DO Throttle Body 'AIRFOILS' make a difference?
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 65
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From: Rochester NY
Re: DO Throttle Body 'AIRFOILS' make a difference?
They make your wallet lighter - so you should go faster. However, their weight is greater than the check for 50 bones so it would slow you down...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,167
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From: What did the 5 fingers say to the face? SLAP!!
Re: DO Throttle Body 'AIRFOILS' make a difference? (smacko)
You can't use one dyno pull on Horsepower TV as any kind of proof. Every car reacts differently to mods. So one car making one pull means absolutely nothing. Flow bench tests prove that the air foil increases CFM. Does anyone here not think that increasing airflow into the motor increases power? No, the air foil doesn't do much, but it does something. If you don't think so, you are wrong. Why do all aftermarket throttle bodies have air foils built into the design? That's why I said the last time this came up that even if I only get 2-3 HP from it, it's still a good investment for under $50. Look at some of the other mods that are coming up more and more in threads. Why does no one bash all of the aftermarket forced air induction intakes? Ask Mojo what they're good for. Not much. But people still keep spending $200-300 for them. Keep in mind I am in no way claiming that the air foil is the way to low E.T.'s. I just get sick and tired of people saying it does nothing. If it gives 1 HP, than it did something. Most of the people that reply to this topic every week when it comes up have never used one. To those that actually have used it, can you honestly feel a couple of HP. I can't, and I doubt you can either.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: Brisbane Queensland, Australia
Re: DO Throttle Body 'AIRFOILS' make a difference? (flyersfan1088)
THANKS for your response Fly; I agree with you. I think sometimes people bag things if they can't feel an incredible difference which is not what I'm really talking about. To ME, the little mods I HAVE done, are more to let me know I've done SOMETHING that gives me a tiny bit extra HP over doing nothing...Even if I can't FEEL it and it's more hypothetical than noticable.
I guess what we'd need is a time machine so we could drive our cars as modded, then immediately drive the same car as it was when we bought it, in order to judge.
I guess what we'd need is a time machine so we could drive our cars as modded, then immediately drive the same car as it was when we bought it, in order to judge.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,722
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From: Gloucester Va
Re: DO Throttle Body 'AIRFOILS' make a difference? (smacko)
Well, let's look at this airfoil thing this way. 1: If this airfoil were so great or even increased HP by 1HP as some say it may. Then why didn't GM re-design the TB in the LT4 when trying to get ever last drop of HP out of it? DO you really think they would have spent millions on research if they could have gained 5HP of the 30 total from a airfoil design?
2:I've been on tihs forum, for a long time, and was once apart of the old dobbs fourm if anyone here has been around that long, and there was a enegineer on here in those days that did a test. He found that the air foil gave NO aerodynamic advantage to the intake at normal RPMS. He stated that the engine would have to be reving at around 10,000RPMS for the intake air speed to be great enough for the airfoil to make a difference in dynamics. Now I don't know how true it is. Given that I have had one, and based off number 1: I think it maybe true. :skep:
2:I've been on tihs forum, for a long time, and was once apart of the old dobbs fourm if anyone here has been around that long, and there was a enegineer on here in those days that did a test. He found that the air foil gave NO aerodynamic advantage to the intake at normal RPMS. He stated that the engine would have to be reving at around 10,000RPMS for the intake air speed to be great enough for the airfoil to make a difference in dynamics. Now I don't know how true it is. Given that I have had one, and based off number 1: I think it maybe true. :skep:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,167
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From: What did the 5 fingers say to the face? SLAP!!
Re: DO Throttle Body 'AIRFOILS' make a difference? (88_vette)
Then why didn't GM re-design the TB in the LT4 when trying to get ever last drop of HP out of it?
You're kidding, right? If GM thought this way, there would be no need for an aftermarket. We would all be driving 11 second cars off the showroom floor. Besides, I would have to ask one of the engineers why they didn't and every aftermarket manufacturer does.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,281
Likes: 5
From: Boston
Re: DO Throttle Body 'AIRFOILS' make a difference? (corvette-pilot)
For the $50 those junk things cost, you can have the front of your plenum ported and gain 3 times what the air foil will give you, whatever that is.
BIG JIM
3 x nothing still = nothing :jester
BIG JIM
3 x nothing still = nothing :jester
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Re: DO Throttle Body 'AIRFOILS' make a difference? (flyersfan1088)
Three things -
I agree with Flyersfan1088 that there is some slight advantage. Otherwise, why do TPIS, Holley, AS&M, etc. all have an air foil in their TBs? I also think that unless you are operating your Vette in a very high speed environment, it will not be of much value and most people who do not run theirs at maximum speeds can't possibly realize the little bit they may add. I think it's part & parcel of a whole package to be used when you are seeking absolute maximum air flow through that big air pump we call a motor.
JMHO, but I'd like to meet the guy who can "feel" a HP increase of 1-2. If your only change is the air foil, you will "feel" nothing.
Last - remember that GM was reducing the power of the LT4 so it didn't hurt impending C5 sales! They started the design with what everyone calls the Hot Cam, pulled it for a .475 lift one instead. They reduced intake port flow by gasket infringement in the ports. They used a 52mm opening in the intake, then bolted on a 48mm TB. Etc, etc, etc. The LT4 "could" have been a real bad boy if they'd really wanted it to be. :flag
I agree with Flyersfan1088 that there is some slight advantage. Otherwise, why do TPIS, Holley, AS&M, etc. all have an air foil in their TBs? I also think that unless you are operating your Vette in a very high speed environment, it will not be of much value and most people who do not run theirs at maximum speeds can't possibly realize the little bit they may add. I think it's part & parcel of a whole package to be used when you are seeking absolute maximum air flow through that big air pump we call a motor.
JMHO, but I'd like to meet the guy who can "feel" a HP increase of 1-2. If your only change is the air foil, you will "feel" nothing.
Last - remember that GM was reducing the power of the LT4 so it didn't hurt impending C5 sales! They started the design with what everyone calls the Hot Cam, pulled it for a .475 lift one instead. They reduced intake port flow by gasket infringement in the ports. They used a 52mm opening in the intake, then bolted on a 48mm TB. Etc, etc, etc. The LT4 "could" have been a real bad boy if they'd really wanted it to be. :flag
