airfoil question
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,097
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati Oh
Re: airfoil question (toondaddy)
has any body used an airfoil for the throttlebody? does it make a difference? Corvette America claims it can add 12 Hp.
And anyone who says "It surely doesn't hurt..." can send their money my way, that doesn't hurt either. :)
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,775
Likes: 125
From: Birmingham AL
Re: airfoil question (toondaddy)
I'll never have an airfoil after hearing about some guy who's motor was destroyed after the screw came loose, went through the plenum, down the runners, and into the motor. :U
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
Re: airfoil question (all4c4lt4)
Well I gained 54 hp at the rear wheels with one. :D :D Actually I bought a Ed Wright chip off of a member and he threw in a air foil and a LT1 throttle plate. With both installed I am running 2 tenths quicker then before, but I believe it is due to the engine running cooler and possibably some other changes with the chip. I believe they are a waste of money, but what the heck, I got one anyways.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: the corner of walk and dont walk
Re: airfoil question (Siveck)
I'll never have an airfoil after hearing about some guy who's motor was destroyed after the screw came loose, went through the plenum, down the runners, and into the motor. :U
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces NM
Re: airfoil question (sinistervette)
Pontiac performance did a dyno test a while ago on a tpi firebird and picked up a few hp and about 8 lbs of torque if memory serves with an airfoil. It wasn't the alum type that bolts in, but a composite(aka plastic) one that fits on the opening of the t/b and in the duct. I'll have to dig out the article and find out which brand it was, but I want to say Holley.
No one I've known has felt a difference with one, though. Just thought I would throw out the Pontiac mag's test to play devil's advocate.
No one I've known has felt a difference with one, though. Just thought I would throw out the Pontiac mag's test to play devil's advocate.
Team Owner
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 22,830
Likes: 13
From: Columbus Ohio
CI 3-4, 8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 6,341
Likes: 1
From: Shelton CT
Re: airfoil question (toondaddy)
Got one the 1st year I got the car. The car defenately felt a bit peppier. Revved quicker it seemed like...Just think of the design of it and see it helps a bit...For the screw to come out and get lose it had to be either put in incorrectly or was not tight enuff. I had mine on the TB for about 3 years without taking it off, and it is still solid on there... So it adds 1-6hp... Lot of 'little' things add to a big one..
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
Re: airfoil question (okinawa86vette)
Pontiac performance did a dyno test a while ago on a tpi firebird and picked up a few hp and about 8 lbs of torque if memory serves with an airfoil.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: diamond bar
Re: airfoil question (toondaddy)
The 1 or 2 HP you will gain w/ the air foil is offset by the weight of it. Some one is getting rich off selling a crude piece of cast aluminum for $40-$50. It probably costs them $1 to cast & machine a hole & throw in a screw w/ it. Big Scam. I dont think there has been much developement or research put into these gimmicks. GM made on the average 25,000 c4 vettes each year & the airfoil fits 84-96, so 25,000 x 12 years is 300,000 c4's. If only 1 out of every 5 c4 owner buys a airfoil at $40 each thats a $2.4 million market for airfoils!
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
From: Mississauga ONT
Re: airfoil question (racerx)
it works . ive seen too mant dyno tests on it. just look at the design, you really want your intake flowing into that ugly space between the throttle blades?? didnt think so. for $45 it at least gives you the nice feeling that air isnt hitting a wall.
Pro
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: Oslo, Norway
Re: airfoil question (toondaddy)
Hi. I have an 85 4+3.
What Mid America do not tell about the airfoil is the following:
If all the intake entities (plenum, runners intake manifold and heads) are strongly modified so that they do not limit the airflow, then the airfoil will work and you will have some better flow in the throttlebody and that could be about 11hp. If there are limitations in the intake the airfoil will help you less and less the more limits you have in the other part of the intake.
The airfoilwill, however, make the flow better through the throttlebody so you can achieve some better throttleresponse but do not wait for more hp in a stock car. It is not a seat of the pants feeling. If you change to another chip then you will optimise the fuel and ignition curves so you will get some more hp. If you have an airfoil and change the chip and you feel that the engine is stronger yhen it is the chip more than the airfoil you feel
best regards
Jan-Eriki
What Mid America do not tell about the airfoil is the following:
If all the intake entities (plenum, runners intake manifold and heads) are strongly modified so that they do not limit the airflow, then the airfoil will work and you will have some better flow in the throttlebody and that could be about 11hp. If there are limitations in the intake the airfoil will help you less and less the more limits you have in the other part of the intake.
The airfoilwill, however, make the flow better through the throttlebody so you can achieve some better throttleresponse but do not wait for more hp in a stock car. It is not a seat of the pants feeling. If you change to another chip then you will optimise the fuel and ignition curves so you will get some more hp. If you have an airfoil and change the chip and you feel that the engine is stronger yhen it is the chip more than the airfoil you feel
best regards
Jan-Eriki
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: the corner of walk and dont walk
Re: airfoil question (racerx)
The 1 or 2 HP you will gain w/ the air foil is offset by the weight of it. Some one is getting rich off selling a crude piece of cast aluminum for $40-$50. It probably costs them $1 to cast & machine a hole & throw in a screw w/ it. Big Scam. I dont think there has been much developement or research put into these gimmicks. GM made on the average 25,000 c4 vettes each year & the airfoil fits 84-96, so 25,000 x 12 years is 300,000 c4's. If only 1 out of every 5 c4 owner buys a airfoil at $40 each thats a $2.4 million market for airfoils!
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: the corner of walk and dont walk
Re: airfoil question (okinawa86vette)
also, all the aftermarket t/b's out there have the middle section already machined like the airfoil.
YES YES YES, by george I think he's got it! If it wasn't worth it, the aftermarket companies would not if spent the extra time/money to finish theirs off to have a built in airfoil design!!!! :cheers: