I've seen a few pictures of L69 engines with intake tubes that go to the front of the engine bay, almost like a ram air setup:




This makes a lot more sense to me than what I have currently set up in my car because it's just sucking in all that hot engine air instead of the fresh cooler air from outside the engine bay. I've been under the hood after just driving the car for 10-15 minutes, and it's already miserably hot to the point where I'm dripping sweat within minutes.

How well do these work, and where can I buy a set or something similar? I'm either not using the right term for the part, or I'm just looking in all the wrong places,but I can't find anyone selling them online. I took a drive last night, and I honestly noticed a change in performance just from driving in the cool night air compared to the hot afternoon air, so I really want to see what my options are to try and run on something other than the Sahara temperature air from under the hood.

 

Haha, I just answered my own question with the help of a Jeep at the grocery store, of all things.

A guy pulled in with a TJ series Wrangler set up for off-roading, and as I was glancing over all his mods, I thought, "I wonder if he's ever forded anything deep enough to really need that snorkel"

To quote Gru in 'Despicable Me', Light bulb! I immediately tried Googling for 'snorkel' instead and found my answer... on the tech folders on this site. Well don't I feel like a dummy now, lol?

 

I Believe The Firebirds Used A Different System On The L69 Engine.

 

My intake is identical to the one in the photo from my first post, minus the snorkels (I still can't get over how easily that eluded me, lol), so it's just sucking hot engine air all day long. If they used a different style for the Firebird, then maybe someone previously switched it out for what's installed on the car currently. Older picture from my first dive into the engine, but you can see the intake installed.

 

Yup, the Birds with L69 were different... their hood is MUCH closer to the core support, therefore not enough room in there for the setup that the Camaro has, which draws air from above the headlights. Obviously that won't work on a Bird regardless since they don't have headlight pockets like the Camaro. Your AC lines also won't work with the right snorkel. (but they're pretty messed up anyway, looks like they came off of some other kind of car, you can see where the hood has been rubbing on the one, because the line doesn't fit the car) I don't recall the Bird having the dual snorkel deal, seems like it went to the hood somehow but I don't remember the details. Might have been a hole in the top of the air cleaner that sealed to the hood, and a vacuum or electrically operated air door to a scoop, but don't quote me on that.