73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Performance => Topic started by: eventhorizon66 on February 08, 2008, 12:15:01 am
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Has anybody ever considered, attempted to fab a cold air system that draws from under the cowl on one of our trucks? Here's a pic of what I'm talking about on Dale Jr's Camaro that Detroit Speed & Engineering did for him. Well it's a fake, but it still illustrates what I'm talking about.
Dale Jr Camaro 01 (http://www.detroitspeed.com/projectpages/dalejr/popups/dalejr-454_pic.htm), Dale Jr Camaro 02 (http://www.detroitspeed.com/projectpages/dalejr/popups/dalejr-453_pic.htm)
My exhaust guy thinks this is the best way to get cold air to the engine.
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They did a nice job with that but a cowl induction hood would give the same result.
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I know, but (A) I prefer a stock "sleeper" look and (B) I don't have $400 + cost of painting to drop into a nice steel cowl hood. (reason "B" is real reason, I would have one if I could afford it).
So the question remains was anyone seen anything like this done?
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Well i would make a Mold out of Foam ..Cover it with Foil..And make one out of Fiber glass...Then Use a aftermarket lid...Would get u the same thing..
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That can be a good source of cool air. One concern I would have is that you would need a little care to have the opening high enough & a baffle on the top that you wouldn't get water in. The Nascars,ect. are not being driven in very much rain or parked where rain could get in. A little off topic, but sorta the same. I chose to make a front ram air set-up from leftover air cleaner parts. Good Luck & Enjoy, Lorne(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/HAULINIT/LornesEngineGrille.jpg)
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is that a big block olds in your truck? :o
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Why yes it is! I'm relatively new to the site. I posted some other photos & info in the Member's ride section about a month ago. Lorne
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HAULIN IT: I was actually mostly inspired by your system before I was advised toward the cowl setup. And yes I definitely am concerned about sucking water. On top of that I'm not a fan of drilling a 4" hole in my firewall over something I'm not 100% sure about. I now have both front snorkels installed, so I could do the same thing as on your truck if I bought a twin snorkel air cleaner. Now that leaves a few options for twin snorkels cleaners.
Everyone tell me what you think would fit best in my engine bay.
Option 1 (most expensive, most attractive): Repro Z28 twin snorkel (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Camaro-Z28-Z-28-Air-Cleaner-dual-snorkel-1970-1971-1972_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43946QQihZ016QQitemZ260175181504QQtcZphoto#ebayphotohosting)
Option 2 (also expensive, least attractive IMO): Ram Air Box (http://www.ramairbox.com)
Option 3 (less expensive, somewhat attractive): Spectre Aluminum twin snorkel (http://www.powerflowracing.com/forum_new/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=277) (just the cleaner in the middle, not all the aluminum tubing)
Also here is an engine bay pic so you can see what space issues I have. Notice how close the AC hard lines (from the compressor) are so close to the master cylinder. The snorkels coming off the air cleaner are going to have to be short enough to allow the 4" tube to run under the MC. (so much for option one, my favorite) My Engine Bay (http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb247/1985C10/P2080029.jpg)
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i was going to put a dual snorkel air cleaner on my monte carlo, but i found that the ac lines coming off the compressor hit the left snorklel. spoiled my plans that day. with that ac box, it doesn't look like you have much firewall to work with. i don't know how much water you might actually suck in. you could maybe put some kind of baffle over the opening so rain water doesn't come down in front of the hole, but air can be pulled in from the sides. i would probably just use a nomal air cleaner but make a larger inlet and run a big hose to the radiator support.
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I used an extra hose & snorkle from Chevy trucks & welded them onto the Olds air cleaner, that is definitely the most cost effective method. The vans for many years used a spacer about 3 1/2" high that I have used at times (cut down in most cases). It may help get the air cleaner up high enough , not sure, it looks like the A/C lines go pretty much straight up off of the compressor? It doesn't look like you have much room on the firewall either. Good Luck in whatever route you take, Lorne
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There is a company that specializes in air cleaners, but I'm not sure what they were called. They had a bunch of those setups on their site. They came in different sizes, shapes, and configurations. I'll post up if I find the site....they had a bunch of applications.
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www.ramairbox.com
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i looked up the price to put one of those ram air boxes in my monte and if i remember right, it was like 500 bucks for a full setup. thats the air cleaner assembly( which was 3 seperate pieces), ducts and duct ends. not a cheap investment at all.
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$258.50 shipped for a kit from ramairbox.com..you don't NEED a kit, especially if you already have a 14" aftermarket air cleaner, and can save some money that way, or tailor the look how you want.
Kit part number is R14x4@110KIT
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thats still more money than i would spend.
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Personally, when I swap motors, mine is getting a 14x4@110 box, but I'm going to supply the top and bottom cleaner plates for looks, since I want somthing else. The cost for the "box" alone, is $156.99 shipped. Thats a LOT cheaper than a cowl hood, and its lower profile (and thus attracts less attention from would-be scoundrels). This system lets you use whatever 14" air cleaner assembly you want, and it utilizes a 14"x4" filter element, which is a very high flow element. Coupled with some aluminized dryer duct and a couple factory bug deflectors in the core support from the factory air cleaners, you have a pretty stock looking, dressed up setup.
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Haulin It's system is byfar the cleanest and most cost effective system I have seen. I will definatly be doing likewise, just not the OLDS part (By the way I have no problem with the Olds)
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I agree his system looks good, I just want somthing that uses 4" round snorkels instead of the oblong stock shape..I've actually got 2 stock air cleaners in the garage I thought about doing somthing similar with, but sourcing the stock tubing can be a pain, plus I like a little show under the hood, I just don't want it to be shown to EVERYONE like a cowl hood does ;D
I also only have an AC stick welder, not exactly the proper equipment for welding metal that thin..
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Thanks for the complements guys! I like starting with the factory parts myself, it gives you the breather hose/hot air tube, ect. it's minor things but then it looks right (stock) & you don't need to reinvent the pcv/breather system. Here is a picture of my brother's,similar in design. We made fiberglass "boxes" in the fog light holes in the bumper to get the air in up through hoses to what you see in the picture. (http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/HAULINIT/engine4.jpg)
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I already run a 14" open element air cleaner w/ pcv valve and VC breather on my truck, and mine doesn't have provisions on the exhaust manifold for the hot air anyway. I may someday make a stock-looking setup, if I ever find myself in an area that insists people use the stock air cleaner assembly.
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That is a Nice Setup,but I would think that the warm air being created and allowed in from the engine compartment would negate the benefit cowl air is offering(That's why Ram Air is More Efficient with Creating Power, as it is Allowing more Cold Air in).... GM started doing that with their Z11 and L72( a few others as well) Cowl Induction Systems of the 1960's(62 was the first year of the Z11, and was dropped due to sales after the 1963 Model Year. 1968 was the return as the L72 Option for the Impala SS/ along with others, again it disappeared due to lack of sales, and the new Emissions Hassles..)...
'63 Z11
(http://www.classiccar.com/articles/cars/images/1963_impala_Z11.gif)
'68 L72
(http://www.impalass427.com/72res/Jacks_L72.jpg)
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^ Yep, I was thinking of that Z11 setup too. Very clean and functional too I'm sure. Didn't know it came back for 68, that's cool.
Another dual-snorkel system is the one that came on the 83-84 Z28's with the HO motor. L69 I think it was.
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I was flipping the pages of jegs and found this that looks sweat!! 8)
(http://www.jegs.com/images/photos/800/865/865-9859K.jpg)
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10002_836229_-1 (http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10002_836229_-1)
lil pricey tho
78 355 big ten
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I knew about that, it's also made by Spectre. Only problem is unless you use a box that draws air from outside the engine bay or place the actual filters outside the engine bay, it will just be sucking hot air. May as well use an open element.
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^ Yep, I was thinking of that Z11 setup too. Very clean and functional too I'm sure. Didn't know it came back for 68, that's cool.
Another dual-snorkel system is the one that came on the 83-84 Z28's with the HO motor. L69 I think it was.
Yeah always one of my Favorite Setups, and it didn't completely disappear, it just no longer really got the attention it deserved.... The Z11(427) was touted as being a Drag Motor, and due to it's delays, most of the teams and those interested moved on to what was readily available... The Z11's Cowl Plenum Induction Air Cleaner was still available as an RPO(Regular Production Option), and Found in anything from the Impala SS('63-68),Chevelle SS(66-68),Camaro SS/RS(67-68),and Nova SS(?-68). The Air Cleaners were ordered at the sametime as the car,Performance Intake Manifold, and Headers.. Upon Dealership arrival, the Air Cleaner, Headers, And The intake manifolds were placed in the trunk, so the Customer could add them later..... In '68 the Air Cleaner just became easier to find on the RPO/COPO ordersheet, and have heard of some instances were the Air Cleaner,Intake Manifold, and Headers also found there way onto a few '67-69 GMC/Chevy C10 Pickup ordersheets as well....
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One thing to keep in mind, the windsheild/ cowl area is a HIGH pressure area when at speed. If you build a box enclosing the air cleaner and duct it to the cowl in as straight and smooth of a flow path and short as possible you get cold air BUT more importantly air under pressure forcing its way through the filter and into the carb. This is actual RAM air. Similar to a low boost supercharger or turbo. If you duct it to the fenders it's not getting direct high pressure. Samething for ducting it to the core support but having that plastic factory piece that mounts to the c.s. and the hose connects to it. The direct air has to move thru and around the grill also. That's just getting cold air in without the RAM effect.
Not knocking anything cuz it's all good but if RAM air is what you want you gotta have pressure and flow. Also It's hot under the hood so get some of that stick on insulation that has the foil to deflect heat on the box you build.
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The main reasons I have for using the bug deflectors is exactly that..deflecting bugs..as well as rain/snow/hail/etc that otherwise could make its way in through there while driving. Any daily driver is better off that way..
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Your completely right werewolf, again I'm not knocking anything anybody has done.
We kind of got off on the subject of ram air and I'm just pointing out that there's a difference. That's why that type of set up is pretty much only used on race cars.