Higher Flow Filter Box/ Bridge ..., Options?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,756
Likes: 267
Higher Flow Filter Box/ Bridge ..., Options?
I've seen info that indicates the OE filter, airbox and bridge (LS1) is rather restrictive. How much 'better' is the Z06 setup? Will it fit the LS1? And which aftermarket alternatives are worth the money? It's hard to cough up $300 -$500 without a full understanding of the benefit. Comments and advice welcome. -DJ.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
In a stock engine you will see virtually no benefit. The Z06 box allows more air to enter which aids the engine when you are over 6000 rpms. The LS1 peaks hp about 5700 rpm and by 6200 its starts to fall quickly because of the amount of air available. However, like all the under hood air cleaner attachments you are still adding heated engine compartment air into the engine. Air intake systems that utilize cooler atmospheric air can run much better especially if the PCM is correctly tuned for the more dense charge of air. In stock form, each cylinder can hold approx. 43.25 CI of air/gas mixture. The cooler the air, the the more oxygen is ingested and as a result more atomized gas can be part of the mixture. Unlike the old carburetor cars where the air/fuel mixtures were very rich the FI cars have several variables that control the engine efficiency.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 353
From: Little Rock Arkansas
What year car do you have?
97-00 cars have a side fed air filter box. For 01 onwards, all C5s got a front fed box. For the Z06 specifically, the only difference is that the hole for the front fed box is larger. You can make what is basically the same thing by removing your box and either cutting an opening directly onto the pre-01 boxes or enlarging whats there for post-00 boxes. Ideally it may be advantageous to run a front hood seal if you don't already have one.
At worst you're out $20 and no more than an hour of your afternoon.
Are you going to see any differences? On a stock engine you'll hear the intake noises a little more but that's about it.
The air bridges are gimmicks; the stock one flows just fine. The only reason to change it would be to get rid of the formed plastic to accommodate provisions for some sort of boosted application.
97-00 cars have a side fed air filter box. For 01 onwards, all C5s got a front fed box. For the Z06 specifically, the only difference is that the hole for the front fed box is larger. You can make what is basically the same thing by removing your box and either cutting an opening directly onto the pre-01 boxes or enlarging whats there for post-00 boxes. Ideally it may be advantageous to run a front hood seal if you don't already have one.
At worst you're out $20 and no more than an hour of your afternoon.
Are you going to see any differences? On a stock engine you'll hear the intake noises a little more but that's about it.
The air bridges are gimmicks; the stock one flows just fine. The only reason to change it would be to get rid of the formed plastic to accommodate provisions for some sort of boosted application.
