I read recently about the stock airbox tie wrap mod and decided to try it. It's very easy to do. Just remove two bolts holding the top half of the black plastic air filter cover on. Then get two very long tie wraps and wrap them around the bottom of the air filter box and over the top of the bare air filter. I used four tie wraps - two fastened together for each side - as I didn't have any very long ones. This works just as well. You should get the hood seal from one of the Vette aftermarket parts shops to prevent water from coming in from the hood and getting the filter wet. I used two black foam strips that I had lying around and just glued them to the underside of the hood until I can get something a bit more custom made. Water doesn't seem to come in from rain, but it most likely will if you wash your car and spray a decent stream of water on the panel gap (even with my makeshift seal it did). Next time I washed it, I just covered the filter with a piece of plastic.

Anyhow, there was a noticeable difference after driving around for a day and letting the computer adapt. It seemed to run lean for a bit (slight timing retard/ping) under acceleration until it adapted to the additional air. I took it for one of my usual full acceleration runs (0-80 MPH) out of the Quik-Trip onto Peachtree Parkway and could easily spin 'em going into third much more noticeably than in the past doing the same run. This was with my brother in the car (185 lbs). I figured this free mod might hold me over until I work up some cash for a Halltech. So far, so good.

 

I got either the Eckler's or MidAmerica (can't remember which) hood seal, and have had no problems with water coming in. Even if I spray a hose directly on the seal it still stays perfectly dry under the hood.

 

I've also done the zip tie mod. I didn't feel any SOTP difference. I didn't really expect to either but a free mod can't hurt.