I did a search and did not quite find the answer I was looking for.

My '87 has the intake where the duct comes out of the throttle body and makes a right turn and goes over to a black plastic box behind the drivers side headlight. My question is, how restrictive is this? Will I see an improvements if I go with something else? If so, what do you recommend? Does anybody have any pics?

Looking for any input. Thanks.

 

I just took off my intake of my 87 IROC, its the dual snorkel with the airbox that draws air from the two middle holes. The setup is complete with a MAF sensor and everything to be bolted up to a throttle body, even clamps, and the bottom airbox, has been cut open, the baffels are gone, you can still fit an air cleaners in there, this way it gets more air...and you can get teh custom ram air plans from this guys site and hook it up, you will see a nice improvement, nothing like 50 horse or nothing, but it should be a nice breathing change...

let me know if you want it...im in NY

 

I'm not sure that will fit a Trans Am. Doesn't the nose slope too much for that?

 

I donno, i didnt notice it was for a trans am, i saw the pic in the post and thoght camaro, my bad, but if it fits i donno you can have it if it does fit...

 

The 87 Firebird TPI airbox setup is very restrictive. GM changed to a freer flowing cannister in 88. Firebird TPI HP ratings were about 10 HP higher in 88 over 87 and the airbox was one of the main reasons. Even the stock 88-89 MAF setup is still very restrictive. I've run the SLP cold air system for 10 years and have been happy with it.

 

Can I replace the air box with a cone filter and get better flow?

 

How is the 88 MAF setup very restrictive it uses the exact same ducts as the SLP CAI? I swtiched mine over to the 88 style and am very happy with it over my original.

 

How is the 88 setup "very restritive" it uses the exact same air ducts as the SLP CAI? I switched mine over to an 88 setup and am very happy with it. I would say get a stock 88 setup and use that.

 

I had the intake you're talking about. It's the air box(filter can) that's the most restrictive part of that set-up, but the rest is very restrictive, too.

But if all you want to do is remove the filter can, then yes, a cone filter will help A LOT. The end of the stock elbow that fits on the can is 3 1/2" outside diameter. It's got some slits cut into, so you'll need at least a 1" filter flange length to cover those securely. And you'll find four small raised stud-like thingies that you'll need to sand or grind off to make the area smooth for the filter flange. But it's plastic, so that'll be easy. And remember, that filter area under the hood is very small. I have that elbow right here in front of me, so that's where I'm getting my info.

I made my own intake with a K&N X-Stream filter and that incorporates my MAF, which you'll see in the attached pic. That filter with it's reverse taper is just about as perfect a design as there is for the size of our can area. I made my own because I couldn't see spending $150-$200 for one of the offered improvement set-ups when I knew I could do it myself for much less, and because it would fit the way I wanted it to.

But if you just want to make your can less restrictive for now, you can cut large openings all the way around the outside of it. That'll make a big difference until you decide what you want to do.

 

And while you've got everything taken apart, remove the screens from your MAF. You'll notice a BIG punch in throttle response from that alone! Some people aren't afraid to cut-out those fins too, but that was too risky for me, lol. And from the flow data I've seen, cutting-out the fins doesn't make much difference. And if you make a mistake, you could ruin your MAF. The big difference is acheived from removing the screens. That's perfectly safe, and the best part about that is, it's FREE!

You're only gonna flow as much air as the most restrictive section of your intake. And once you open-up that air box with openings or a cone filter, the MAF will become the most restrictive section. Removing the screens will be keep your air flowing at an amount that's fairly even with the filter and the throttle body.

And eventually you might want to add an air foil in the front of the throttle body. They increase flow only a very small amount, but they're cheap, and every little bit helps on the TPIs.

 

Thanks LA. That was pretty much the answer I was looking for. I already have the airfoil and I will check the MAF to see if the screens are cut off. The setup you have is pretty much what I had in mind.

Thanks for the info!

Bill

 

Your welcome Bill. Glad I could help. I had a lot of fun creating my intake, and I'm sure you will too. And when it's done, knowing you did it yourself, giving it the look and performance you want, makes it even better.

 

It's the cannister like LAFireboyd said. Didn't mean to imply that the SLP setup is a huge improvement over stock. Sorry. It frees up airflow to the filter element but uses the same duct work like you stated.

Just a general FYI for those who have or are contemplating removal of the MAF screens and/or fins. In all likelihood the MAF calibration curve in the PROM will need to be tweaked to get accurate reporting from the MAF. You can play with fuel pressure to a point but the PROM changes are the best way to bring things back to spec.