Another homemade TPI ram air project
04-22-2016, 08:12 PM
#1
Another homemade TPI ram air project
Figured I'd post a few pics of the $20 homemade ram air kit I am currently building. Yes, its been done a hundred times over but who doesnt like fabrication projects.
First let me say that the car is 99% stock and most likely wont even benefit from this mod but I was bored and felt like messing with the car.
Parts I bought were all from Home Depot. I used a bending brake to help me construct the metal squares that go under the air filters and then cut a hole in them and riveted them to the plastic air filter housing piece. I will be using 4" plastic drain pipe and securing them to two pieces of 4" PVC sewer drain adapters that I heavily modified to work in my application. I basically cut them in half and left just a small flange on them so they would slide down into the 4" holes in the metal and not fall through. I will epoxy them in once I do final fitment.
The only thing that I am slightly concerned about is the 4" diameter hole and piping being too small.
Here is where I am at right now. I will test fit this in the car this weekend and if all goes well then I will begin to cut out two more 4" holes in the plastic that is behind the fog lights so I can feed the perforated pipe down through the front end and position it behind the fog lights.
First let me say that the car is 99% stock and most likely wont even benefit from this mod but I was bored and felt like messing with the car.
Parts I bought were all from Home Depot. I used a bending brake to help me construct the metal squares that go under the air filters and then cut a hole in them and riveted them to the plastic air filter housing piece. I will be using 4" plastic drain pipe and securing them to two pieces of 4" PVC sewer drain adapters that I heavily modified to work in my application. I basically cut them in half and left just a small flange on them so they would slide down into the 4" holes in the metal and not fall through. I will epoxy them in once I do final fitment.
The only thing that I am slightly concerned about is the 4" diameter hole and piping being too small.
Here is where I am at right now. I will test fit this in the car this weekend and if all goes well then I will begin to cut out two more 4" holes in the plastic that is behind the fog lights so I can feed the perforated pipe down through the front end and position it behind the fog lights.
Last edited by BOTTLEDZ28; 04-22-2016 at 08:17 PM.
04-22-2016, 08:17 PM
#2
Re: Another homemade TPI ram air project
These are the parts I bought from Home depot
http://www.homedepot.com/p/4-in-x-4-...g&gclsrc=aw.ds
http://www.homedepot.com/p/FLEX-Drai...-202745419-_-N
http://www.homedepot.com/p/4-in-x-4-...g&gclsrc=aw.ds
http://www.homedepot.com/p/FLEX-Drai...-202745419-_-N
04-25-2016, 11:27 AM
#5
Re: Another homemade TPI ram air project
Nothing in the seat of the pants feeling but I wasn't expecting a neck breaking difference. I do notice that the engine does rev up a little faster. Not sure if it's just me looking for it or not not.
I don't drive the car in the rain. It's a weekend only car when the sun is out.
I don't drive the car in the rain. It's a weekend only car when the sun is out.
04-25-2016, 12:35 PM
#6
Supreme Member
Re: Another homemade TPI ram air project
That's pretty slick.
I doubt the 2 x 4" piping would be too small considering that from what I've seen, a single 4" feeding the throttle body seems to be enough for serious hp. Consider also that your biggest restrictions are still the factory filter elements. Even the K&N filters are marginal in that regard (talking big hp numbers here) . There's also the necked down portion of the factory inlet.
Remember that the real benefit of what you've done, besides the cold air inlet is the ram air effect you'll get at speed. There will certainly be an increase in air pressure at the throttle body. How much is difficult to say.
Question: It's difficult to see behind the fog lamp but how did you fasten a support for the inlet side? I like your approach and may consider it for my own build. My concern would be the air flow through the rad when the passages in the grille are filled with ducting.
Again, nice looking job.
I doubt the 2 x 4" piping would be too small considering that from what I've seen, a single 4" feeding the throttle body seems to be enough for serious hp. Consider also that your biggest restrictions are still the factory filter elements. Even the K&N filters are marginal in that regard (talking big hp numbers here) . There's also the necked down portion of the factory inlet.
Remember that the real benefit of what you've done, besides the cold air inlet is the ram air effect you'll get at speed. There will certainly be an increase in air pressure at the throttle body. How much is difficult to say.
Question: It's difficult to see behind the fog lamp but how did you fasten a support for the inlet side? I like your approach and may consider it for my own build. My concern would be the air flow through the rad when the passages in the grille are filled with ducting.
Again, nice looking job.
04-25-2016, 02:32 PM
#7
Re: Another homemade TPI ram air project
The round duct work is rigid enough that it was a tight yet secure fit behind the foglights. The ducts are not going anywhere. I actually had to massage them into an oval somewhat to get them into position. I then slid them over to one side of each light to capture as much air as possible.
As for the radiator not getting enough air, that is what the plastic air dam is for under the car. The trans am don't even have a single opening in the front bumper and they don't suffer from overheating issues.
As for the radiator not getting enough air, that is what the plastic air dam is for under the car. The trans am don't even have a single opening in the front bumper and they don't suffer from overheating issues.
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04-25-2016, 02:47 PM
#8
Supreme Member
Re: Another homemade TPI ram air project
Did you build a tray for the area behind the fog lights or is that a factory piece? I no longer have an IROC (Sport Coupe now) and I don't recall what was in that spot (behind the fog lights).
Very true. I recall that with my earlier TA. With the Sport Coupe though, that air dam is omitted and the lip made by the apron (that fits between the front fascia and the bottom rad support) isn't as pronounced as the factory air dam. I suppose I could always the air dam.
Again, your results look pretty good.
Again, your results look pretty good.
Last edited by skinny z; 04-26-2016 at 10:21 AM. Reason: Clarity
04-25-2016, 03:00 PM
#9
Re: Another homemade TPI ram air project
lol A single 4" is more than enough for a motor of this size and larger. Stock TPI firebirds use a 3" or smaller MAF sensor and can still flow more for beefed up motors. Not only that my but supercharger for my LS only uses one single 3.5" inlet and can support 700hp easily. I think your good.
Us TA/firebird owners are all very jealous of the Camaro front bumper openings... ugh.
Us TA/firebird owners are all very jealous of the Camaro front bumper openings... ugh.
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