Ram Revival Part 13: The Intake Manifold (Dumping the Kegger for Hughes FI Air Gap)

#RamRevival #HughesEngines #AirGap
With the Magnum out of the Ram, we move on to showcasing some speed parts and upgrades I have picked up and plan to install on the motor. In Part 13 of the Ram Revival we check out the intake manifold we selected to replace the factory "kegger." Leading up to the reveal and highlights, we talk about some of the quirks of the factory intake manifold (don't forget...use the time stamps!). What are you, or what did you run on your Magnum V8? While the M1 is a great contender, they are increasingly difficult to find.
Ultimately I went with Hughes' modified Edelbrock RPM Air Gap. This is a proven intake design prepped for plug and play installation with the factory's MPFI. Not only will we gain some performance across the power band, we have multiple other benefits.
Perhaps the most foundational is the elimination of the leak prone plenum pan. While the kegger is actually a decent "truck" manifold with lots of off idle torque, when it tops out...it tops out. The Air Gap opens things up allowing you to take better advantage of complimentary upgrades like a mild cam, or headwork...I wonder if we will do any of that for the Ram Revival?!
While the biggest knock on this kit is the price, and I do agree it is steep. Hughes has done a great job assembling the kit. You get everything you will need to just swap intakes and go if that is your objective. You would spend a lot of time and a good chunk of change rounding up all the fittings and making your own shims and spacers. The throttle body adapter isn't the sleekest thing out there, but is functional and actually pretty good internally. Similarly, when you think of the time it would take you, or more likely the price you would pay for a machine shop to drill out an LA based Air Gap...it becomes a no brainer. This is no doubt the best kit on the market for your 5.2 or 5.9 Magnum V8.
Hughes FI Air Gap for 5.2 and 5.9 Magnum V8
www.hughesengines.com/Index/pr...
*Alpha Gloves*
Get my gloves! Use Discount Code "LoneStar" for your own pair of Alpha Gloves:
alphagloves.us/
*Time Stamps*
@0:00 Intro and Reasons for Selecting this Intake Manifold as as well flaws with the factory intake manifold, aka "The Kegger"
@6:08 Hughes FI Air Gap
@7:05 Price Point
@7:30 Mahle Gasket Set
@8:00 Brass Fittings
@8:25 Injector Bungs
@9:02 Throttle Body Adapter
@9:57 Hughes FI Air Gap cast by Edelbrock
@11:05 Wiha Scissors Cameo
@11:11 Manifold and Adapter on the Work Bench
@12:30 Hughes and Edelbrock Stampings
@12:45 Distributor Cutout
@13:09 Water Neck
@13:29 Dual Plane Intake - Center Divider and Different Planes of the Intake
@14:00 TBI vs MPFI
@14:50 Bag of Accessories - Fittings, Spacers, etc.
@17:30 Thanks to Hughes for continuing to support the Magnum
--While Mopar had some great parts, they have been discontinued and are quite hard to find
@19:20 Mopar Performance...I will help you, lol
@20:45 Machined Edges and Port Inspection
@21:25 Valley Pan Upgrade...Cast Intake vs Leak Prone Plenum...UPGRADE!
@23:33 Kegger Inspection
@25:30 Wrap Up
**Links**
Forum: www.lonestarmopars.com/forum
Facebook: / lonestarmopars
Instagram: / lonestarmopars
Twitter: / lonestarmopars
Music:
"Gearhead" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/...

[@tomc8157]

Been running one on my 96 Dakota for two years now. Sure it’s expensive but looks epic sitting in there and you can see the distributor! It revs quicker then the keg, mpg has been around 20, nothing the keg didn’t do so that’s that. Far as power and torque only a dyno will tell but I’m getting a slightly bigger cam soon so I’ll see what happens after that.

[@slant6guy]

*Kept the kegger* in the '98 RAM 5.9L here in Alaska: used Volume Reduction Plates&thick aluminum plenum plate+lifter valley oil splash guard. Used a Hughes hi-lift cam .523"/.533" lift & 208'/214' duration@.050" to replace the OEM wimp cam, new cat, hi-flow exhaust=Flowmaster 40 series Delta Flow~>fun meter is high here. *_=Gobs of low end torque for the 1998 RAM 1500 4x4 Quad Cab!_*

[@dtruth5769]

So u r still running the kegger with that big cam? What kind of maximum rpm did u get out of it?

[@DrBIeed]

Thanks for the vid! Already ordered mine but I’ve been having my RT basically restored over the last 7 months so I figured it’d be nice to put a little more pep in its step along with the new look.

[@Floreypottery]

What I’m about 2 do with my dads 99 extended cab R/t gonna be lots of work

[@rustyshackelford5892]

I'm getting this for my dakota thanks!

[@mikeestrella2]

I have a M1 on my 95 Dakota and that is just built for power. Now my 99 Durango is in need of a big update under the hood and I think this intake will be bought. One thing I did notice as you were talking that everything is included and one thing is not just like the M1 I bought in 04. That one thing is the water spout on the front of the intake. I did remove my spout on my Dakota and then regretted it cause it tor the threads up on the kegger and I still went to get one from the dealer. Other than that it looks like everything else is included in the box. I'm going to go with a cam,head and intake for my Durango and hopefully it will wake up the lazy 5.2 before I build a 5.9 to replace the 255000 mile 5.2 mag

[@themetalgator6668]

Very informative thanks. I'm looking for some extra performance out of my 5.2 in my 99 durango and I'm not concerned about losing some of the bottom end torgue as I don't tow anything with it. I'm also curious what this could do for fuel economy? I don't see how I could get any worse lol. Thanks again!

[@xsgyuusha9711]

Never mind i found that website and imma get it thanks it was big help.

[@NarrowRoadAdventures]

I initially ordered the Hughes air gap and shortly after canceled my order when a follower informed me of the UT Awesome Performance kegger mods. This 5.9L is going in my Jeep so torque is primary desire over HP and found that modifying the keg would be best and CHEAPER! I even paid to have a guy to tig the mod plates in, bought an aluminum plenum cover and still am saving a good chunk of change. While not as cool looking (who cares) the Hemi Orange paint sure makes it scream Mopar! Good info.

[@dutyhole1734]

I SENT HIM AN EMAIL NO RESPONSE DO YOU HAVE A PHONE # FROM HIM

[@NarrowRoadAdventures]

@@dutyhole1734 They’re probably really busy. He got back to my email within a couple days. They don’t have a phone since they’re a 1-2 person shop. I didn’t end up using their valley manifold pan due to another mod I did. If you want it I’d send it to you $30 shipped (assuming in the 48 USA).

[@timbuktoo7050]

@@NarrowRoadAdventures yeah I'm going the Utawewome route as well. Damn that Hughes is puuuurty tho

[@MitchellSmith]

I really wish there was a middle ground option for these engines. The idea of going backwards to a carb intake that just has some injector bungs in it...and paying $700 for the privilege of doing so sucks. These engines really need a solid long-runner manifold like modern hemis and ls engines. Just doesn't exist, all the aftermarket options have a 6" or shorter runner. Also, I really don't understand just why the kegger doesn't perform. The runner cross sectional area is the within two hundred thou of the hughes, so it's not got some sort of tiny crappy runner or something. It's got a lot of plenum volume, but I don't understand how lots of plenum volume could hurt it. The indy modman intake flows 320cfm and has 2636cc of plenum volume, while the hughes flows 255cfm with 595cc of plenum volume.

[@ruller213]

I believe it's about the air going into the motor faster due to the lower volume more consistently, instead of very high volume and inconsistent high flow, just a theory, got a lot of work to do on my 5.2 before it's good

[@payloadperformance9706]

Incase you do decide to go back to the kegger there is a simple and practically permanent fix you can do for the kegger. But the main reason the plenum fails is because of a simple design flaw by the engineers the bolt hold on the kegger were just a tiny bit too shallow for the bolt length, (almost unnoticeable) the simple fix is to put washers between the bolt and the new aluminum pan (or old one of you wish to reuse it) and get bolts that are just 1/8th shorter than stock bolts. This will allow for full compression with the proper ft.lbs and it will virtually eliminate the need to ever replace or fix the plenum pan ever again. I’ve also seen a few people weld the plenum pan on to the kegger for a 100% permanent fix haha. I’m doing the kegger mod with the Volume Reduction plates, Tune and a mild cam on my 5.9 360 because I use it for hauling/towing. I’ll be uploading that on my channel when I begin that process!

[@mariojohnson1577]

heard this on the forums ima give it a try

[@dutyhole1734]

LIKE TO SEE THIS AS WELL

[@payloadperformance9706]

@@dutyhole1734 I’ve been getting lots of messages of people that want to see this too, i just need to get my tune and I’m ready to go! So it should be coming on to the channel soon!

[@7ThrillFishing]

So get bolts that are 1/8 shorter & put a washer. How thick of a washer?

[@payloadperformance9706]

@@7ThrillFishing washer doesn’t have to be thick, you can use the standard washers that are about 1/16th in thickness, the shorter bolt and added washer will help plenty. Also blue loctite to keep them from moving at all.

[@brandonroth3715]

I ordered my air gap kit because I had to rebuild my RT Durango engine, and wanted more from the total package, I also went with new heads that were then polished, and the steamroller cam shaft kit also from Hughes. I then topped it all off with the big gulp TB and a pair of shorty headers. So for me it was eliminate the gasket, and gain some air flow and overall across the board gains.

[@unknownalias5538]

Why did you go shorty vs longtube ?

[@Bo_The_98]

@@unknownalias5538probably because they’re all discontinued

[@MarkStatkus]

I got mine used off a guy in North Dakota that had an accident. Ran it about 5 years now. I tried running 4 port Bosch injectors but the plugs were white and it was running a bit lean. So put the red stock ones back in. It’s worked well. That with a clutch fan delete to a FF Dynamics e-fan was a nice setup. Just chasing the rest of the rig slowly aging out. But it’s going to a family member now that gets to skip installing all this stuff. 😂

[@Bulkshit]

I fast forward it so many times I changed the chanel. Too bad, good topic,bad delivery and also,waaaaaaay too much BS

[@MoparMan-ff8fb]

sorry just stumbled across this video . in my experience if you ruff up the surface on the chrome or aluminum pans or valve covers ect with a 150 or heavier grit sand paper it will keep the gasket from leaking / blowing out

[@sinister6.450]

Just ordered mine today.!! A little steep but there's not a whole lot of intake options for magnum engines

[@calebbordenoutdoors8895]

@MrSuperSativa I've been watching too... I had the same question. I've found other brands that have air gap efi manifolds for the magnum

[@calebbordenoutdoors8895]

@MrSuperSativa i just got a pair of Mopar W5 racing heads for the LA the I'm putting on my 5.9 magnum. The 5.9 is also getting bored, stoked, cammed and those heads. Probably gonna run 600hp on pump gas when every is said and done. #daddysmoney 🤑

[@2LaneTraveler]

I have a 96 Ram Van with the 5.9 Magnum, and I like the look of this mod. I see good talk about gains in fuel economy too. Unfortunately, Hughes' website shows the FI Air Gap "not in stock", and there's no indication when it will be available again.

[@tomc8157]

In stock now! A bit more expensive though. I think the fuel economy is complete BS because I went from 20..to 20 around town. I don't see a 26 year old v8 getting "much" more than that. Never took it on the highway for a long drive so I may have gotten 23ish..but kegger probably would have gotten that.

[@xav68440]

great video. where is the small electrical sensor located at the front right on the original manifold?

[@legionofanon]

The air temp sensor thats in front of the passenger fuel rail? Its not on the Airgap, they recommend you place it into the intake stream before the throttle body

[@skyfox4387]

Could you please tell me what you used the two machined holes above the thermostat/waterneck area (even with the center of the manifold)? Thank you.

[@legionofanon]

The two between the thermostat and throttle body are accessory mount locations, they use the spacer tubes to mount the ac compressor and alternator support bracket to

[@InfiniteSith136]

Hi lone star, I’m a fellow Mopar man on a quest to turn my truck into something other than a workhorse. I’m located in Texas as well, greater San Antonio area and parts are indeed hard to find.

[@robertboicourt]

PIE is building a 360 for me as we speak......agreed.....parts are hard to find.

[@steve-rr3nq]

My 2001, 5.2 is still stock. simply because any mods to the 5.2 engine are hard to find. I just found a fix for my wandering vents. it was posted 4 years ago. there are 2 vacuum check valves. I didn't find the one next to the kegger. I was beginning to think they couldn't be built like the old ones. I used to think any engine could be modded.

[@gibbles717]

I can finally afford one of those and their back ordered.

[@austinelmgreen9338]

Lot of stuff on Hughes is back ordered right noe

[@moparmtb360]

How is it going? Driven it yet? If so how is the low end torque?

[@jn2864]

And also I’m gonna put some trick flo heads on this intake will work

[@alveyhighway]

Where did you even get one of these.. I've wanted to find one.. the web site has been sold out for years... and I mean years.. what the hell ?

[@erikturner5073]

The 318/360 Magnums, Ford 302, 351w, GM 350, and LS, are last of blue collar muscle.

[@jn2864]

Is this intake available on the lone star mopar site

[@MeowMackDog]

I think the reason they got rid of the 360 Magnum or just Magnum line is because the engines when they are caught early and well put together run forever the Hemi is a time bomb too expensive to properly maintain and just Lacks

[@erikturner5073]

I'd have to agree! The Hemi doesn't have the reliability of the old Magnum. The Magnums take alot of abuse and just keeps going. As a professional Auto technician I see plenty of old and abused Magnums on the road with almost 300k. On the flip side there are plenty of Hemi's with head gasket, lubrication, and valve train issues. Plus seeing a hemi that needs to be replaced is nothing new. Magnums tend to outlast the truck. Both engines make good power with the right combos. However if I was going to build a street car that I was going to thrash on and take the abuse it would have a Magnum, and add a stroker kit as a plus.

[@randymagnum143]

The Magnums are nigh indestructible. They are *not* efficient or clean. Better than some, much worse than a 3rd gen Hemi. The Hemi has somewhere between a 5 and 10% failure rate for valvetrain, very close to what an LS is. Ford's ohc engines are much worse. Every brand has an Achilles heel.

[@danielferrer6169]

Hello sir! Do you know if any cold air intakes will be compatible with it? I got my hands on a 368591 Volant CAI which is specific to the 5.9L. Any help would be appreciated!

[@RussellBrosGarage]

Sure wish they had an affordable 3.9 intake!

[@blueduster74]

UTAwesome Kegger mods make a big difference but it still doesn’t match the RPM. Very minimal torque loss idle to 2500, 10lbs at 2200 rpm in my combo. Makes more torque from 2500-up, 18 peak hp but carried power to 5500 with a 32hp difference. Hughes 208/214 cam. It’s in a 79 Ramcharger.

[@xsgyuusha9711]

Im getting this for my 1998 dodge ram 5.9l. But for somw weird reason i cannot find one just like that online.

[@ekoopasetapart3933]

Mancini racing has that one... I have the same truck you have 98 5.9 Laramie.

[@robertboicourt]

Hughes Engines.......

[@MChristopher2694]

Hey, I got a 1999 Dakota 5.2 4x4.152,000 miles. Bought used and not real sure about the service history. I have replaced a lot of sensors and did a full tune up. Still fills sluggish though. Not sure if that plate has ever been replaced. I live in California with all the smog laws. Do you know if the Hughes intake is emission legal in California?

[@billcat1840]

There's a vacuum test you can do to test it.

[@1982mattd]

I wonder if it's Cali legal myself! 🤔

[@matthewbhowell630]

Current price point for this exact kit is $749.99

[@joshuamcpeek4708]

My dakota's wimpy 3.9 just isnt cutting it in modern traffic. i get damn near run over everytime i try to merge on the interstate

[@yvairguy]

700 bucks!!!….. and mine will be here this week. I already have their aluminum plate and I got 20k before there is oil in the intake. I’m done, don’t want to tear into this again. I’m also in a van 🫤

[@randybarnhill6848]

Ordered one April 2021 and talked multiple times and they keep pushing out estimated date. As of February 1st 2022, they say maybe in March. I talked to them in December and they said January. Getting a little frustrated and thinking of cancelling the order all together. Already paid them almost $1000 in parts with a timing set I was going to install at the same time.

[@stephenbloomer1770]

i'm having trouble looking for an intake manifold for my dakota sport... The hughes is sold out. i can't even find an M1 anywhere.. can anybody point me in a direction. the kegger is dumb and i don't mind spending the money

[@Ripsaw17]

I'm waiting for someone to come out with a six pack intake for that just like they had on the old 340s back in the 70s 60s and 70s for the LA block

[@Nerdless42]

Would like to buy one but they say out of stock. I would buy one just to get rid of the plate

[@williejones3750]

Sound like a sport broadcaster

[@MoparMan-ff8fb]

or a radio station DJ .lol itz half past the hour we got some heavy fog outside the stationa nd here's the buckinghams with kinda a drag

[@Holaroznic1]

12-12-23 hughes has it listed for 789 now

[@Gearheadlaboratory]

Where can i get thos intake

[@IgobyJayyy]

Where u get it from

[@joshuamcpeek4708]

I hope to v8 swap someday

[@toolsntruck941]

the guy on ebay sells that laser cut with grade 8 bolts . Killed my cat with the oil no biggie no emission here in north Idaho ,it was an easy fix except for the distributor marking it and getting it exactly back in the the right position without computer. Mine was so carboned soaked took a lot of cleaning.dorman gasket kit worked great do not use the dorman bolts they send for the manifold .notb sure why but a bunch of online reviews there were a lot said not to use them but tighen in pattern to specs

[@Moparornocar]

Can't even get them now

[@rudysueoka9959]

Can I get that intake I need two of them

[@calebbordenoutdoors8895]

Where's the map sensor plug?

[@legionofanon]

Map sensor on this is in the throttle body I believe

[@jlsracing997]

The kegger manifold seems to get a bad rap, but the ls looks to be the same basic design. The only difference I see is where the throttle body is. Can someone enlighten me?

[@lonestarmopars]

The kegger is a great intake for low end torque. If towing, or simply warming up a stock motor is the goal, you are fine sticking with the kegger. I would upgrade the plenum plate to avoid gasket blowouts and eating oil. There is a lot of debate about porting and cutting runners in the kegger. Depending on what someone's time is worth, or what they are willing to pay, you can extensively modify the kegger, but at some point it is just maxed and your funds would have been better spent on an upgraded intake, especially if you are going for more street/strip.

[@jlsracing997]

@@lonestarmopars I understand all that. My question is why does all this not come up with the LS intake which is the same basic design with the throttle body on the front. I haven't seen people trying to mod the LS intake for more power like the kegger and then complain about losing low end. Maybe there is stuff out there that I just haven't seen. The LS intake makes good power everywhere and across all versions. Where are the differences Is what I would like to know.

[@LeapFrog_Radio]

​​​​​@@jlsracing997 Angle of the intake runners relative to valve position, an artifact of the (old) 318LA design; per "Uncle Tony's Garage".

[@lordlugo]

so stupid question can you just weld the plenum plate to the bottom of the keg?

[@MrMoparNoCar]

The website doesn't work.

[@thehemiolds455]

Can't remember but use be another one it's wasn't air gap it was straight fit no throttle body adopter like he said company's stop makeing them. But I'll will get on for my 99 rt dakota🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟😎😎😎😎

[@garytotty3971]

cannot believe that Hughes did not spot face the intake mounting bolt holes. You'll never have a good torque on the intake bolts. This would have taken ten minutes max.

[@Ripsaw17]

The biggest factor I like about that is I can actually stick a four-barrel on there I can actually get more air in there so when I actually do the heads and I actually put a bigger cam in there I can actually get the air flow that I'm looking for I mean we know we're limited on the heads for the airflow but it's nice to have an intake that'll actually be able to match up with a set of heads that you either build or buy is the kegger is limited on that point it has after 5,000 RPMs let's face it the keggers useless it's nice that I can get an intake that I can get the extra thousand RPM out of there if needed

[@boooyaaababy651]

sold out :(

[@austin_94gt18]

Price has gone up to like $750

[@NealPageNPPHOTO]

It is currently $695

[@jimmybare3026]

Weld Hughes plenum plate to the kegger and forget about it.

[@Bretbunde]

It’s $749 now.

[@davejames2015]

Damm almost 1k Canadian to my door for a intake?? Ffs

[@THOMAS01ify]

Wow if you.get to this point might as well order heads roller rockers cam ati damper I could easily get 2700 bucks into this pray for me.

[@aaronwarren8389]

Can't you just get a thick piece of aluminum and have it welded to the kegger as a permanent fix

[@jimmybare3026]

I took mine with the Hughes aluminum replacement to a local welding shop and they did a beautiful job for 60 bucks. the welder said that he could have fabricated the plate for a whole lot less as well.

[@ianholmen888]

Why not just use a more basic performance intake and switch to a carburetor?

[@ABCDEFGHIJKELA...]

cut that price in half, and triple your sales. no way in hell would I pay that for what's basically an intake manifold, that's crazy. that's the only complaint I have btw, this thing is awesome, and I'd LOVE to bolt this thing on my RAM! :D but nah, lol, not enough return on something that's priced double what it's worth.

[@terrywillis5784]

I agree.

[@johnrabenius5602]

BLAH BLAH BLAH. YOU TALK TOO MUCH!

[@wakeUPdummies]

Really? Is it worth 3 times the price of the knock offs? Even when it needs polished? I know better, and you still got me wanting to try one.

[@Ripsaw17]

I think for $700 intake $600 intake whatever they should do a better job of polishing the inside of it casting looks like s***