Stock Cold air intake performance upgrades

[TDoc]

I already added dual exhaust to my ‘86 K5 with LE9 305. Stock numbers are 160hp @ 4k rpm and 235tq @ 2k rpm.

I removed the very restrictive metal mesh flame arrestor? Which I immediately felt some hp improvement. I thought about going to the standard open element air cleaner but I like that the stock air intake actually pulls cold air from the grille. I wonder if the stock tube is big enough to supply enough air? I guess I could cut off the plastic debris blocker behind the grill and get more air in but the single stock intake tube may be maxed out anyway due to size.

What have y’all done and have noticed any power improvement?

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[TDoc]

Current paper filter is SA3549
12” round and 5.47” tall

 

[Keith Seymore]

You could add another tube and snorkel to the LH side.

There is a knockout in the rad support to allow the installation of another "birdcage".

I ran this setup on my Chevelle with the flat hood and it was worth .2 sec reduction in ET in the quarter.

K

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[Ricko1966]

HO camaros got a dual snorkel air cleaner with cold air ducts. If you swap in a zz3 to another camaro the air cleaner is a necessary component. As @Keith Seymore said add a second snorkel. Or find a dual snorkel off a camaro,be warned they bring a pretty good price tag.

 

[CalSgt]

Maybe with a higher HP SBC some additional cool air would benefit, but I’d gamble if there was HP left on the table due to the intake snorkel GM would have made it bigger from the factory.

 

[TDoc]

Maybe with a higher HP SBC some additional cool air would benefit, but I’d gamble if there was HP left on the table due to the intake snorkel GM would have made it bigger from the factory.

I may cut off the plastic plate behind the grill so I get sort of a ram air effect. Instead of it pulling air from the sides behind the grill. Guess I’ll leave the metal plate inside the filter so it redirects the incoming air to around the rest of the filter. I was suprised how tall the stock air filter is and how restrictive the metal screen thing behind it was. Guess those two were related, more surface area needed? I think my only restriction now is the single intake tube and the 305 lol

 

[Ricko1966]

I may cut off the plastic plate behind the grill so I get sort of a ram air effect. Instead of it pulling air from the sides behind the grill. Guess I’ll leave the metal plate inside the filter so it redirects the incoming air to around the rest of the filter. I was suprised how tall the stock air filter is and how restrictive the metal screen thing behind it was. Guess those two were related, more surface area needed? I think my only restriction now is the single intake tube and the 305 lol

You aren't going to get enough of a ram air effect to benefit you. The guys doing this for real are less than 1 percent gains on 10 second cars. Gains start around 70mph at .7 and 3. At 150mph . The cold air gains are great,but you aren't going to see a benefit of ram air on a street driven squarebody with a 305.