88firebird305

I was going to go with an open element setup, but was wondering if any gains that would be produced would be negated by the fact it will be sucking in hot air? Or is an open element breathing hot air better then the stock single hose setup, if it will make a differance i dont mind wasteing the $50 till I find a dual snorkel or cold air set up. Whats everyone thoughts on this?

Tas

cold air is always good but the stock snorkle necks down to 1"x3". I opened my Formula hood to get cold air and it was a noticable difference when its chilly outside vs. before with just the open element sucking in hot air.

88 Camaro SC

Well, in my case I'd go with the open element, primarily because I know I'll get a different hood in the future, like a ram-air, to where I'll get cold air anyway. So it just depends on what your plans are. The snorkle keeps the engine looking stock, open element gives it a modified look.

Nate

88firebird305

Just a thought. Would going to open ele, but leaving the duct and even adding a second one to the pass side help bring in cold air. I think it should? if you could mount the ducts to somthing I know theres a spot to screw in a second feed thing? Another thought.

Tas

That won't do anything on a firebird. So some searches on home made cold air. There is some creative info on this board.

brodyscamaro

i have thought about this before but i think i am just going to stick with a 14x3 open element

vic_V8

I'm with tas on this one, I would like to get a aftermarket hood, and I'm more of a big element cleaner guy.

KZad

I'd go with open air. Both my PopaPork and I have had Cold Air and Open elements on our car, and both of us preferred the Open.

I built a I guess you could call it a Cold Ram Air induction with a 6inch X 3inch rectangle cone and a 3inch heater piping. Mounted it up right behind the front bumper. Didnt really notice anything tho ... I like the Open air much better. [better sound too]

The open air works well with my formula because i took the plate out of the bulge, now my hood's kinda cold air functional.

KZad

My305camaro

Chech these guys out:

www.ramairbox.com

It is what I run and I have no complaints. It'll give you 2 tenths and a mph over an open element K&N.

rsilver

MY305, what did you do with the snorkles? Were you able to find both the driver and pasenger L69 4 inch air intakes? did you have to grind a slot for the ram air box to fit? We may have talked about this, I forgot..................bob

mattRS

i have a 4" cowl, but am running ram air through a TPI set-up with the snorkel going behind my grill. here is a pic. which would be better for me, ram air or open element since i have the cowl? btw, if you are confused, its a TBI original air cleaner housing, with a TPI intake.

mattRS

here is another pic

My305camaro

I only have the passenger's side 4in snorkel. I have called all the salvage yards with-in a 2hr. drive of me and no one has it. Yes I did increase the inner diameter of the bottom of the box to alow it to ride forward to clear the distributor.

Matt

rsilver

Matt, I really like the look of your set up and have considered it myself but I think it is short on air. I bet it flows a lot more than stock but it still is limited by the 3" single hose. I have thought about running a single 4" hose and modifiing the tpi scoop but I still don't think it is enough for 300+ hp.

my 305, yeah, I have tried to find the snorkels too but no luck.
So, you actually ground out the base and moved the whole box foreward? How far did you have to move it and how did you adjust the air cleaner stud to fit? thanks..........bob

DM91RS

rsilver consider the fact that the LS1 engines are fed with a 3.5" hose and they make over 300 hp.

I have thought about the same thing with the TPI duct and making it 4" also. I have had the single 4" feeding a Vortec 350 with no problem

rsilver

dm91rs, very interesting and good to know. Maybe its worth trying with a single 4" . I talked to the guys at Ram air and their single 4 inch air box flows something like 500 cfm, so that seems short to me. IMO the LS6 induction system is entirely different than our tbi systems but it may be worth a try to do a single 4 inch system. It would really look cool and a lot cleaner and easier than trying to rout two 4" hoses especially on the passenger side.I gotta consider it. Any other opinions on this ie is a single
4" cold air intake enough for approx 300 hp???
Thanks................bob