Best Cold Air Induction?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 417
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Best Cold Air Induction?
Im looking at getting a 1996 LT4 this weekend...everything is settled I just have to go look at it and pick it up. The first thing im doing is throwing on some corsa catback exhaust. I also want to put on a cold air induction at the same time to get maximum sound and output. What is the best kind? I know SLP has been working with GM for years and thats where im leaning right now. Lets hear those opinions... 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
The SLP one is not a true CAI for your years, you need one that cuts a hole in the shroud to get the cold air, and that one doesnt. It just sounds and looks nice.
Don't expect noticable power gains from something like this either.
Don't expect noticable power gains from something like this either.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,202
Likes: 9
From: St. louis, MO
Originally Posted by vader86
The SLP one is not a true CAI for your years, you need one that cuts a hole in the shroud to get the cold air, and that one doesnt. It just sounds and looks nice.
Don't expect noticable power gains from something like this either.
Don't expect noticable power gains from something like this either.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,441
Likes: 421
From: Ventura County, CA
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '24
Originally Posted by Wildcat1
The forced air induction kit from mid america is by far the best cold air kit.
Speaking of I have to go clean out my K&N soon
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,043
Likes: 3
From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
Don't waste the money, unless you want the kit solely for looks. A K&N panel filter combined with an open lid (aka "cut" lid) will flow as high as any of the more expensive kits out there. Furthermore, the "cold" part of "cold air" is b.s. Someone did a test here using temp probes under the hood and in the coupling between the filter and the throttle body. Sitting at idle, yes, the underhood temps climbed and caused the intake air temperature to increase. Once moving, however, the air that was coming into the engine was identical to the outside temperature within a few seconds. Any "heat soak" was gone. You can't get any colder than that.
Now if it's *ram* air that you want, the only system I know of that's currently in production is the setup by A/O Engineering, available from MidAmerica Motorworks. It draws air from the factory front license plate location, but it's my understanding that the installation is fairly labor intensive and requires a good bit of cutting.... Additionally, if you live in a state where front plates are required, that's another
.
In my opinion, get a K&N and cut your lid, or even better - buy an open lid from MidAmerica. You'll get all the ponies you would've gotten with the other, more expensive systems, and your wallet won't be anywhere near as light.
Now if it's *ram* air that you want, the only system I know of that's currently in production is the setup by A/O Engineering, available from MidAmerica Motorworks. It draws air from the factory front license plate location, but it's my understanding that the installation is fairly labor intensive and requires a good bit of cutting.... Additionally, if you live in a state where front plates are required, that's another
. In my opinion, get a K&N and cut your lid, or even better - buy an open lid from MidAmerica. You'll get all the ponies you would've gotten with the other, more expensive systems, and your wallet won't be anywhere near as light.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,731
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From: New Market AL
I made a little test last weekend on my trip to the dragstrip. My times with stock air breather and paper filter were 8.78 and 8.71 (1/8 mile). The third pass I took the air breather completely off, and just left the inlet hose. That pass was a 8.73. Basically there is zero performance loss in a stock air breather as long as the element is clean - at least in the 1/8 mile. With fast mph in the ¼, a ram air system may make an improvement.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville AL
I too made that 8th mile test. I just removed the K&N from my ram-air system though and it netted no difference in times or mph. I did win a trophy that pass though. 
Some may say the battery should have been unplugged to let the computer reprogram itself and the car should have been driven across town and all that though.
Chevy406, your test is more interesting than mine being that you have the stock box and all. Whomever owned my car before me seems to have wasted around $700 on this intake system.
Maybe if I were in the 10s, it may make a difference then.
Some may say the battery should have been unplugged to let the computer reprogram itself and the car should have been driven across town and all that though.
Chevy406, your test is more interesting than mine being that you have the stock box and all. Whomever owned my car before me seems to have wasted around $700 on this intake system.
Maybe if I were in the 10s, it may make a difference then.
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,043
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From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
Originally Posted by Achilleus07
Where is the cheapest place to find an open air filter box? I dont really want to cut my factory one. Ive look everywhere and cant find them.
http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=3.12.782
I have the metal one...to me (used to live in AZ), it was worth it to have the piece of mind during those hot summers that I didn't have a plastic lid warping under the hood in traffic.
Oh, and I grew up in Alpharetta, so I know how hot it gets in Hotlanta! You might consider the metal one as well...
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Drive it for 6 months and enjoy it before you start spending $ on mods. Once you start, it only gets worse.
It's no slouch off the showroom floor.
It's no slouch off the showroom floor.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 417
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Thanks...I'll do the metal one from there. Im not modding the car a ton. Im going to pick up a Black LT4 this weekend..... So Im just strapping on an open air box and corsa exhaust. Then I already have original ZR-1 wheels taken off an old junkyard ZR1 I found that are in perfect condition and painted black. Im thinking Black vette with those upgrades...then I might paint the calipers red and throw on the grand sport red stripes because I have the grand sport engine. I will throw up pics later on in the week. Im thinking it will turn out looking pretty freaking good if I say so myself. 
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,043
Likes: 3
From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
Originally Posted by Achilleus07
Thanks...I'll do the metal one from there. Im not modding the car a ton. Im going to pick up a Black LT4 this weekend..... So Im just strapping on an open air box and corsa exhaust. Then I already have original ZR-1 wheels taken off an old junkyard ZR1 I found that are in perfect condition and painted black. Im thinking Black vette with those upgrades...then I might paint the calipers red and throw on the grand sport red stripes because I have the grand sport engine. I will throw up pics later on in the week. Im thinking it will turn out looking pretty freaking good if I say so myself.
