[Samco] intake pipe - worth the money?

Andy1899 · 09 February 2010, 00:23

hi! thinking about buying a samco intake pipe for my impreza turbo my98. can anyone report if it's worth its money as it's pretty expensive? value for money?

VeilsideWRXUK · 09 February 2010, 00:27

I'd say yes as the standard pipes can go a bit soft over a period of time. I've recently changed my turbo and the pipe was a bit like jelly in places

joz8968 · 09 February 2010, 01:02

A well known specialist eluded to the fact that, if in good - still firm! - condition, then the OEM plastic one is fine for upto c.400bhp. Okay it has got that airlow-stalling flexi area... but at least it won't collapse unike some silicones.

Although, to be fair, the Samco one is the best one with its steel reinforced embedded bands inside the plys of silicone. It can be had brand new boxed from amberperformnce on eBay from a shade shy of £200.

Also, the Viper Performance one is a quality reinforced job - the v.3/4 one coming in at £169.

midnight · 09 February 2010, 07:40

Definetley worth the money as the oe pipe is like the nasty plastic intercooler pipes on uk/wrx models,apart from being restrictive as said above they can go soft and even split. I bought one 2 weeks ago off eBay for £44.00 a genuine samco item in vgc . Due to it's shape it will allow the air to run smoother into the compressor.

These can be a bugger to fit and removing the old pipe was harder than fitting the samco hose,but once it is off and you compare the 2 ,you can see how restrictive it is. Interestingly, i phoned a subaru garage who told me i would have to take the inlet manifold off to fit this. I managed to fit it without removing the inlet manifold,just some fairy liquid was good enough.

**harvey** · 09 February 2010, 17:51

If the O/E item is in good order then you will get NO performance gain from a Samco silicon inlet tract at your power level. £200 is OTT as far as I am concerned and you can get quite adequate inlet tracts for a lot less money.
Fitting the new can be done with the manifold in place but you may have to smash the old hard plastic to get the old one out.
Lifting the inlet manifold makes it easy and you may wish to fit manifold thermal insulation spacers at the same time. Something we do on a regular basis.

joz8968 · 09 February 2010, 21:50

Yeah, I'll be fitting the insulating spacers and a good condition OEM v.3/4 pipe, as harvey says - cheap as chips and sorted.