I have a 355 but still the stock LG4 intake. I believe this intake is very restrictive so from reading the past threads on the L69 dual snorkel air cleaner, The dual snorkel air cleaner will NOT fit on a firebird because of the different hood angle. Please correct me if i am wrong.
With that out of the picture (i think) what would be the next best intake out there for a carbed bird?

 

I have never seen a 'Bird L69 in person, but from what I understand it had a snorkel like the LG4 (perhaps bigger), plus an opening to the top that went to a cowl pick-up. I'll let you do the search for a picture.

You should be able to fabricate a 2nd LG4-type snorkel on the other side. But, you're on your own (at least with regard to help from me) avoiding what may be over there on your vehicle.

 

I think it looked like this.

 

Yes, thats what the L69 Firebirds had.

 

Do you have a picture of the hood part of the assembly?

So with the dual snorkel out of the picture, what would be the next best air cleaner in terms of air flow, an open element or is it worth it to try and find a functional hood scoop and get that cold air.

 

The L69 Camaro dual snorkle air cleaner assembles fit fine on Firebirds. Even the 83-84 Trans Am ram air top fits. My friend put one on his '84 Trans Am. '85-'86 L69 Trans Ams used the same dual snorkle air cleaner as 83-86 Camaros because they lost the turbo ram air bulge on '85-up.

 

This is what i'm going to do sometime:
http://www.hioutput.com/tech/air2.html
May work a bit better...

 

Here we go.....The mid-82 to 84 Trans Ams with LG4 had the single snorkel air cleaner with the air induction hood. The 83-84 L69 cars also had that same air cleaner setup. The 85-86 L69 TA's had the dual snorkel air cleaner with the flat lid and no air induction due to the different hood in 85.

 

i have a friend of mine that has the dual snorkel on his HO from the factory.

I've been looking for one for my bird, but still haven't managed to find yet