C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
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Old May 19, 2021 | 02:22 PM
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Default Open Air Cleaner

I have a base 1971 350ci with dual snorkel air cleaner assembly, what is the advantage of an open air cleaner assembly and which one would be best for my car.
Also can you tell me the correct size exhaust pipes.
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Old May 19, 2021 | 02:37 PM
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Moved to C3 Tech.
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Old May 19, 2021 | 02:55 PM
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For a mild 350.....absolutely none. The dual snorkel flows plenty......

Jebby
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Old May 19, 2021 | 02:58 PM
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Coupled with the OE cold air intake the dual snorkel is a better setup.
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Old May 19, 2021 | 03:37 PM
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No loss for keeping the stock air cleaner. And, as mentioned, you could duct cool air to those air cleaner nozzles for a bit of improvement in performance.
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Old May 19, 2021 | 03:59 PM
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Chrome open air cleaner looks a lot prettier and at your power level, it won't hurt performance.
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Old May 19, 2021 | 07:37 PM
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the top should be metal, not flammable filter medium.
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Old May 19, 2021 | 07:48 PM
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I met a guy yesterday who has an 81 as well, and asked to look under the hood of mine. Some PO had removed all the fresh air intake stuff from his.

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Old May 20, 2021 | 11:13 PM
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Well, if it LOOKS fast and h as lots of chrome, it must be FAST!!! {that is the "Go-Faster" mentality] The perception of speed is all that matters....
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Old May 21, 2021 | 11:50 AM
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Approximately 1% power loss for every 10-degree (F) increase in inlet air temp. So, going from a system shown in Yadkin's photo above (providing, for example, 80-degree outside air into the carb) to an open element system providing 180-degree underhood air, you may see a 10% LOSS in power.
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Old May 21, 2021 | 12:10 PM
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180*F if you run electric fans pointing down. Mine are nowhere near that, Anyway, do the math. If it takes 50 hp to go down the road at 60 mph, I guess I lose 5 hp. Big deal.
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Old May 21, 2021 | 04:23 PM
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Originally Posted by resdoggie
180*F if you run electric fans pointing down. Mine are nowhere near that, Anyway, do the math. If it takes 50 hp to go down the road at 60 mph, I guess I lose 5 hp. Big deal.
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Old May 21, 2021 | 04:49 PM
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cold air kits air kits on a car that already has OEM cold air is a waste and often worse.. agreed..

i have learned that emissions or not (also driveability) my 79 was designed to intake 130f air winter or summer to maintain best ratio in normal driving. The secondary inlet is ambient air at full throttle.
pretty cool actually.. no way would i put an aftermarket cold air kit on an originally without it.. but would replace it with oem even a snorkel but that's me..
for sure the engine compartment is 170-200f.. compared to ambient and power is measurable...and cheap..
@Bikespace also added open element comparison
and @REELAV8R has a link too

Cold air cleaner Thermocouple experiments 79 L82 4m ac - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion

Last edited by interpon; May 21, 2021 at 05:03 PM.
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Old May 21, 2021 | 05:45 PM
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Cold air on a stock heated manifold intake is not exactly ideal, more like cooler air for heat soaked engine compartments. Most older stock CAI were poorly design and as I said just for cooler than heat soaked air at stock power levels. Modern ones are supposedly much better and not much for the aftermarket to improve on but CAI are diy friendly, so $$$ to be made. In my opinion the factory CAI C3 setup is actually not bad, other than the small air filter. Even so dry EFI intakes are more effected by underhood temps(10deg 1%) because they don't have liquid(fuel) cooling.

You can cool things down as much as you can and make some more power BUT that's at WOT and driveability can suffer. Also you have to tune for cool and if the temp changes then your out of tune, helps if your self tuning EFI.

Lots of things in the aftermarket are not ideal but dictated by what sells vs what is actually best, bigger is better or at least that is what sells!

Last edited by BOOT77; May 21, 2021 at 05:46 PM.
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Old May 21, 2021 | 08:19 PM
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Originally Posted by interpon
cold air kits air kits on a car that already has OEM cold air is a waste and often worse.. agreed..

i have learned that emissions or not (also driveability) my 79 was designed to intake 130f air winter or summer to maintain best ratio in normal driving. The secondary inlet is ambient air at full throttle.
pretty cool actually.. no way would i put an aftermarket cold air kit on an originally without it.. but would replace it with oem even a snorkel but that's me..
for sure the engine compartment is 170-200f.. compared to ambient and power is measurable...and cheap..
@Bikespace also added open element comparison
and @REELAV8R has a link too

Cold air cleaner Thermocouple experiments 79 L82 4m ac - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
That was for his car. My underhood temps are nowhere near that. Maybe I should put my rad seals back in so I can get them up to 180*F?
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Old May 21, 2021 | 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted by resdoggie
That was for his car. My underhood temps are nowhere near that. Maybe I should put my rad seals back in so I can get them up to 180*F?
did you measure it driving with thermocouples? I was surprised how hot it is..
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Old May 21, 2021 | 08:30 PM
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No but another forum member did without rad seals and his temps were not that much above ambient. But some guys just like to believe what they want to believe for whatever reasons. Electric fans pointed downwards will increase underhood temps but thats a trade off for thinking electric fans are superior to an old school clutch fan.
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Old May 21, 2021 | 08:51 PM
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Regardless of cold vs hot air and actual power, an open element will significantly increase motor sound at high throttle openings -- the entire reason it was popular in the 70's to flip the lid on Chevelles and Novas.
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Old May 21, 2021 | 09:03 PM
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I can't hear my engine - I have sidepipes
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Old May 21, 2021 | 09:06 PM
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And my 14"X4" high open air cleaner will suck in more air than any factory cai. Remember, more air plus more fuel equals more power. I'll take "hot" air over a restricted air flow cai anyday.
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