Question on smooth air intake coupler hose
#1
Question on smooth air intake coupler hose
I just installed a replacement open air filter cover in my 85 because I made 2.5 more hp and even more torque with it off on my dyno run.
I was thinking about replacing the ribbed air intake coupler hose with a smooth one. They are about $50. Does anyone have any experience with this mod?
Thanks
I was thinking about replacing the ribbed air intake coupler hose with a smooth one. They are about $50. Does anyone have any experience with this mod?
Thanks
#2
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: altered state
Posts: 81,242
Received 3,043 Likes
on
2,602 Posts
St. Jude Donor '05
no power gain...most the bolt on stuff you see in catalogs doesnt really do anything
Last edited by cv67; 07-02-2017 at 08:43 PM.
#3
Burning Brakes
Most report collapsing under acceleration vacuum. The corrugations prevent this without much restriction. Both sre over 4100 and are not going to psy you bask with power.
Last edited by tlong; 07-03-2017 at 12:16 AM.
#6
Safety Car
Smooth coupling from MAF to Throttle Body
I have one on my 1988, I have used this type since 1998. It is made of 1/4" thick rubber and is a pain to get on the first time. I do not believe that it could collapse enough to interfere with airflow. I have never felt it or seen one collapse as the material is so heavy.
The interference of the corrugation is probably minimal but it does disrupt the airflow. On a car as a whole I doubt it makes any additional horsepower.
As earlier mentioned, most catalog stuff is pretty lame, I installed a K&N air filter the day I bought the car. Those make a difference but again it is hard to quantify.
Good Luck with your Corvette
The interference of the corrugation is probably minimal but it does disrupt the airflow. On a car as a whole I doubt it makes any additional horsepower.
As earlier mentioned, most catalog stuff is pretty lame, I installed a K&N air filter the day I bought the car. Those make a difference but again it is hard to quantify.
Good Luck with your Corvette
#9
I think the only thing aluminum would do is dress up the engine compartment. It would weigh more (probably not enough to matter), soak up additional heat from the engine bay (again, probably not enough to matter), and be more of a pain to remove and install than the stock coupler (probably the biggest deal breaker, but still should only bother you when you need to change the air filter).
#10
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Dec 2005
Location: Where Woke Goes to Die
Posts: 8,194
Received 615 Likes
on
431 Posts
There is a hard plastic insert that fits inside the factory accordion snorkel hose. Thats the best way to go imo. No issue with heat, weight, wont collapse & good fitment.... I have one on my ZR-1. Works as described! Im not sure if they are made for your 85. Ill check the name of the company when I go home for lunch.
Last edited by 81c3; 10-16-2018 at 12:43 PM.
#14
Just wanted to hop in on this thread as well as I also had been thinking of adding the smooth power coupler. Couple of points:
1) I have the K&N filter and I have opened up the air filter housing lid
2) I have a Borla exhaust system
3) March Power & AMP pulley system
4) Everything else is stock at the moment.
I guess the question is do the sum of the parts do anything to increase torque/horsepower? If you have the following set up do you see any real gains or is it a waste:
K&N Filter
Open air box lid
Power Coupler
Air Foil
Free flowing exhaust
PMC Performance Chip
I am in no way trying to build a horsepower monster car, but I would like to be able to beat Accords and Camrys off the line (getting harder and harder to do). My car is saddled with the 2.59 rear at the moment & I probably won't be changing that anytime soon. No will I be adding a supercharger or anything like that ($$$$$). Long tube headers may be a viable addition. So I am curious if any of these add-ons make measurable improvements when all used in conjunction with each other (I am sure that individually one sees little to no effect).
1) I have the K&N filter and I have opened up the air filter housing lid
2) I have a Borla exhaust system
3) March Power & AMP pulley system
4) Everything else is stock at the moment.
I guess the question is do the sum of the parts do anything to increase torque/horsepower? If you have the following set up do you see any real gains or is it a waste:
K&N Filter
Open air box lid
Power Coupler
Air Foil
Free flowing exhaust
PMC Performance Chip
I am in no way trying to build a horsepower monster car, but I would like to be able to beat Accords and Camrys off the line (getting harder and harder to do). My car is saddled with the 2.59 rear at the moment & I probably won't be changing that anytime soon. No will I be adding a supercharger or anything like that ($$$$$). Long tube headers may be a viable addition. So I am curious if any of these add-ons make measurable improvements when all used in conjunction with each other (I am sure that individually one sees little to no effect).
#15
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: altered state
Posts: 81,242
Received 3,043 Likes
on
2,602 Posts
St. Jude Donor '05
They may add up to something, just not much .Headers and gears are improvements youll enjoy. Id jump a full point on your rear gear if you can to really notice it.
#16
Just wanted to hop in on this thread as well as I also had been thinking of adding the smooth power coupler. Couple of points:
1) I have the K&N filter and I have opened up the air filter housing lid
2) I have a Borla exhaust system
3) March Power & AMP pulley system
4) Everything else is stock at the moment.
I guess the question is do the sum of the parts do anything to increase torque/horsepower? If you have the following set up do you see any real gains or is it a waste:
K&N Filter
Open air box lid
Power Coupler
Air Foil
Free flowing exhaust
PMC Performance Chip
.
1) I have the K&N filter and I have opened up the air filter housing lid
2) I have a Borla exhaust system
3) March Power & AMP pulley system
4) Everything else is stock at the moment.
I guess the question is do the sum of the parts do anything to increase torque/horsepower? If you have the following set up do you see any real gains or is it a waste:
K&N Filter
Open air box lid
Power Coupler
Air Foil
Free flowing exhaust
PMC Performance Chip
.
I'm a firm believer in a-little-bit-here-a-little-bit-there... maybe just one element may not do the trick, but maybe that same element combined with other related elements... well then I believe you then have a "System"... if a k&N Filter is a nice thing to have... then give it an Open Air Box to make it happier (I have my filter attached w/o an air box, no cutting, no muss, no fuss)... then why not hitch it to a Smooth Bore Coupler... and then an Air Foil... to create a "High Performance Air intake System". I'm no engineering genius, but it seems to me a Free Flowing, Smooth Flowing, Air Intake has got to be worth something. And again, as a Complete System. Otherwise. why bother with K&N Filters, and mangled up air boxes.... Is it not because you want Better Air Flow?! ... Your Engine wants Air, and lots of it, shoved down it's throat as quick as possible...So why not throw a Smooth Bore Coupler and an Air Foil... I'm for all of that... screw the cost! $50 Bucks, $27 Bucks, whatever! Small potatoes! Cut back on the beers and smokes for a week... another thing about that smooth coupler, you can put some really cool stickers on it because it's smooth... put an Edelbrock sticker on it and get people to believe it's a genuine Edelbrock part... and anyway, it's just all good hot rodding and something to talk, converse, debate, argue, rage, about with the boys.
ps. there's absolutely no way that throttle body, as hard as it could ever suck air, is gonna collapse that smooth bore coupler... never, ever, never...
#18
#19
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: Everett WA
Posts: 7,690
Received 476 Likes
on
353 Posts
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
With a 2.59 rear-end, a swap to the factory offered 3.07 will give you a significant improvement in SOTP performance. When I was test driving many C4's prior to purchasing, the difference between similarly equipped automatics with 2.50 vs. 3.07 felt like going from 6 cylinders to 8 cylinders between 40 - 80mph.
Last edited by Mr. Peabody; 10-29-2018 at 02:29 PM.
#20
With a 2.59 rear-end, a swap to the factory offered 3.07 will give you a significant improvement in SOTP performance. When I was test driving many C4's prior to purchasing, the difference between similarly equipped automatics with 2.50 vs. 3.07 felt like going from 6 cylinders to 8 cylinders between 40 - 80mph.