Cold dense air is great !!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 337
Likes: 10
Cold dense air is great !!
Just got back from a run to Petsmart (so exciting) I was just amazed at the power increase due to the cold air arriving here in Atlanta. I am again thinking about my cold air induction idea for next summer (don't want to use factory 81 setup). Has anyone tried a boot adapter piece (like you see on a engine with a remote blower) on top of the carb, with a 6 inch fabric duct going to a custom built box to hold a large flat air filter, with another 6 inch duct leading away from that connected to a purpose built box attached to the fender where the gill is? Since my AC / heat is gone....I may be able to build the box and attach it to the inside fender area, over the gill. Then I would just have a duct hose from that to carb intake adapter.
Thoughts???
Thoughts???
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I am trying to picture what you are talking about and can't come up with a pleasing to the eye, mental picture. Why not the stock air induction? Really think it would be a much better look.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
From: Ventura California
I can't remember what the exact figure is for H.P. increase per degree drop in temp. It all goes down to density but either way colder is better. I haven't seen any setups for what you are talking about but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't be the first to do it .... Sounds like a great idea to me. Thinking about it, I think I would lay up my own mold to fiberglass the airfilter box to the gill and maybe even lay up my own airbox for the top of the carb. Attach the two and you're good to go.. Our Corvettes tend to run really high engine bay temps so it makes great sense the direction you are going. Let me know what you decide to do or if you need any advise on the fiberglass lay up process.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: dallas ga
SJ you are right, my L82 loves the cold air we have gotten over the last few days.What I did with my 74 was removed the cowl induction door so cold air comes into the aircleaner from the hood.There is a solenoid that opens the door dependant on throttle position,I just popped that little door out and I get cold air all the time.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,435
Likes: 9
From: Kalamazoo Mi
im a pilot up in michigan, and i love cold clear days. Not only does my vette run like a champ, my plane flys amazing, the dense air, cool air makes the plane handle better, and engine run a lot better. happy driving all
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
Same plans
I am in the process of fabricating the same type of cold air induction system on my '80. I am using a fiberglass Ram Air Box filter housing with a carbon fiber plenum between the radiator mount to the filter housing. I modified one Ram Air Box to fit over the HEI distributor with a drop base and flat cover to fit under the stock hood. I switched to a different Ram Air Box, so my plenum design is going to change. Here's a pic of the original Ram Air Box showing the duct connector and the HEI cut-out.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 337
Likes: 10
Great feedback from everyone.....thanks. I have not heard of the 1% rule of thumb....but I would say thats dead on....my increase felt like 10 to 15hp or so. The gains for summer should be about the same, since the differential in temps between heated air through the radiator and fresh from the side wold be simular to winter....hummm.....I need to put a pencil to that. Well...even if less......it will be worth the effort.
Since my hvac is gone, and I am using a much smaller coolant recovery tank......I have a football field available all around the passenger side gill. It's no brainer to move forward with this. Hopefully, I can find some sort of filter box to adapt.....maybe even a cylindrical type instead of flat. The box mating up against the fender / gill would look best. If nothing suitable is found, I like the suggestion on fiberglas. Would making the box from 1/4 marine plywood, then laminating with fiberglas be a good method?? The blower companies should have a deal for the top of the carb...saw one last night in Chevy mag.
It would be interesting to record average engine operating temp.....maybe the oil temp, with and without ambiant outside air going in.
I will report the results when complete
Since my hvac is gone, and I am using a much smaller coolant recovery tank......I have a football field available all around the passenger side gill. It's no brainer to move forward with this. Hopefully, I can find some sort of filter box to adapt.....maybe even a cylindrical type instead of flat. The box mating up against the fender / gill would look best. If nothing suitable is found, I like the suggestion on fiberglas. Would making the box from 1/4 marine plywood, then laminating with fiberglas be a good method?? The blower companies should have a deal for the top of the carb...saw one last night in Chevy mag.
It would be interesting to record average engine operating temp.....maybe the oil temp, with and without ambiant outside air going in.
I will report the results when complete
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
Hopefully, I can find some sort of filter box to adapt.....maybe even a cylindrical type instead of flat. The box mating up against the fender / gill would look best. If nothing suitable is found, I like the suggestion on fiberglas. Would making the box from 1/4 marine plywood, then laminating with fiberglas be a good method?? The blower companies should have a deal for the top of the carb...saw one last night in Chevy mag.
http://www.ramairbox.com/
(BTW, 1/4" plywood laminated with glass seems like overkill to me.)
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I am in the process of fabricating the same type of cold air induction system on my '80. I am using a fiberglass Ram Air Box filter housing with a carbon fiber plenum between the radiator mount to the filter housing. I modified one Ram Air Box to fit over the HEI distributor with a drop base and flat cover to fit under the stock hood. I switched to a different Ram Air Box, so my plenum design is going to change. Here's a pic of the original Ram Air Box showing the duct connector and the HEI cut-out.
!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
From: Ventura California
A ply mold would work for the fiberglass layup. Do it right and use a good release agent. I'd shoot the mold with gelcoat before laying it up myself. Done right you'll end up with a part that looks like it came out of a factory and you'll be able to conform it to the exact shape you need for a good seal.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 238
Likes: 33
From: Olathe KS
sjmaster -- My '82 has an air intake that runs from in front of the radiator, thru the hood, and into the dual air cleaner housing. I think its actuated by a solonoid at open throttle. It looks like air comes thru the front end into a partial box that seals against the hood. Does yours have the same? If so, couldn't you get cold air by bypassing the solonoid and keeping the airway open? You'd have to close off the opening in the aircleaner housing that's open to the engine compartment to ensure positive flow of air coming thru the hood. However, I don't know if the air passage thru the hood is large enough. Just a thought...........
sly vette -- ok, I have to ask, what's a "cool can"?
Thanks - Dave
sly vette -- ok, I have to ask, what's a "cool can"?
Thanks - Dave
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 1
From: Algonac Michigan
A cool can is a cheap way to decrease the temp of fuel entering carb.
It is simply a can about the size of a coffee can that had a copper coil inside that you would fill with ice. You would mount it in the eng comp. Gas would flow through the coil, and the fuel would be very cold by the time it got to the carb.
I would use it only at the strip.
Now I feel ancient!!!
Mark
It is simply a can about the size of a coffee can that had a copper coil inside that you would fill with ice. You would mount it in the eng comp. Gas would flow through the coil, and the fuel would be very cold by the time it got to the carb.
I would use it only at the strip.
Now I feel ancient!!!
Mark
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Just because we have long green tails, and overlarge jaws with fangs is NO reason to *** ume we are olde.....
yup, I remember cold cans too.....
and I have frosted my nutz under a car too.....back when.....
when I put the up/over air induction last spring on the vette here, I immediately noticed a performance increase....even for FLORIDA HOT HOT HOT last summer, it WAS noticeable....
now with the temp drop, finally, the car really loves life....
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 337
Likes: 10
Yes MN80vette.....I have looked those over....probably the way to go for sure. I could "bubba" it to the inside of the fender, over the shark gills.....just kidding..... then I would have to move to KY
The previous owner ditched all the original air intake parts when dropping the 77 motor in. All that was left was original air cleaner. Even it is was there.....I would care for it.....too much clutter.
This will not be a ram air, just sucking nice ambient temp air from the side. Heck...there might be a slight negative pressure there at high speeds....we will see.
I have contacted a friend of mine that loves to itch from making custom fiberglas stand up jet ski hulls.....he is going to make a carb "intake bonnet" for lack of a better term, from Carbon fiber. I am thinking of having the OD of this piece 10 to 12 inches OD, and just tall enough to fit a oval spout about 4 inches long.....for 6 to 8 inch rubber coated fabric hose to connect to.
I am pumped on this project......the engine is just lovin this cold weather.....it will have to yield results even in the summer.
John
The previous owner ditched all the original air intake parts when dropping the 77 motor in. All that was left was original air cleaner. Even it is was there.....I would care for it.....too much clutter.
This will not be a ram air, just sucking nice ambient temp air from the side. Heck...there might be a slight negative pressure there at high speeds....we will see.
I have contacted a friend of mine that loves to itch from making custom fiberglas stand up jet ski hulls.....he is going to make a carb "intake bonnet" for lack of a better term, from Carbon fiber. I am thinking of having the OD of this piece 10 to 12 inches OD, and just tall enough to fit a oval spout about 4 inches long.....for 6 to 8 inch rubber coated fabric hose to connect to.
I am pumped on this project......the engine is just lovin this cold weather.....it will have to yield results even in the summer.
John