bill connell

Seeing all the Ram Air Induction cars on the Barrett Jackson Auction, I'm wondering what was the very first american production car to offer a ram air system?

bill

AZDoug

Can't answer your question, but I think I am going to borrow a water manometer and check pressure both under hood back by firewall and in front of the radiator, next to the cold air inlet to the motor at 70 and 100 MPH and see what sort of pressure build up I am getting.

Doug

65 Drivr

I don't know if the Early 60's Ford Thunderbolt can be considered a production car but it had a ram air system.
If I'm not mistaken Pontiac sold about 30 ram air kits for the tri power GTO in 66

toddalin

'55-'56-'57 T-Birds had it. Probably cars before that too.

ps374

Didn't they just have functional air scoops? Doesn't Ram air consist of hoses actually going into the air filter from a front location of the car? I also wonder how effective it was. I built a system on my Tran Am since the scoop was a dummy on the 79 model by using 6 inch hoses going into two inlet into the stock air cleaner. With a low restricted exhaust system and the Ram air I gained a 1/2 a second at the track. I think it was more the exhaust system than the Ram Air. that improved my time. I think Ram air is more gismo than real go. Now some of you can slap me around.

rgs

No slapping but it is a proven power adder. It isn't really apparent till you are building pressure and that is dependent on speed and air pressure profile over the body. It won't add power at lower speeds and may actually be a little restrictive due to the ducting compared to an open element air cleaner. How much compared to a free flowing exhaust, probably alot less. For drag racing, it probable would hurt overall performance (just my guess) but for road racing, a definite improvement. This is why it is specifically addressed in the SCCA specs for all classes.

DZAUTO

In a GM product, probably the 57 Corvette FI Airbox cars (which for years was regarded as the RPO579E option and is now, VERY slowly, changing to the more correct RPO579D option ) and the 57 Chevy pass cars with FI and the air scoop mounted on the radiator support.
Also, the 57 Pontiac Bonneville with FI.





















Tom Parsons

DZAUTO

I probably should have said (but of course, Corvette people already know it) that the fresh air induction, ram air, what ever you prefer to call it on FI cars, continued through 65.

The next form of FACTORY Chev air induction was on the Z11 cars (if you don't know what a Z11 was, you ain't much of a Chevy person!!!).


Then the 67 L88 cars, 68 442 with the W30 option, the 69 Z28s and 70 Chevelles with the Cowl Induction hood option as well as the 70 442 with the Ram Air hood option.
The Buick GS Stage cars also had a Ram Air hood option (no Buick pictures).















Cowl Induction hood, available on 70-72 Chevelles.




Some of the Mopars of the mid-60s were also available with BIG, factory air scoops on the hoods (sorry, no pictures of those).

toddalin

IIRC, there was a "seal" along the bottom of the air cleaner element that sealed it to the hood and excluded engine air. The scoop was certainly big enough and tall enough so that some air would be "forced" in, ergo, an early form of "ram air" induction.

How many other manufacturers didn't even go to these lengths and called their scoops "ram air induction?" Plenty!

To many, any functional air scoop connotates "ram air induction."

bill connell

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the input as I think it is clear that these systems were available prior to the 60s and 70s as many think.

Tom, thanks for the fabulous photos as usual!

While I'll let the engineers argue this one, I suspect the increased power came more from capturing colder higher density outside air, than simply forcing more air into the engine.

bill

DZAUTO

Bill,
And I agree 100% with you!!!
The air intake systems, such as the 57 Airbox setup, HAD to provide a certain amount of forced air into the intake since it is directly in the high pressure (higher pressure with increased speed) area behind the grill. Also, it is well known that there is a high pressure area (again, higher pressure with increased speed) at the base of the windshield, which is where the Z11 intake is located, the 67 L88, 69 Z28 and 70-72 Chevelles with the CI hood option, as well as ALLLLLLLLL the NASCAR cars! Undoubtedly the 442s with the air scoops under the front bumper had to gain a fair amount of pressurization at speed.

For MANY years I ran the 56/FI with just the stock 57 FI air cleaner under the hood----------------taking in hot underhood air. But once I finally got the airbox installed (about 1990), it took on a whole new life!!!

Tom Parsons

ps374

I would love to see some real numbers of a factory built car (Say the W30 Olds since its the most dramatic) doing the quarter mile with all that hardware hooked up and then running it with all the pluming taken off. I am betting 2 to 3 tenths difference at the most. The way the manufactures built it up (and charged you for it) you would think these cars had superchargers. I do think the GTO however had bigger internal stuff on its Ram Air motors.

DZAUTO

I don't care how you slice it, UNEQUIVOCALLY, today's cars are better in every way---------------except one----------------THEY GOT NO MAGIC!!!!!
The cars from the 50s, 60s and VERY early 70s have a magic and mistique that today's monochromatic, cookie cutter econoboxes just DO NOT HAVE!
I will admit, that after 2-3hrs of driving the 56, I'm ready for a nice long break. But just a few years later, the cars had improved substantially and they are a joy to drive. For example, my 70 Chevelle conv is cool (and that may be an opinion on my part), has ps, pb, factory air cond (on R12), factory cruise, plenty of power and a 4sp. Almost everyone notices it and likes it. Today's cars just don't have that----------------not even the new Vettes. I can go anywhere in the Chevelle, and be comfortable when I get there. But if I drive the 56 to the natl SACC convention in July, my @$$ is going to be soaking wet and worn out when I get there!!!!!
But that's OK, I'll be cool!

Tom Parsons

MiguelsC2

I have seen some 67 Z-28s with this air induction system.

Quote:
The next form of FACTORY Chev air induction was on the Z11 cars (if you don't know what a Z11 was, you ain't much of a Chevy person!!!).

63Corvette

Tom, I think that you will agree that a stock 1963 Fuelie motor with radiator shroud air intake does in fact run stronger (car weight not withstanding) than a stock 1962 fuelie (both 360hp 327s)??? Comment.............Oh, BTW these C5 Z06s DO "have magic";-) Drive one!

Bluestripe67

Tom, I have been thinking and doing the same thing for 37 years with my '67 conv. except I have no power options. My @$$ is very tired and wet after a long haul, but, like you...I'm cool! Dennis

BADBIRDCAGE

Well, maybe a little backhand is in order. When you look at the history of these guys you will see why ram induction is special. It doesn't do much below 60 mph but when you get 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and then it acts in the fashion of a blower to force air into the mix it does a little bit for your drag racing performance.

The car in the photo runs a Hemi and you can see that it is a 440 in the engine bay shot but the multiple carb system is the same layout on the race Hemi as the 440 staggered setup.

Rich

DZAUTO

Ever observe a Cowl Induction hood door in action on a 70-72 Chevelle? Does it provide enough additional cool outside air to make a difference? It's debatable, but it certainly is a neat option if nothing else. I always thought they were impressive-------------so here's the one on our 70.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4XnsPAdscU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xra1mG1yE8Y

Tom Parsons

wmf62

why do you think that? they both have basically the same air intake system?
Bill

DZAUTO

Bill,
My opinion regarding the better performance of a 63 360hp FI engine over the 62 360hp FI is because of the new design of the 63-65 style air meter/plenum is certainly an improvement over the 62-earlier design. Now, just how much of an improvement? Well, that may be subjective to some degree. I've personally driven both, and without question, a 63 FI car does seem to be slightly more responsive than a 62 FI car.
Also, it is possible that the new design of the 63 air cleaner contributes to improved air flow. It doesn't have the 90deg change in air flow that the 58-62 air cleaners have.

Tom Parsons