First, my disclaimer. It isn't because I am cheap or trying to depreciate the value of my car, I just like tinkering and inventing my own mods. With that said, I have put a Z06 lid on my C5. I like the idea of the Varaam but refer to my disclaimer. I was thinking that I could drill 1 inch holes in my fog lamp area and then drill 1 inch holes in my airlid. Then, run 1 inch hose from the fog lamp area into the airlid. I bet most would say, what difference will that make. Well, you are pulling in cold air from outside (and somewhat forced if you can call it that) the opening manufactured into the airbox. Now, if I have to take the car to the dealer, I can pull the hoses out in a matter of seconds and easily put my stock C5 lid back on if necessary.

Second thought, same hose from the fog lamp area that feed into the manufactured opening in the lid.

Third thought, anyone figure out a different way to feed cold air into the stock box other than a store bought air intake like the Vortex, Varaam, or Halltech tunnel trap.

Fourth thought, wished they made something like the tunnel trap but directly attaches to the license plate area and feeds into the stock box.

Okay, let me hear your thoughts and ideas or link me to your projects. I wished I had a way to manufacture my own plastic products.

Thanks,

Jim Kay

 

I'm hoping to make a new front fascia with a hole above where the license plate would go to provide air flow into the intake area.

 

You won't get much air through a 1 inch pipe Jim. Ever try drinking a triple thick shake through a narrow straw vs a large bore/ wide diameter straw?

There is a reason why the duct work in your home is larger than 1 inch in diameter, and a fire hose is of larger diameter than a garden hose.

You are not going to "force" very much air through such a small diameter opening at all.

Now if you took some 6 inch PVC pipe, or some of the accordion dryer duct material used to vent your home's clothes dryer, well then you might be on to something. The problem would be narrowing it down to fit into your airbox.

 

Shoot me your email address and I will send you pictures of my Z06
Air Filter Cover and the reasons why you are on to something. I have sent you and email asking for your address.

Dan

 

they do make a screened peice that replaces your licence plate cover..
saw one today hanging on the wall of a local performance shop...didnt get a price...thought it was a good idea...but its probably made of gold...like all corvette custom peices are..

 

I see your point except that I am looking at it this way. Stock C5 opening, small. Z06 opening, bigger. Neither getting cooler air from the outside. Z06 opening plus a few 1 inch intakes with cooler outside air, better?!?!. A lot better, don't know but you add up a few 1 inch hoses and they can surpass the opening of a the Z06 opening.



VetFver, emailed you back.

usd2sing, I kinda of made one of those screened license plate covers like I have seen in the magazines because I couldn't find a place with them in stock. They seem to have quite making them. Where did you see this one? Please PM me if they aren't a sponsor. Curious to see how much they want for this. What color was it? Was it for a Vette? Thanks,

Jim Kay

 

You are on the right track, but yes, 1" hose is not big enough..

For example, my "alternative" to going w/ a Vararam is that I'm purchasing a Blackwing, and I'm going to cut a slit in the rad. shroud directly below the filter area., letting in cold air, at least when the car is moving.

I'm currently running a highly modified Z06 air lid. Definitely an improvement over stock. And it would be better still with some cooler air circulating in the engine bay.

 

The difference is that in the stock airlid, while the opening is small, the air does not have to travel up a column (pipe) before it gets into the airbox.

Sure enough, the opening in the stock C5 airlid is only about 1 inch in size. But immediately on the other side of that 1 inch opening...or more appropriate........"slit" is the wide open inside of the airbox and the air filter.

The stock airbox is widely considered to be inadequate by many who frequent here. But it would be even more inadequate if air had to travel an appreciable distance, say 2 feet or more, up an extremely narrow 1 inch column before finally reaching the air filter.

 

take a look at this..notice the license plate cover..

http://www.corvettec5.com/store/?pag...ae2675c9cb237d

 

I have ducted (air sealed) the license plate opening directly into a blackwing which is about as much RAM Air as you are going to get, about 0.2 PSI at 100mph (6inched of water). This is good for a wapping 4 BHP. You wont even be able to see this on the MAF log and it is questionable if the additional turbulence with play havoc with the fueling.

The guys with the Vararams will disagree.

 

When the race engineers were looking at mods to the air intake, they looked at your idea and took it one step further. The found that an airbox had to enclose the filter, the opening had to be larger than the filter (about 2-3 inches) and it had to be air tight. At speed, it offered the best performance gain. Reason was the large opening (sq in) to get air to the filter.

 

i did this when my 01 was 6mos old yes it works i used shop vac hose drilled the holes next to foggies but i sealed the hood in the front with a foam strip and let the hoses dump over top of air cleaner i didnt want to dump gals of water in there

 

i have the standard K&N air filter and removed the complete lid to my air box. i used safety wire to secure the filter in the box but other have used zip ties. as far as moisture entering from the hood area, so what. my harley K&N gets wet, the K&Ns recently added to Black Hawk and Kiowa Warrior helicopters get wet. the moisture won't hurt the engine or the filter element.

 

well i just got a chrom pipe with 2 filters on the sides from a friend for 20 bucks looks good and pulls in alot more air then the stock one - next im planning on cuting the fog light thigns and putting some z06 grills on there so you cant tell and that should bring alot of nice cold air right into the filters but good idea with the hoses and all i was thinking abotu that also

 

Good, Good, Good. Lots of new idea's and I have found my front plate with screen.

Patton, that was my original idea. Just place the hoses in front of the opening. No forced air since it wouldn't be sealed but definitely a source for outside air.

Gordy, I see what you are explaining but what did they come up with. Any pics.


AuctionDepot, any pics. Sounds exactly what I am after. Did you home manufacture something out of Home Depot items.

Keep'em coming. Oh, and I am not worried about rain or hydrolock. My car is a fair weather driver. Thanks all.

Jim K.

 

http://www.corvettec5.com/store/?pag...4258e3af36da10

just saw this today.

 

I see that someone already posted this.... that's what I get for not reading the whole thread!

 

Take a look at the picture in my profile(don't know how to post one in a reply). I also have opened up the Z06 screen area.I monitor the air inlet temp. and in hot weather it still takes time for the temp.to come down after I stop at a light.It does eventualy get to within one * of ambient after I get up to speed
.However at the strip if you have a long wait time in the staging lanes the temp will go up and is just Starting to come down as I get to the traps.It does help trap speed but no gain@ 60ft.

 

This scenario you describe at the track is the main reason why I switched from the Blackwing and decided to give the Vararam a try.

 

If the moisture gets past the filter it will hydrolock the engine. One teaspoon of water is all it takes.

Bob