What is hydrolock and why does it happen?
I have documented every incident of alleged hydrolock on this forum for two years now.

Common denominators:

1) Every engine is an LS1 between 97 and 2000 with the old LS1 intake
manifold.

2) The occurances that have been reported on this forum name Halltech when the incident is somehow related to this intake, whether the intake is responsible or not. All other intakes names are kept secret, or the thread is removed upon naming the other bottom breather, especially the Vortex.

3) All incidents occur a very slow speeds, in water depths shallower than the bottom of the Halltech filter, which sits 8" above the pavement.

4) As many stock intake engines have been broken as aftermarket intake engines, one would have to conclude that the problem is in the engine intake manifold design.

5) GM changed the intake in 2001, proportedly for more power, yet many 2000 LS1s make as much or more power than the 2001 LS1, with the revised intake manifold. Not one incident of hydrolock has been reported since this revision. C5tech correct me if I'm wrong here, but I haven't seen one.

My take on all this:

There may be other factors, but the design of the LS1 manifold allowed fuel puddling according to GM, which was one of the primary reasons for redesign.

When the throttle is closed or at very low throttle position, the vacuum signal within the intake manifold is at its highest, the filter at its lowest.

It would be impossible for the filter to ingest more water at idle speeds than it has already under fully dynamic conditions. This has been proven in testing.

What I believe is happening, is the precipitation of the moisture within the intake manifold with the hot cylinder heads and cool moist air from the bottom breathers. Stock has better resistance to this occurance since its filter is paper and would absorb more of the moisture.

If one cylinder takes in even a teaspoon of water during low engine speeds, from within the puddling within the manifold, the compression ratio of that cylinder could easily exceed 20:1 or more, since the water displaces combustion volume and cannot be compressed. This compression ratio in that particular cylinder will spit out the rod, destroying the engine.

My advice as a patent attorney, lawyer and engineer, don't purchase the TRIC, the Vortex, the Blackwing cold air system, the MTI, the Proflow or any other bottom breather for your 97-2000 LS1 if you plan on driving through heavy rains. Even though these systems are stronger on the street, they should be only used in track or other competition situations. All bets are off if your engine breaks using one of these intakes. Hydrolock is not covered by your warranty and is best reported to your insurance company.

If you drive an older C5, my advice is to go back to stock during the rainy weather, use your aftermarket intakes for clear weather only or not at all.

I had a feeling that I would get beat up on this one