cold air intake
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
cold air intake
After you bypass the the coolant from the throttle body, is it worth installing a cold air intake? Since the air going into the engine is not heated anymore.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,179
Likes: 1,740
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
The air going to the airbox is preheated, since most of it is what comes through the radiator and curves around into the box. Installing a true cold air intake will help compared to stock.
Intake air preheating at the TB is a different issue.
Intake air preheating at the TB is a different issue.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 4
From: Hinckley Ohio
Originally Posted by vader86
The air going to the airbox is preheated, since most of it is what comes through the radiator and curves around into the box. Installing a true cold air intake will help compared to stock.
Intake air preheating at the TB is a different issue.
Intake air preheating at the TB is a different issue.
Well mostly I agree.....On my 96 GM did a pretty good job of blocking hot air from the engine compartment from going into the intake.....but then again you are correct that at least some of the intake air comes from the engine compartment.....GM did make changes during the C4 era.....to be honest I don't really know how a 96 compares to an 86 for example.....
I am sure my SLP triple snorkel allows more hot air into the intake than stock since the baffles installed for the OEM system are no longer effective.....and it is supposed to be a cold air intake......my IAT monitoring says otherwise..
Last edited by LT4BUD; Sep 16, 2006 at 08:21 PM.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Only a true cold air system that brings in air externally will be of enough benefit to be worth the cost or bother. And only then at speeds in excess of what you should be doing on the highway.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,179
Likes: 1,740
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by LT4BUD
Well mostly I agree.....On my 96 GM did a pretty good job of blocking hot air from the engine compartment from going into the intake.....but then again you are correct that at least some of the intake air comes from the engine compartment.....
GM did make changes during the C4 era.....to be honest I don't really know how a 96 compares to an 86 for example.....
GM did make changes during the C4 era.....to be honest I don't really know how a 96 compares to an 86 for example.....
And they closed those gaps smaller between the shroud and the nose on later years.
Navigator
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Always a true cold air intake will help your performance only at 40mph and up, its about a 10HP increase depending what other mods are done to the air intake system. But at all times the reason the coolant is passing throught he throttle body is to keep the throttle plates from freezing and sticking open. If you feel you will never be affected by this keep going. The best systen to use is the won that you instaal in the front bumper where the plate goes. any other system still pulles in warm air. We tried a comparison on a 91 lt1 and found that systems that breathe from any where under the hood or around anything warm like the rad, you dont see much performance, but the won installed in the bumper reduces your air intake temp by 10 deg.
Terry Chaitas
Rolling Thunderz
Terry Chaitas
Rolling Thunderz
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 2
From: Richfield Utah
Originally Posted by vader86
The air going to the airbox is preheated, since most of it is what comes through the radiator and curves around into the box. Installing a true cold air intake will help compared to stock.
Intake air preheating at the TB is a different issue.
Intake air preheating at the TB is a different issue.
There are also alot of variables. For instance, Doing 90 MPH in 10*F is going to make more power than going the same speed in 90*F. We know that the colder the air, the more tightly packed the molecules. Makes for a meaner charge. As long as your throttle body doesn't freeze. the best cold air intake are the ones in front of the radiator. Unless of course your using a giant air scoop on your hood. Then of course you can't see where your going. It is kind of a hot topic on the forum...I'm running an SLP on my 88, and haven't had a chance to test it yet. However, I believe I will take the plastic air cleaner cover, and scoop to an aluminum fabricator, an see if he can copy it in aluminum. That plastic sucks. Then, I would add a bolt on funnel system to scoop more air. Gotta be carefull in this area, as the radiator needs it share of air also. Not much room to work in this area on Corvette's. That is just the way it is. I guess if you don't need to put a plate on the front of your car, the bumper scoop makes alot of sense, but I have NO experience with this unit...
Last edited by Steel Breeze; Sep 17, 2006 at 12:10 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 4
From: Hinckley Ohio
Originally Posted by vader86
I dont think you understand, the C4 doesnt primarily breathe through that little slit between the shroud and nose or the hood and bumper. The air flows in two 'funnel' shaped paths on either side of the intake tract, that comes through the radiator dodging the MAF or snorkel intake and wrapping around to the airbox.
And they closed those gaps smaller between the shroud and the nose on later years.
And they closed those gaps smaller between the shroud and the nose on later years.
Look at this photo (Not mine,,,,I pirated it)
See the rubber wiper on the hood.....there are also some foam pieces mounted on the radiator bracing not so visible in this photo......notice also the triangle shaped pieces mounted on the hood on both sides.......they block the direct entry of air that has been heated thru the radiator......the air coming up from the sides is a mixture involving some heated air, but certainly also a significant amount of cooler air coming from under the car....
Last edited by LT4BUD; Sep 17, 2006 at 09:23 AM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,196
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Originally Posted by skateparkdave
Here's my cold air intake. I've found it to be quite efficient. 
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
[/IMG]
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,948
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Originally Posted by Corvette Kid
Only a true cold air system that brings in air externally will be of enough benefit to be worth the cost or bother. And only then at speeds in excess of what you should be doing on the highway.
You're confusing cold air intake and ram air intake. Cold air intake performance is independent of vehicle speed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 10
From: Lufkin Texas
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Originally Posted by GIJoe
Where did you get that TB plate!? I need one of those!!!
The single "third" solenoid by itself before the nitrous solenoid is my purge.I dont know if they sell the plate alone without the kit but you can go here and inquire.
http://www.barrygrant.com/nitrous/default.aspx?page=97
