Best intake, and why?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 915
Likes: 5
From: Wenonah NJ
Best intake, and why?
Having such a healthy aftermarket is both a blessing and a curse. I'd like my first mod to be an aftermarket intake. However there are sooooo many available I don't know where to start. Is there a definitive "best" and if so, why?
Do these intake really add 30hp (either wheel or crank hp)?! like some advertise?! Thanks in advance!
Do these intake really add 30hp (either wheel or crank hp)?! like some advertise?! Thanks in advance!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,798
Likes: 25
From: Pine Bluff Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21
30 HP??? I wouldn't bet on it.......maybe 15 HP. There are 3 or 4 good CAI's...that "C" is for "cold" air. That's the most important thing you can buy.
Larry
P.S. I assume your talking about the plastic thingy with a filter on the end of it.
Larry
P.S. I assume your talking about the plastic thingy with a filter on the end of it.
Last edited by lebvette; Jun 25, 2010 at 07:54 AM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Cold air
When I bought my '07 new my Vette Pro shop before he did anything else put on a Fast Intake which he made better by smoothing or boring out the sharp corners on the inside of the intake.I call it my mini supercharger. Of course then came the Corsa Sports, Heads, Headers, Crossovers, Cam, all my gears splined and put back in a Z06 housing. All this work caused my paddle shifter to become useless as it shifts through all six gears in a nano second. What I wanted was a Z06 with an automatic...What I have is a genuine "sleeper".
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 2
From: Portland OR
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
there are several threads documenting gains and lack of gains... do some research , even on ls1tech there is some actual good threads documenting lack of big gains.
Stock ported intakes seem to do well depending on who ports them but most aftermarket intakes (FAST) have never lived up the the hype of their advertised numbers. The best intake wont fit under the hood but really you should be looking at application and why you think you need a bigger intake? What year and model? cam ? heads?
Stock ported intakes seem to do well depending on who ports them but most aftermarket intakes (FAST) have never lived up the the hype of their advertised numbers. The best intake wont fit under the hood but really you should be looking at application and why you think you need a bigger intake? What year and model? cam ? heads?
Race Director
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 629
From: Manheim Pennsylvania
When you spend the money that these intakes cost and the performance increase (10 hp??), may as well stay with the stock system. The ability to say; I accomplished a mod on my intake system, is probably the return for the investment.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Kinda like the person that spends money they don't have to impress people they don't know....
Race Director
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 629
From: Manheim Pennsylvania
Modifying the intake system with only a filter and intake pipe change will never be a huge performance improvement by itself. Without changing the engine computer fuel/air scheduling, the additional airflow could actually reduce power, and affect engine response to throttle changes. The engines are adjusted by the manufacturer to provide the best performance, and meet emissions requirements. Care must be taken when changes are made to the stock system, emissions are the first to suffer and you will deal with this every time emission checks are due.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 4
From: Delray Beach Florida
What you engine needs is cold/fresh air from outside of the engine bay. Vararam actually does this PLUS its in front of the car which means "ram air" forced into the intake.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 5
From: Tampa FL
No, it uses hot air from the engine compartment. Cold air intakes like Vararam and Honker require cutting the shroud.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,798
Likes: 25
From: Pine Bluff Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21
Something you might want to consider is the Vette-Air. I installed one about a month ago and kept the stock filter, and I like it.
Another good thing. It must have changed my F/A ratio a little. Where I use to cruise at 75 and get 28 MPG....this weekend I made the first long run since I have had it.... I was getting 32 MPG, and it was a 100 degrees outside. NO tune....YET.
Don't think I put out great numbers just because I bought it. If I had lost anything you would have heard about it, even if I was smart enough to buy it.
Larry
Another good thing. It must have changed my F/A ratio a little. Where I use to cruise at 75 and get 28 MPG....this weekend I made the first long run since I have had it.... I was getting 32 MPG, and it was a 100 degrees outside. NO tune....YET.
Don't think I put out great numbers just because I bought it. If I had lost anything you would have heard about it, even if I was smart enough to buy it.
Larry
Last edited by lebvette; Jun 26, 2010 at 09:15 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 145
From: Northcentral, Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '09-'11
Seems there has been some discussion here about cold air intakes (air filters) and intake manifolds (FAST). I think the OP wants info on the cold air filter systems.