SLP throttle body air foil worth it??? - Aftermarket Product Review - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

89Formula_350 · 07-04-2008, 05:41 PM

I was looking on Hawk's and saw SLP's throttle body air foil. Does anybody have any experience with it? Seems like you can't really loose for about 36 bucks, but it says it works best with an additional SLP cold air package, which makes me think they are just trying to reel me in. Clever marketing or it is worth it??

My application would be my 89 Formula 350 Firebird, TPI.

DJP87Z28 · 07-04-2008, 05:50 PM

SLP sold those airfoils for a lot of years for about $35 so the price is not that much different. I have had a airfoil on my throttle body for about 15yrs now. So don't ask how much difference it makes?? It was just one one many small items I have added, for example K&N filters.

jakemk8706 · 07-05-2008, 02:35 AM

i bought one. not that brand, (but same damn thing) and didnt feel any difference, but maybe in conjunction with other mods it would

HCR13 · 07-05-2008, 03:05 AM

You definitely wont feel a difference, but every little bit helps. I probably would work better with a CAI, maybe not the SLP, but it makes sense if you get more air into the throttle body, more air can be smoothed out by the air foil...like DJ said, it works in conjunction with allot of other little mods and "free mods"...

a mack6 · 07-05-2008, 05:07 PM

I have the SLP Air Foil and you won't really notice a difference from that mod alone but in conjunction with my other basic mods (hi-flow cat, 3" catback, K&N's) there is a noticeable increase over stock power.

89Formula_350 · 07-05-2008, 10:38 PM

Thanks all for the info. For 35 bucks, I figure it is worth a shot. I will save that mod for after I do my headers, high-flow cat, and cat-back exhaust. I'll take it to the strip without it and then install it and do a few more passes. We'll see how it works out.

GuitarJunki17 · 07-06-2008, 11:06 PM

Somewhere out there are test results that show an increase in cfm, but it's not overly impressive.

19doug90 · 07-07-2008, 01:51 AM

i use 3 of them, one on the intake and one in each of my collectors, worth at least 50hp yo

Your throttle body is the least of your restrictions compared to those stock tpi runners. i'd just save up for either high flow runners or a new intake.

Dale · 07-07-2008, 08:36 AM

I was looking at the design of the different brands that sells airfoils. IMO, the slp has the best design. It actually has a point to it. Where the others still have a blunt face with rounded edges.

It helps flow about 10% more air up high. Down low on daily driving I doubt you will notice anything.

ibmtech · 07-07-2008, 09:54 AM

I have used mine from TPIS for many years. I have never noticed any major upgrades. What it is supposed to do is help direct the air more directly into the plenum. If you are running a stock TPI Thottle Body and stock Plenum these are a direct fit. If you have modified anything like added a BBK throttle body etc.. etc.. they will end up as dust collectors and you won't be able to use them. As far as 10% more, I highly doubt it. But like the HCR13 says, "Every little bit helps".

Dale · 07-07-2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibmtech

As far as 10% more, I highly doubt it.

48 mm TB 668 CFM @ 1.5 in-HG (20.4 in-H20)
48 mm w/airfoil 709 CFM @ 1.5 in-HG

6.13% on that post that I found in about 5 seconds

RAD5 · 07-07-2008, 11:16 AM

I love how people post "I didn't feel any difference" In drag racing how big is a .5 of a second? Let's say a bolt on part would give you a .5 second gain, do you think you would feel it? Sorry, just had to say it.

ibmtech · 07-07-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAD5

I love how people post "I didn't feel any difference" In drag racing how big is a .5 of a second? Let's say a bolt on part would give you a .5 second gain, do you think you would feel it? Sorry, just had to say it.

I have more modifications on my car than the average third-gen user, of which I used to have a TPIS air-foil and quit using it because it won't work with my current setup. I found my old time slips from the original engine of when I put minor mods on to include the air-foil. It didn't decrease my 1/4 mile time by .5 second. So yes if you are drag racing and trying to get everything out of your engine, give it a try. But if you are drag racing, Get rid the stock TPI system and get another injection system. I just thought I would say that!!!!!

19doug90 · 07-07-2008, 04:18 PM

ibm thats is a rediculous amount of head for a 355 but i guess the supercharger helps fill that void.

what kinda power does that thing put down.

89Formula_350 · 07-07-2008, 06:16 PM

ibm ... you say get rid of the TPI system ... do you have any suggestions?? I don't want to take my engine to the point that it is super or turbo charged or even nitrous, but I would like to get my 1/4 mile times down as low as possible and keep it a street car.

RAD5 · 07-07-2008, 09:31 PM

ibmtech, I never said an airfoil would give you a .5 second gain. If you were at a track and a modifcation gave you a .5 second gain, that's a pretty significant gain, but I doubt you would feel any difference. That's what I was trying to say!

ibmtech · 07-07-2008, 09:49 PM

I agree with you 100%.. I was just trying to mention to everyone that if they just bolted one of them on, they wouldn't go out and try to race everyone thinking they would beat them. I do agree like you that everyone needs to get the most of their own engine and every little bit helps.

ibmtech · 07-07-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 89Formula_350

ibm ... you say get rid of the TPI system ... do you have any suggestions?? I don't want to take my engine to the point that it is super or turbo charged or even nitrous, but I would like to get my 1/4 mile times down as low as possible and keep it a street car.

Everyone has their own preference. I opted to go with the Custom Built TPIS miniram. They make 3 different models that work pretty good. I found that you will have to retune your ECM to make it work effectively though. The HSR and Stealth-Ram's are also great choices. I think they are a little easier to tune also.

With Heads, I opted for the CNC AFR 210's 75cc. We dynoed the engine with AFR 195's, 200's, 210's and 227's. We found that the engine really was able to breath using the 210's and we lost all velocity using the 227's. I was able to up the boost considerably. My next step in the very near future is going to an inter-cooler. I still have a really hot IAT when running. Makes for a difficult tune.

DBLTKE · 07-07-2008, 10:34 PM

I don't know about you but I sure can feel a .5 seconds gain. that's nearly 50 hp. In fact my car used to be be a half a second slower than it is now becuase it was running on 7 injectors. once I fixed the problem I instantly knew that was it, even before I took it down the track. The average Joe may not be able to feel it, but someone who races on a regular basis sure can.

ibmtech · 07-07-2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBLTKE

I don't know about you but I sure can feel a .5 seconds gain. that's nearly 50 hp. In fact my car used to be be a half a second slower than it is now becuase it was running on 7 injectors. once I fixed the problem I instantly knew that was it, even before I took it down the track. The average Joe may not be able to feel it, but someone who races on a regular basis sure can.

Only an average Joe wouldn't really notice if his car had a miss or stumble before it went on the track. A bad injector on a LB9 or L98 TPI engine is kinda lengthy process to change, And unless you ohm the injector or tested the Header temp to determine which one was bad this is very noticeable at an idle. But since the LB9 was roughly 195 to 215hp to begin with, Are you trying to say that your HP was around 145 - 165hp with a bad injector? You really can't determine you HP rating with a bad injector.

Anyway, the Airfoil will not give anyone a 50hp increase and it will only give someone a small increase in performance.. What RAD5 and I were both talking about if it helps to achieve a .5 sec increase go for it.

89Formula_350 · 07-08-2008, 07:24 PM

ibm ... thanks for the info

wgripp · 07-08-2008, 08:29 PM

I added the SLP foil along with an SLP cold air intake and gained a tenth or two. Holley's air foil appears to be a better design though.

Hope that helps!

Bill

TA · 07-12-2008, 12:28 PM

Most of these statements agree with my dyno experience. I used the Holley airfoil, and on a stock engine combo, it did very little. On a 383 performance engine, the same airfoil brought in an instant 12 HP, but needed to be modified to allow sufficient airflow to the IAC, it pretty much choked it off.

The stock TPI and exhaust systems are designed for low RPM performance (torque) on a 305 engine, so if you're trying to get respectable power out of a 350 with a stock TPI, you're going to be very disappointed. It just can't supply enough air.

TA

89Formula_350 · 07-12-2008, 02:16 PM

TA ... thanks for that info. Would you suggest going with an entirely aftermarket intake system or modding my stock TPI ... porting and such??

F-Body Demon · 07-17-2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAD5

I love how people post "I didn't feel any difference" In drag racing how big is a .5 of a second? Let's say a bolt on part would give you a .5 second gain, do you think you would feel it? Sorry, just had to say it.

Im sorry, now I have to say this first....but im not a fan of flaming someone....but oh my god. Half a second on the quarter mile is very signifigant. I took a half a second off my car and it was equivilant to 25 crank hp on the calculator. So yeah lmao half a second, yes you would definatly feel that...but! The half of a TENTH of a second (.05 sec) you put on with an airfoil....thats not noticable, trust me.

I saw NO conclusive gain with an airfoil personally. The mod just did not add enough hp to overcome the range of probability in the car. However, it did add some throttle response. Which was definatly worth it.

So IMO $35 for the little extra you get and the 5 minutes to install. It gets my thumbs up.

And sorry about the lil flame.

89Formula_350 · 07-17-2008, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F-Body Demon

I saw NO conclusive gain with an airfoil personally. The mod just did not add enough hp to overcome the range of probability in the car. However, it did add some throttle response. Which was definatly worth it.

So IMO $35 for the little extra you get and the 5 minutes to install. It gets my thumbs up.

That is the conclusion I have come to as well. Thanks everyone for your input.