Vortex Rammer Cold Air System??
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,178
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From: Bahston Mass.
Vortex Rammer Cold Air System??
Ok, I've been presented with an opportunity to get this setup for a fraction of the cost, and I'm wondering if it's THAT much better then running a K&N W/Open lid?? That's what I'm running now, and the person selling this is telling me it's "night and day" from my setup. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't I restricted , at my TB, to how much air I CAN suck in??? He says "hey, if nothing else, it SOUNDS really cool". I just can't justify spending that kind of $$ on a cool sound - if I could, I'd put some of those really cool whistle tips on my new Corsa's when they come
:lol:
:lol:
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (Jbaker)
From what I've heard (although I can't speak from experience) is that it won't do much for you from a standstill. I guess it's best used at highway speeds when you need to pass somebody. Of course, I've never had a problem passing *anybody* - I just gotta push the pedal on the right far enough down. That's the beauty of 5.7L!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,178
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From: Bahston Mass.
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (Perfusion)
From what I've heard (although I can't speak from experience) is that it won't do much for you from a standstill. I guess it's best used at highway speeds when you need to pass somebody. Of course, I've never had a problem passing *anybody* - I just gotta push the pedal on the right far enough down. That's the beauty of 5.7L!
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 10
From: Nashville TN
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (Jbaker)
The stock TB can flow a lot more air than a 350 will need. That is not an issue, the question of Ram-air is debatable, but in theory it makes sense, but it's kind of hard to Dyno a car while it's traveling at 70mph.
I remember an article about the old Camaro and Trans Am LT1's. They were testing the two against each other and the Trans Am had ram-air. Well, after a 100mph the Trans Am started to pull away. The article questioned if it was the ram-air or just the better aerodynamics of the Trans Am. I doubt you'll see a night and day difference, but I imagine it would help a tiny bit.
I remember an article about the old Camaro and Trans Am LT1's. They were testing the two against each other and the Trans Am had ram-air. Well, after a 100mph the Trans Am started to pull away. The article questioned if it was the ram-air or just the better aerodynamics of the Trans Am. I doubt you'll see a night and day difference, but I imagine it would help a tiny bit.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 767
Likes: 1
From: Noble OK
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (kman0066)
I dynoed my 98 with a Vortex breather on it the first run and had 306HP, thinking the breather might be costing me HP, removed it and actually lost 6HP! That was with the car not moving! I think people under estimate the true potential of forced air! :yesnod:
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 407
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From: Alma AR
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (Jbaker)
He's right, there is no way to tell other than to put the system on your car and compare it to it's "stock" performance. I doubt that the guy will let you do that, but also the fact that your getting cooler, outside air has to be good for ne at highway speeds. Just my two cents.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,178
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From: Bahston Mass.
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (PBnf)
He's right, there is no way to tell other than to put the system on your car and compare it to it's "stock" performance. I doubt that the guy will let you do that, but also the fact that your getting cooler, outside air has to be good for ne at highway speeds. Just my two cents.
He did say, of course, the front plate/ram air setup is the BEST, but we have front plate laws, and I don't need the extra attention to the fact that I never run my front plate :jester
Couldn't you almost simulate highway speeds while on a dyno by forcing air up to the filter assembly with a high powered fan??? Also, by just cutting your shroud open, how much air CAN get up there? I've never seen one cut, so I don't know how big the opening is.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,178
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From: Bahston Mass.
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (vader86)
Its pretty much useless.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,126
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (Jbaker)
Every dyno result posted show minimal gains, as do 1/4mi ETs.
I dont see it as being worth any more than a K&N Open lid, which itself doesnt seem to help LT1s much.
Breathless products have had problems with fitting under the hood correctly.
I dont see it as being worth any more than a K&N Open lid, which itself doesnt seem to help LT1s much.
Breathless products have had problems with fitting under the hood correctly.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,484
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From: Everyday you must choose between the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. Fredericktown, OH
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (Jbaker)
I have one on mine, but it was there when I bought the car. So, I can make no testimony to any HP or performance gains. I can say that it does fit under the hood. And that I cannot hear it sucking air.
That said, I am glad I have it already so I don't have to decide whether to spend the money on it or not. :D
That said, I am glad I have it already so I don't have to decide whether to spend the money on it or not. :D
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,178
Likes: 1
From: Bahston Mass.
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (vader86)
Every dyno result posted show minimal gains, as do 1/4mi ETs.
I dont see it as being worth any more than a K&N Open lid, which itself doesnt seem to help LT1s much.
Breathless products have had problems with fitting under the hood correctly.
I dont see it as being worth any more than a K&N Open lid, which itself doesnt seem to help LT1s much.
Breathless products have had problems with fitting under the hood correctly.
As for the gains, wouldn't the (beaten to death, I know) the gains coming from cool(er) air from under the car, be far greater then sucking air from the engine compartment (open lid)?? Not to mention, as you speed up, your air supply increases, thus giving more air intake creating better performance. There's no way a stock housing/open lid can do that , because it's pretty much sealed under the hood.
Now, I'm not expecting 15-20 gains, as the company states, but, even if there was a slight SOTP gain, it'd be worth it. Not to mention, with the clear lid, it looks :cool: . NOT QUITE as cool looking as the Claw, but still the same.
My MAIN thing here is, I can get this for short money, so I figure, at this point, it's worth the gamble as long as I'm not expecting the world.
With all this extra air, maybe I shouldn't have given my Air Foil away
:jester
Thanks for your input, here. :thumbs:
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,178
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From: Bahston Mass.
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (LT-4 CE)
I have one on mine, but it was there when I bought the car. So, I can make no testimony to any HP or performance gains. I can say that it does fit under the hood. And that I cannot hear it sucking air.
That said, I am glad I have it already so I don't have to decide whether to spend the money on it or not. :D
That said, I am glad I have it already so I don't have to decide whether to spend the money on it or not. :D
Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (Jbaker)
Here's my final opinion. It seems like you are really tossed up about whether or not to get this thing because it's so cheap. I take it that if it were more expensive (retail), it wouldn't even be an issue...
I say you shoud pick it up, try it out, and if it doesn't work - unload it on eBay. You'll at least get your money back out of it, and maybe you'll get lucky and even profit from the sale. That's just my 2 cents, though, so take it with a grain of salt.
[Modified by Perfusion, 3:53 PM 3/6/2004]
I say you shoud pick it up, try it out, and if it doesn't work - unload it on eBay. You'll at least get your money back out of it, and maybe you'll get lucky and even profit from the sale. That's just my 2 cents, though, so take it with a grain of salt.
[Modified by Perfusion, 3:53 PM 3/6/2004]
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
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (Jbaker)
Theoretically, the cold air should help, but in practice from ETs I dont remember a single person who said it helped that much.
You also make a tradeoff, the air going into the CAI is what is meant for your radiator, so the engine will run 10-20F hotter.
You also make a tradeoff, the air going into the CAI is what is meant for your radiator, so the engine will run 10-20F hotter.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,178
Likes: 1
From: Bahston Mass.
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (Perfusion)
Here's my final opinion. It seems like you are really tossed up about whether or not to get this thing because it's so cheap. I take it that if it were more expensive (retail), it wouldn't even be an issue...
I say you shoud pick it up, try it out, and if it doesn't work - unload it on eBay. You'll at least get your money back out of it, and maybe you'll get lucky and even profit from the sale. That's just my 2 cents, though, so take it with a grain of salt.
[Modified by Perfusion, 3:53 PM 3/6/2004]
I say you shoud pick it up, try it out, and if it doesn't work - unload it on eBay. You'll at least get your money back out of it, and maybe you'll get lucky and even profit from the sale. That's just my 2 cents, though, so take it with a grain of salt.
[Modified by Perfusion, 3:53 PM 3/6/2004]
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,178
Likes: 1
From: Bahston Mass.
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (vader86)
Theoretically, the cold air should help, but in practice from ETs I dont remember a single person who said it helped that much.
You also make a tradeoff, the air going into the CAI is what is meant for your radiator, so the engine will run 10-20F hotter.
You also make a tradeoff, the air going into the CAI is what is meant for your radiator, so the engine will run 10-20F hotter.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,126
Likes: 1,727
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (Jbaker)
The air going into this Vortex box and into the TB later is what is meant to go over the radiator. Youre adjusting the airflow with that big hole in the shroud.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 1
From: Green Bay WI
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (Jbaker)
I have the Vortex and I can tell you this... The first one I ordered and installed had some severe quality issues. The snorkel buckled under tightening and the plastic see through shroud melted a little.
With that said, the replacement they sent me is holding up a bit better. I'm thinking about ditching this thing and going with the one that goes in the front license plate...
With that said, the replacement they sent me is holding up a bit better. I'm thinking about ditching this thing and going with the one that goes in the front license plate...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,178
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From: Bahston Mass.
Re: Vortex Rammer Cold Air System?? (vader86)
The air going into this Vortex box and into the TB later is what is meant to go over the radiator. Youre adjusting the airflow with that big hole in the shroud.
Oh, and what a PITA getting that shroud off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :banghead: