Bomb Defusal

How to Install an SFI Burst Panel

By Evan Perkins   –   Photography by the Author

No one looks forward to an engine backfire. They damage parts, singe eyebrows, or—worse–can send hoods and intake manifolds skyward in a crinkled mess. However, in the racing world there exists a clean and clever solution. It’s called a burst panel and it prevents your expensive intake manifold from ballooning like a tin can with a firecracker inside.

burst panel can be installed with a gasket
A burst panel can be installed with a gasket (shown) or with a flange sealant. In this installation we used Loctite flange sealant.
- Advertisement -

Burst panels are designed as sacrificial components that fail in the event of a backfire and direct that dangerous explosive force harmlessly away from the vehicle. The basic burst panel consists of a machined flange on the top of the intake manifold with a thin, replaceable metal cover. That cover positively seals against the intake manifold during normal operation but, should a major backfire occur, gives way to safely relieve excess pressure.

Check this out: Dragstrip Shock Tuning

Install a screw and washer stack just tall enough to barely kiss the back of the panel without lifting it off the mounting flange
Note the stud in the middle of the burst panel flange. This is to prevent the burst panel from sucking in during intense engine vacuum, such as letting off the throttle at high rpm. Install a screw and washer stack just tall enough to barely kiss the back of the panel without lifting it off the mounting flange.

In this article we’ll detail how to install a burst plate with a Holley front-feed intake manifold lid as our test subject.

- Advertisement -

prevent the burst panel from sucking in during intense engine vacuum, such as letting off the throttle at high rpm

Apply flange sealant across the entire mating surface of the burst panel flange.
Apply flange sealant across the entire mating surface of the burst panel flange.
Install the burst panel onto the recessed area of the intake manifold
Install the burst panel onto the recessed area of the intake manifold, make sure it fits properly and all the fastener holes line up. The material is intentionally very thin so there are quite a few fasteners.
Tighten the fasteners, equally alternating sides
Tighten the fasteners, equally alternating sides. We used a dab of blue Loctite on each to make sure they wouldn’t back out under operation.

dab of blue Loctite on each to make sure they wouldn’t back out under operation

duct any potential backfires past the hood, a vent such as this will help accomplish the goal
Some engines, especially those with exposed intakes may run the burst panel with just a cover. However, if a racer is trying to duct any potential backfires past the hood, a vent such as this will help accomplish the goal.
SFI burst panel is now safely sandwiched between the vent and the intake manifold
The SFI burst panel is now safely sandwiched between the vent and the intake manifold, and the completed lid is ready to be installed on a Holley Lo-Ram intake. The burst panel is prepared for the worst, but let’s hope it never needs to do its job.
- Advertisement -

Related Articles

Search Our Site

More Chevy Performance

Reconnaissance Mission

Ground-Up Restored 1966 Nova SS By Nick Licata   -   Photography...

All Chevy Performance New Muscle Car Parts for 2023

By Nick Licata Injection Base The Hilborn RAW "Race-And-Win" Injector is...

Chain Reaction

A Malibu Made to Deceive By John Gilbert   -   Photography...

Firing Up – Two Years In

It’s hard to believe that we here at All...

Dragstrip Shock Tuning

Notes for Shock Setting in Drag Racing Application By Jeff...

Flashback

Danny Jones’ Evil, Wicked, Mean, and Nasty 1961 Corvette By...
More Chevy Performance

Dream Machine

Tony DeLuca’s Big-Block 1970 Chevelle By Nick Licata   -   Photography...

Chevy Concepts

Chevy Concepts - ’69 Chevrolet Camaro Vehicle Builder: JABZ Kustoms Vehicle...

1978 Chevy Camaro Steel Bumper Conversion Part 5

Part 5: Trim and Wrapup By All Chevy Performance Staff Catch...

Canyon Carver Part 2

Part 2: Third-Gen Camaro Rear Suspension and Brakes and...

Refining the Ride

Suspension Upgrades for Them Ol’ Tri-Fives By “Rotten” Rodney Bauman  ...

Crimson Ghost

His Name is Hoss, and This is His 1956...