Air Intake Setup - What do you think?
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 155
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From: Illinois
Air Intake Setup - What do you think?
The shop doing my LS3 conversion on my 1970 Corvette has the Spectre 90 Air Intake directed down between the dual fans on my radiator. They're saying this is better than having it to the side up even with the top of the radiator. What do you think?
Race Director
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From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
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From: St. Charles Missouri
I'd like a longer intake. Short ones like the one pictured tend to make the exhaust louder at the expense of torque. Spend a few more bucks and route it to a cooler place. jmho.
Nice looking engine bay by the way.
Nice looking engine bay by the way.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 155
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From: Illinois
That's an interesting comment about making the exhaust louder, at the expense of torque. As far as my thoughts versus the shop, I'm not all that knowledgeable so I haven't argued with them about it. I'll probably take it like they have it, and then see how it does as far as overheating and horsepower output. A couple of friends who've seen it questioned how the MAF would function with this setup and had concerns about loss of horsepower, plus just some difficulty keeping it tuned.
Thanks for the comment on the engine bay! When it's done, I'll post a photo showing it with the fuel rail covers and wiper cowl in the body color. I think it's going to look pretty good.
Thanks for the comment on the engine bay! When it's done, I'll post a photo showing it with the fuel rail covers and wiper cowl in the body color. I think it's going to look pretty good.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: iowa city iowa
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
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I am kind of at the same point with my ls1 swap trying to get better air to the motor. I can turn down like that and can pass a 4" tube between my spreader bar and my radiator, but the maf is right there and is a bit bigger than the 4".
I am trying to have a straight part of the intake so the maf reads better, and also get down lower so I can build a shroud to bring cooler air from under the radiator.
I wish I had some answers for the problem but have not come up with them yet. I have seen some really high dollar builds that just put an elbow and a filter in there. That is how mine is currently and while it works, the intake temp 50 degrees or more warmer than ambient temps.
I have not given up yet.
I am trying to have a straight part of the intake so the maf reads better, and also get down lower so I can build a shroud to bring cooler air from under the radiator.
I wish I had some answers for the problem but have not come up with them yet. I have seen some really high dollar builds that just put an elbow and a filter in there. That is how mine is currently and while it works, the intake temp 50 degrees or more warmer than ambient temps.
I have not given up yet.
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Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
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From: San Antonio TX
Frankly, unless you are willing to do some fancy duct work, it won't matter if the filter is located near the top of the radiator or how they now have it positioned. Once you are done with the details on the car -like the sealing of the radiator to the core support and the core support to the hood- the air temperature hitting the air intake is going to be fairly even anywhere under the hood. Brent's setup appears to be better positioned but it's probably not much better than your simple setup.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Like the other members said......as long as the filter is located IN the engine bay, it's going to be breathing 150*F plus-air.
It would take another $200-$400 to route it to an area where it could draw some ambient air.
(That engine/engine bay looks great!)
It would take another $200-$400 to route it to an area where it could draw some ambient air.
(That engine/engine bay looks great!)
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
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From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
Turn it around???
That's an interesting comment about making the exhaust louder, at the expense of torque. As far as my thoughts versus the shop, I'm not all that knowledgeable so I haven't argued with them about it. I'll probably take it like they have it, and then see how it does as far as overheating and horsepower output. A couple of friends who've seen it questioned how the MAF would function with this setup and had concerns about loss of horsepower, plus just some difficulty keeping it tuned.
Thanks for the comment on the engine bay! When it's done, I'll post a photo showing it with the fuel rail covers and wiper cowl in the body color. I think it's going to look pretty good.
Thanks for the comment on the engine bay! When it's done, I'll post a photo showing it with the fuel rail covers and wiper cowl in the body color. I think it's going to look pretty good.
I agree with the other comments about your engine compartment, it leaves mine for dead. Now, have you considered removing the inlet manifold and turning it 180 degrees and cut a hole in the firewall/ cowl area and taking the air from BEHIND the engine? The engine won't care from which end it receives the air, for example, the 3800 Buick V6 engine used in Australian Holden rear wheel drive cars had the air inlet at the rear, up near the firewall.
I know the Corvette is a different car and that space is tight, but it might be able to be done. Unlike the factory engine, there's no distributor to worry about, just the wiper motor, but you appear to have moved yours.
Good luck.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Illinois
Thanks everyone for your great input, and the kind comments on how the engine bay is shaping up. Once we get this sorted out and done, I'll post a photo with how it ended up. May be next spring ...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Hunterdon Cty NJ
With only the pictures givin, and I'm just spitballing ideas I see that passenger side sidegrill sitting there. With some kind of taller hood and some kind box/ducting across the top of the engine it seems like some thing to think about. But without seeing it in person I don't know. It seems easier than trying to get along side the radiator or through the inner fender.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: NYC NY
As a side note a co worker just added a fresh air intake to his new Mu$tang and the filter is a cone just like yours. It's mounted to the driver's side of the engine compartment with a shroud under it (to keep heat off it because hot air rises?). Most new car fresh air intakes mount to one side. Since they all claim power gains and their price ranges are all over the place I think they mount off to the side for a reason besides packaging. Is it to minimize some of the hot air from getting into the intake?
By the way nice work on the LS conversion.
By the way nice work on the LS conversion.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: North Easton Mass
I had my car tuned in October with the outside temp ~60 degrees. We were driving the car a bit to gather some data and the IAT was up around 160-170 degrees IIRC. I have the usual bent intake and I'm working on getting intake air from outside the engine compartment.
Rick B.
Rick B.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: Lyons Colorado
I had my car tuned in October with the outside temp ~60 degrees. We were driving the car a bit to gather some data and the IAT was up around 160-170 degrees IIRC. I have the usual bent intake and I'm working on getting intake air from outside the engine compartment.
Rick B.
Rick B.
