Intake tube lenght/rpm tuning
Intake tube lenght/rpm tuning
http://dev.physicslab.org/Document.a...nancePipes.xml
To: Knuckleuppunk and others that have taken classes or have experience in resonance (above high school physics link):
I have seen an intake with a VERY short intake tract called the JLT. It seems to me that the stock system and every other aftermarket system besides JLT retains a relatively long tract length. I am GUESSING that these long tube intakes are tuned/optimized to work with engine speeds of about 3k to 4k rpm. It then seems to me that the JLT intake would be tuned/optimized to work with engine speeds of about 9k rpm (about 1/3rd the length of the other intakes). Sure, this 9K rpm tuning might be great for a NASCAR motor but not for a truck.
I am near 100% certain that the designers of the JLT system understand resonant systems, so what am I missing that makes their intake supposedly so great? Is it merely that is has less "DC" flow resistance due to its shorter length?
Warning, tongue in cheek humor:
Knuckleuppunk might not even care if the JLT system works well or not since S&B makes the filters for JLT.
To: Knuckleuppunk and others that have taken classes or have experience in resonance (above high school physics link):
I have seen an intake with a VERY short intake tract called the JLT. It seems to me that the stock system and every other aftermarket system besides JLT retains a relatively long tract length. I am GUESSING that these long tube intakes are tuned/optimized to work with engine speeds of about 3k to 4k rpm. It then seems to me that the JLT intake would be tuned/optimized to work with engine speeds of about 9k rpm (about 1/3rd the length of the other intakes). Sure, this 9K rpm tuning might be great for a NASCAR motor but not for a truck.
I am near 100% certain that the designers of the JLT system understand resonant systems, so what am I missing that makes their intake supposedly so great? Is it merely that is has less "DC" flow resistance due to its shorter length?
Warning, tongue in cheek humor:
Knuckleuppunk might not even care if the JLT system works well or not since S&B makes the filters for JLT.
Last edited by ranchocucbro; Feb 26, 2007 at 06:28 PM.
Yeah, the tuning of the intake system is directly affected by the length of the air filter tube. Lengthen the tube and the optimum rpm shifts to a lower rpm. Shorten the tube and the optimum rpm shifts to a higher rpm.
Appearantly, the short JLT intake is optimized for high rpms, while the stock and other long tube intakes are optimized for lower rpms.
I am not an expert on this so someone with more experience can probably calculate what rpms each respective system is optimized for.
I just found this interesting calculator for valve intake tract length for a manifold (but not air filter tube length). I assume that there is a similar tuning theory for air filter tube length. http://www.bgsoflex.com/intakeln.html
Appearantly, the short JLT intake is optimized for high rpms, while the stock and other long tube intakes are optimized for lower rpms.
I am not an expert on this so someone with more experience can probably calculate what rpms each respective system is optimized for.
I just found this interesting calculator for valve intake tract length for a manifold (but not air filter tube length). I assume that there is a similar tuning theory for air filter tube length. http://www.bgsoflex.com/intakeln.html


