Originally posted by Bradness:
GM has been using plastic intakes on their 3.8 motors for almost 10 years now. Anyone know what it's made out of?
I am trying to think of where plastic gets used in the airplanes at work. There are a few locations that use flexible connections between ducting and they use fiberglass impregnated with high temp. silicone and they are supposed to be able to with stand 400 deg. F.
Friend of mine is a plumber and he says that it is becomming popular to build hot water home heating systems with PVC, and then switch to copper at the radiators and near the furnace. So I would figure that it would at least be able to handle 200 deg. F, since hot water heat ususally runs water temps between 160 and 190.
I think polycarbonite (lexan) has a temp. resistance of a few hundred degrees.
I would say to just use aluminum, its fairly easy to work with, inexpensive and will withstand the temps. After all Ford used aluminum on the upper IM.
