i'm up cause i had 8 pieces of steel in my fucking foot!!!
Sounds like a personal problem. :wink: lol

I wanna see some pics of it too. I would be interested if they flow as good as your hoping they will. :)

Lookin good man. Pretty it up a bit, take some pictures and start turning them out.

Here's some final (well almost i didn't have the nipples for the vac lines on yet) pics of the smim, a couple of it on the engine, it still have to do a few sall modifications to it but this is basically the finished product.
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/5871/smim0032ib.th.jpg (http://img104.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0032ib.jpg)
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/3523/smim0051aq.th.jpg (http://img104.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0051aq.jpg)
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1949/smim0061zw.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0061zw.jpg)
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/4017/smim0074ha.th.jpg (http://img213.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smim0074ha.jpg)
Oh yeah and i have to weld the bracket for the throttle cable.

Looks good.

Hmm, looking bad ass, The EZ looks pretty sweet.

Looks pretty good. Get some flow charts for it and you'll be able to start mass producing them then. :wink:

so are you going to offer them with any logo?

Kick ass! Did you put it on the Eclipse? Go take it for a spin and see if the ass dyno can detect a difference. Flow charts would be awesome.

I am very interested also, show some pics of your progress when you get a chance.