Stock Air Filter Question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 180
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Stock Air Filter Question
I have a K&N filter in the stock "holder" and just took it out to check/clean it today. I decided to take a closer look to see where the air actually comes in, and to be honest, it looks as if there is no way for the air to get in!!! Of course, I know it does and the car runs fine, but I thought I would see a big hole somewhere so the car can suck as much as it needs. Can someone enlighten me on this? Do the aftermarket "cone type" air filters do anything for performance?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: GO EXPRESS!!!!!!! Round Rock, TX
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Re: Stock Air Filter Question (bernardomd)
comes from the side....pull the entire filter system out from the coupler back and you'll see on the sides....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 1
From: San Jose CA
Re: Stock Air Filter Question (dmc80868)
The air comes in from the sides of the cover. It is very restrictive. The cone K&N filters give alot more air flow which usually means more power.
Roger
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,104
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From: "In a van down by the river" CO
Re: Stock Air Filter Question (bernardomd)
There are four rectangular air channels (two on each side of the air box) that draw air along the top inside of the lid and into your filter. You should consider a quality intake.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,710
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From: Southern California
Re: Stock Air Filter Question (bernardomd)
...I thought I would see a big hole somewhere so the car can suck as much as it needs. Can someone enlighten me on this? Do the aftermarket "cone type" air filters do anything for performance?
The two-cone systems look pretty darn cool, but, IMHO, are overkill, and just another extraneous filter to clean.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Re: Stock Air Filter Question (CR555)
They're very restrictive, that's why almost everybody's first mod is a new intake system of some sort. The cheapest route is to just pull the airbox cover off and hold the filter in w/ zip ties. It's called the ziptie mod around here. I chose the vortex, but there's many other great setups out there. Many see 10-15 rwhp by adding a new intake. :cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
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From: Waldorf MD
Re: Stock Air Filter Question (The Batman)
Both of the sides of the Z06 air filter lid are open in addition to the large hole in the center. It is a lot of area. Figure if it's good enough for 405 HP, it's good enough for a stock 350 HP LS1.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
Re: Stock Air Filter Question (bernardomd)
I used a 1" wood drill bit to make my "swiss cheese" mod after installing the K&N filter. I can actually hear the air entering the air box now (but only when the hood is up). I also put on a hood seal to keep water and debris from going straight into the filter through the small crack under the front of the hood. The seal also helps keep the engine compartment much cleaner. If you cut the holes in your box, or even remove it all together for the "zip tie" mod, be careful when you open your hood if it's wet, you don't want to let too much water flow directly onto the filter.
:cheers:
[Modified by markcz, 11:21 PM 10/12/2003]
:cheers:
[Modified by markcz, 11:21 PM 10/12/2003]
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Wilmington NC
Re: Stock Air Filter Question (Oldvetter)
Both of the sides of the Z06 air filter lid are open in addition to the large hole in the center. It is a lot of area. Figure if it's good enough for 405 HP, it's good enough for a stock 350 HP LS1.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
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From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Re: Stock Air Filter Question (99nbcoupe)
Rich... pull off you airbox lid, strap down the filter, and go for a ride. You'll feel it! The more horsepower a stock car has the more taxes and insuance costs. These cars are somewhat choked from the factory to keep costs down. Look at these Z06's getting 390+ rwhp w/ intake, headers, catback, and a tune! That's 30-40 rwhp over stock. The intake is 10-15 and the exhaust is 20-30.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
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From: Wilmington NC
Re: Stock Air Filter Question (Cobra4B)
Rich... pull off you airbox lid, strap down the filter, and go for a ride. You'll feel it! The more horsepower a stock car has the more taxes and insuance costs. These cars are somewhat choked from the factory to keep costs down. Look at these Z06's getting 390+ rwhp w/ intake, headers, catback, and a tune! That's 30-40 rwhp over stock. The intake is 10-15 and the exhaust is 20-30.
We are going to have to agree to disagree on this one. First off I don't think GM has any restrictions on a few more HP for a simple mod. But more importantly, after spending a lot of times at Dyno days, I don't see it at the dyno. Lots of people have done lots of A/B pulls including opening boxes and even taking filters out. No noticeable differences that I have seen. Open airboxes sound faster but I don't think they are. I believe stock C5s get plenty of air. And if it is slightly marginal a 2002 or later Z06 box will certainly cover any shortcomings.
Same thing with the exhaust unless you replace the very restrictive cats. That is an area of improvement even the GM guys will agree with. The cats were kept small to heat up fast to pass cold start emissions. One of the guys at the dyno shop was explaining why high flow cat backs had little or no effect on HP. Simply stated "it's too late!"
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
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From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Re: Stock Air Filter Question (Richin Chicago)
Well I partially agree with you... I know that catbacks are just for sound. But I saw the difference of my airbox at the track.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 180
Likes: 1
Re: Stock Air Filter Question (Cobra4B)
More questions!!!
zip-tie mod
If I want to try the zip-tie mod first, how do I take the front air box cover off? I took a look tonight and it appears that the front cover is held on by two torx screws at the bottom (inside) of the cover. Is this correct?
blackwing
I always thought the blackwing was a filter plus new duct work, but I noticed it for sale on Xtreme and it only shows a filter. They make the statement that "Gains of 17-19 RWHP are typical with the installation of this filter". Anyone feels this is true or untrue?
last but not least
I can see the 4 small inlet holes in the stock air filter lid, and I can understand how removing the lid or installing an aftermarket kit would be beneficial, but it still doesn't look like much air gets into this general area from the front of the car. I mean, you just don't see any holes anywhere. It looks like such a tight compartment.
zip-tie mod
If I want to try the zip-tie mod first, how do I take the front air box cover off? I took a look tonight and it appears that the front cover is held on by two torx screws at the bottom (inside) of the cover. Is this correct?
blackwing
I always thought the blackwing was a filter plus new duct work, but I noticed it for sale on Xtreme and it only shows a filter. They make the statement that "Gains of 17-19 RWHP are typical with the installation of this filter". Anyone feels this is true or untrue?
last but not least
I can see the 4 small inlet holes in the stock air filter lid, and I can understand how removing the lid or installing an aftermarket kit would be beneficial, but it still doesn't look like much air gets into this general area from the front of the car. I mean, you just don't see any holes anywhere. It looks like such a tight compartment.
