The LS engine is no doubt one of the hottest engine swaps on the market over the past couple years. A lot of this popularity is due to the fact of being able to pick up 4.8 or 5.3-Liter engine from a junkyard for around 600 bucks. For this reason, the LS-platform has been swapped into almost everything imaginable.

While most people go with the basic performance upgrades like a cam swap, long tubes, and cold air intake, no one changes the truck intake because they flow so well. So, how do you stand out from the crowd without buying a $700 intake that you may not need?

If you have the time and the patience you can modify that horrendous looking factory intake manifold into something much more appealing. The process is called “shaving the intake”. While this is not a new process, it is one of the easiest things you can do to make your motor look ten times better without having to invest a lot of money.  The above video will walk you through the process and give you some valuable insight.

Armed with a soldering iron and a plastic welding kit, you can turn that ugly intake into something show worthy in a matter of time.

With this process you simply you cut and shave down all of the unwanted plastic pieces off the of the intake manifold. After you have removed all of this garb, you will need a standard 45-watt soldering iron. With the iron and a plastic welding kit, you will start welding holes and cracks created when you shaved the intake using the plastic pieces that were removed.

This is what the intake manifold should look like before you start applying paint. Be sure and take your time during this stage, it will pay off big in the end.

The next step after everything is welded will require some elbow grease and time. You will start by sanding the top of the intake down as smooth as you can. The more time spent on this step, the better the unit will look. After you get it relatively smooth,  mix up some body filler and apply it to the top of the intake. Continue sanding and shaping this area until it is to your liking. After applying the body filler and smoothing it out, simply put a fresh coat of paint on the intake and let it dry. Now it’s time to bolt it all up and reinstall the vacuum lines and accessories.

With just a little bit of time and patience, you can drastically change the look of your engine compartment. It’s a simple straight forward process that makes those old griming truck manifolds look remarkable.