Even if the price of aluminum increased 2 or 3 times what it is... It wouldn't make an intake go from $200 to $450... The spot price on aluminum is like 85-90 cents a pound, at most it would add maybe 10-20 bucks to the cost of an intake.
Stop making sense...(not Talking Heads)
My guess is whatever vendor they're using to make the manifolds is having issues getting the aluminum product to the market. Whether shortage of materials, or shortages of labor, whatever. There's something driving up the cost and it may not be obvious to the end user. It could be a conscious decision for some vendors, and as usual, others follow suit sometimes. But you also have to look at whether someone is selling for full suggested retail price or not. Box stores usually go max price for stuff. Not always, but usually.
Amazon, Summit, Jeg's, et al, sell them for the 192 mentioned. So DON'T pay the 400 plus. I wonder how many idiots buy those intakes from the box stores for that price anyway? It's not like an immediate emergency purchase item anyway. I remember the days of old when speed shops were almost everywhere. Hurst dual gate shifters and 4 speed shifters and Lakewood bellhousings, stewart warner gages, etc., were adorned on the pegboard wall in the back behind the counter. You could even buy M&H drag slicks at the shop. Some shops sold at full retail, and suffered. Because there was only mail order back then (2-3 week shipping times were common!!!) or go to another town which sold the same stuff at a discount.
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