'08 airbox dissection and Vette-Air install...>
08-04-2007, 01:21 PM
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
'08 airbox dissection and Vette-Air install...>
I'm a big fan of cool intake air. It's been proven numerous times, get more cool air to the intake there is less timing pull and more horsepower made..Simple. The '08 airbox is basically a Z06 system with a Helmholz resonator attached to attenuate noise and improve flow.. Nice design with a downward facing inlet. No real restrictions or bottle necks unlike the prior year C6 systems. Feed some fresh air to that and half the job is done.. The Vette-Air seemed a pretty elegant solution to this. Relatively inexpensive, easy install, obvoius benefits. This maintains OEM quality, with some of the Vararam benefits. I haven't been impressed with some of the quality reports on that. The Vett-Air is a nicely made fiberglass piece.
The install is pretty easy. Minor cutting of the shroud (while on the car). Figure about 1.5 hours to put in, with no dissasembly other than the airbox removal. The Vette-air can install from underneath with no grill removal necessary:
Nice, big fresh air scoop:
Totally invisible behind my grill:
While in there I decided to take a look at the '08 airbox. With the resonator, it's a monster:
One thing that surprised me was the thickness of the filter. Maybe with a little less restriction here and the cool air feed, things should be nicely improved:
No road-test as it's 95 here to day....Not much point, but I'm sure there will be general benefits gained..
More pics in the Vette-Air album here: http://public.fotki.com/ttschwing/corvette-stuff/
Part 2: Cold air box addition. More info on Page 3:
Vette-Air is a forum vendor http://vette-air.com/ Check out the install video..(no need to pull the grill as the install can be done easily from underneath the car.)
Steve
The install is pretty easy. Minor cutting of the shroud (while on the car). Figure about 1.5 hours to put in, with no dissasembly other than the airbox removal. The Vette-air can install from underneath with no grill removal necessary:
Nice, big fresh air scoop:
Totally invisible behind my grill:
While in there I decided to take a look at the '08 airbox. With the resonator, it's a monster:
One thing that surprised me was the thickness of the filter. Maybe with a little less restriction here and the cool air feed, things should be nicely improved:
No road-test as it's 95 here to day....Not much point, but I'm sure there will be general benefits gained..
More pics in the Vette-Air album here: http://public.fotki.com/ttschwing/corvette-stuff/
Part 2: Cold air box addition. More info on Page 3:
Vette-Air is a forum vendor http://vette-air.com/ Check out the install video..(no need to pull the grill as the install can be done easily from underneath the car.)
Steve
Last edited by Modshack; 08-07-2007 at 10:59 AM.
08-04-2007, 01:49 PM
#4
Drifting
Thanks. The Vette-Air does look an awful lot like the VR (which I have). And, the build quality of the VR is just what everyone says . . . pretty crappy. But, as you say, there is little arguing with the track stats with and without. I'm just a poser . . . like the "idea" of more HP, not that I'd actually know what to do with it. Regardless, I'd love to see some before/after 1/4 times with the Vette-Air. 
FM
FM
08-04-2007, 02:40 PM
#5
Safety Car
Thread Starter
08-04-2007, 02:52 PM
#7
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Last edited by Modshack; 08-04-2007 at 04:45 PM.
08-04-2007, 03:02 PM
#8
Hardly exactly. The MAF is incorporated in the airbox, the Helmholz resonator smooths the airflow through the MAF, etc.
But it flows well enough to make 505 hp. It won't be the flow bottleneck on a stock or mildly modified LS3.
The 08 air filter is the Z06 FILTER!That is one thick ****!
08-04-2007, 03:03 PM
#9
Team Owner
Oh wow, I didn't realize that resonator or intake silencer (as we used call it back in the Mustang 5.0 days and even the stock LS1 F-body air intakes had a version of it) was so big/deep, it's hard to tell while it's on the car.
And yes I figured that the filter element was the same thick/restrictive one as the C6 Z06's.
There is definitely some power to be freed up by working that system as evidenced by the latest dyno of an '08 with a basic K&N air intake added.
And yes I figured that the filter element was the same thick/restrictive one as the C6 Z06's.
There is definitely some power to be freed up by working that system as evidenced by the latest dyno of an '08 with a basic K&N air intake added.
08-04-2007, 03:04 PM
#10
Get Some!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1418767
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...0&page=1&pp=20
Jim Hall first post:
If you have a C6 Z06, you have cold air already. In fact, our testing shows that the amount of forced air that is directed into the AIS hooded shroud requires that the gasket sealing it to the front bumper NOT be removed. When the gasket is removed, the forced air actually causes severe turbulence at the mouth of the Donaldson PowerCore filter, which promotes severe bucking and surging at very low throttle postitions, especially in fifth and sixth gear.
If you take a trouble light and put it on the end of the AIS, partially close the hood, then shut off the lights in your shop, you can see the light coming through the NACA duct on the front fascia.
IT WORKS.
The methodology here was to provide extreme volumes of forced air into the AIS vestibule, but not directly into the filter itself. The hooded shroud around the AIS protects the filter from airflow turbulence and water. When airflow comes in the NACA ducting it flows over the hooded shroud and is then pulled up into the filter itself.
We are testing a High Flow version of this filter and will have one ready for the market in about 2 months when our testing is finished. We now have two full months of testing and have come to the conclusion that GM's stock AIS is a winner. It outflows our C6 Stinger SSM by 4%, but that is when compared to the intregal C6 screened MAF sensor vs. the Hitachi Probe MAF sensor.
The new Hitachi Probe MAF sensor is sooooooo sensitive to turbulence, that GM had to work on the MAF location, calibration, and filter design for months before getting it all right.
I have not tested the bottom breathers yet, but it will be a challenge to get them to work in this application.
There is no sales pitch here, since we are not considering using the Stinger on the Z06, when their present design mandates a complete re-engineering of our efforts.
More information: http://www.corvettels7.com/products/intake_systems.html
Jim
From an older thread:
Z06 Cold Air scoop, it does work.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...0&forum_id=100
"The new Z06 sports factory cold air induction. Some have suggested that there is no functional NACA ducting on the front fascia, but that is not true. You can hold a light up to the bumper area just behind the duct-work and see light from the outside of the car. This is not ram air, but it is forceful cold air induction. The stock airbox has a shroud around the end of the airbox, and a rubber gasket that seals it against the front bumper. Take this gasket off and you will get so much airflow across the front of the airbox, that is actually causes severe bucking and surging. So much so, that the car feels like it is missing. With the gasket in place, the forced air actually comes in and around the airbox, and is then sucked into the filter area. This is the best of the best for cold air, since there is no chance of water ingestion." - Jim Hall
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...st15557409 08
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1645916
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...0&page=1&pp=20
Jim Hall first post:
If you have a C6 Z06, you have cold air already. In fact, our testing shows that the amount of forced air that is directed into the AIS hooded shroud requires that the gasket sealing it to the front bumper NOT be removed. When the gasket is removed, the forced air actually causes severe turbulence at the mouth of the Donaldson PowerCore filter, which promotes severe bucking and surging at very low throttle postitions, especially in fifth and sixth gear.
If you take a trouble light and put it on the end of the AIS, partially close the hood, then shut off the lights in your shop, you can see the light coming through the NACA duct on the front fascia.
IT WORKS.
The methodology here was to provide extreme volumes of forced air into the AIS vestibule, but not directly into the filter itself. The hooded shroud around the AIS protects the filter from airflow turbulence and water. When airflow comes in the NACA ducting it flows over the hooded shroud and is then pulled up into the filter itself.
We are testing a High Flow version of this filter and will have one ready for the market in about 2 months when our testing is finished. We now have two full months of testing and have come to the conclusion that GM's stock AIS is a winner. It outflows our C6 Stinger SSM by 4%, but that is when compared to the intregal C6 screened MAF sensor vs. the Hitachi Probe MAF sensor.
The new Hitachi Probe MAF sensor is sooooooo sensitive to turbulence, that GM had to work on the MAF location, calibration, and filter design for months before getting it all right.
I have not tested the bottom breathers yet, but it will be a challenge to get them to work in this application.
There is no sales pitch here, since we are not considering using the Stinger on the Z06, when their present design mandates a complete re-engineering of our efforts.
More information: http://www.corvettels7.com/products/intake_systems.html
Jim
From an older thread:
Z06 Cold Air scoop, it does work.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...0&forum_id=100
"The new Z06 sports factory cold air induction. Some have suggested that there is no functional NACA ducting on the front fascia, but that is not true. You can hold a light up to the bumper area just behind the duct-work and see light from the outside of the car. This is not ram air, but it is forceful cold air induction. The stock airbox has a shroud around the end of the airbox, and a rubber gasket that seals it against the front bumper. Take this gasket off and you will get so much airflow across the front of the airbox, that is actually causes severe bucking and surging. So much so, that the car feels like it is missing. With the gasket in place, the forced air actually comes in and around the airbox, and is then sucked into the filter area. This is the best of the best for cold air, since there is no chance of water ingestion." - Jim Hall
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...st15557409 08
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1645916
08-04-2007, 03:04 PM
#11
Team Owner
Hardly exactly. The MAF is incorporated in the airbox, the Helmholz resonator smooths the airflow through the MAF, etc.
08-04-2007, 03:05 PM
#13
Team Owner
Well, on the other hand there was a test early on where that thick filter was removed from a C6 Z06 and the car picked up a considerable amount of power on the dyno...though it wasn't tuned either so it might've just leaned out a bit too.
08-04-2007, 03:52 PM
#14
Safety Car
Thread Starter
The new Hitachi Probe MAF sensor is sooooooo sensitive to turbulence, that GM had to work on the MAF location, calibration, and filter design for months before getting it all right.
I have not tested the bottom breathers yet, but it will be a challenge to get them to work in this application.
I have not tested the bottom breathers yet, but it will be a challenge to get them to work in this application.
Also, Jim Hall seems to be endorsing the Vette-Air application: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1774497
Last edited by Modshack; 08-04-2007 at 04:53 PM.
08-04-2007, 04:10 PM
#15
I'm saying what I said, the '08 stock air cleaner housing is not exactly like a Vararam. Its design is different. It looks different. It isn't just a flimsy plastic snorkel tacked on in front of a separate MAF. It is an engineered piece with more complex functions.
08-04-2007, 04:12 PM
#16
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Hence my desire to retain the OEM part...
08-04-2007, 04:17 PM
#17
Team Owner
I'm saying what I said, the '08 stock air cleaner housing is not exactly like a Vararam. Its design is different. It looks different. It isn't just a flimsy plastic snorkel tacked on in front of a separate MAF. It is an engineered piece with more complex functions.
08-04-2007, 05:20 PM
#19
Just eyeballing the pictures, I've got to say there are differences still. For one thing, the Vette-air doesn't appear to hang down as low as the Vararam. If that's true, that's a plus since it won't be taking in the very hot air (and road debris) down near the road surface. The opening looks larger too. But it is hard to tell without seeing one in person.
08-04-2007, 05:26 PM
#20
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Gotcha.
Just eyeballing the pictures, I've got to say there are differences still. For one thing, the Vette-air doesn't appear to hang down as low as the Vararam. If that's true, that's a plus since it won't be taking in the very hot air (and road debris) down near the road surface. The opening looks larger too. But it is hard to tell without seeing one in person.
Just eyeballing the pictures, I've got to say there are differences still. For one thing, the Vette-air doesn't appear to hang down as low as the Vararam. If that's true, that's a plus since it won't be taking in the very hot air (and road debris) down near the road surface. The opening looks larger too. But it is hard to tell without seeing one in person.
