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We are seeing several vendors gaining really great horsepower improvements from their intake design and testing. They are putting in a lot of dollars and time into the research and I hope they are well rewarded from this effort.
My main question is where is the restriction? Is it mainly the filter? Airbox design? Tube? Combination of all the above? If I just change out the stock filter to a lesser restrictive filter how much do I gain? I'm sure a whole package would gain the most but if I can get most of the gain with just a filter change that is probably the route I would take. We need some testing with the stock intake and new designs with different filters to figure out the various configurations performance. I'm hoping someone has some data that we haven't seen yet.
In all the cars I have owned with a variety of stock intakes I have never seen a gain on the dyno just by switching the filter. I would be surprised if it made a real difference in the Z06. It would be great if it did make a difference but I'm doubtful.
I think that unless you dyno it yourself you probably won't get an answer to your question. The guys making the intakes have no reason to try just an air filter to see if that helps. They would have the expense for the testing and not gain anything from it. Maybe someone that gets an aftermarket intake can do it, stock, with filter, and with new intake filter combo. Otherwise I doubt you'll find out.
We are seeing several vendors gaining really great horsepower improvements from their intake design and testing. They are putting in a lot of dollars and time into the research and I hope they are well rewarded from this effort.
My main question is where is the restriction? Is it mainly the filter? Airbox design? Tube? Combination of all the above? If I just change out the stock filter to a lesser restrictive filter how much do I gain? I'm sure a whole package would gain the most but if I can get most of the gain with just a filter change that is probably the route I would take. We need some testing with the stock intake and new designs with different filters to figure out the various configurations performance. I'm hoping someone has some data that we haven't seen yet.
Prime example of what a good, less restrictive airbox can do, is what SLP did for the Pontiac TransAm Firehawk. I owned a 2002 TA Firehawk with the indestructible LS1. SLP engineering did a fantastic job squeezing how HP & Torque. Frankly, I wonder why SLP is not at the forefront regarding the C7.
I think that unless you dyno it yourself you probably won't get an answer to your question. The guys making the intakes have no reason to try just an air filter to see if that helps. They would have the expense for the testing and not gain anything from it. Maybe someone that gets an aftermarket intake can do it, stock, with filter, and with new intake filter combo. Otherwise I doubt you'll find out.
That's my exact thoughts. There is a dyno a couple doors down but by the time I buy enough stuff to test and dyno it I could have already paid for a high dollar intake and been done. From the owner's profession thread it looks like half of the people on here are engineers, including me, so we will get it figured out eventually.
When you guys are discussing the merits of filter-only change or filter/airbox/duct, are you assuming stock tune? Wasn't there some discussion about some filters really needed to be accompanied by a tune? Thanks.
Last edited by FirehawkTA; Mar 13, 2015 at 03:30 PM.
Reason: Darn auto correct
When you guys are discussing the merits of filter-only change or filter/airbox/duct, are you assuming stock tune? Wasn't there some discussion about some filters really needed to be accompanied by a tune? Thanks.
It depends on the filter and also on the intake filter combo. Without test results you'd be rolling the dice. I'd rather buy something tested than find out the hard way that I had voided my warranty and ruined my engine.
We are seeing several vendors gaining really great horsepower improvements from their intake design and testing. They are putting in a lot of dollars and time into the research and I hope they are well rewarded from this effort.
My main question is where is the restriction? Is it mainly the filter? Airbox design? Tube? Combination of all the above? If I just change out the stock filter to a lesser restrictive filter how much do I gain? I'm sure a whole package would gain the most but if I can get most of the gain with just a filter change that is probably the route I would take. We need some testing with the stock intake and new designs with different filters to figure out the various configurations performance. I'm hoping someone has some data that we haven't seen yet.
Speaking with Jim, he told me the tube is very helpful in corrected A/F and allowing the throttle to open fully down low at 3500ish where the stock tube was restricting that. Also he went on to say that the system that was considered tuning only "may" not require tuning after all. The original concern was the tuners were seeing knock, but as they dove in further they found that the software was reporting a preventive knock measure as knock. So it was not really knocking, just not displaying the incorrect info in the tuning software. So to summarize I think the plastic version of the intake system is the way to go. Lets assume your getting 50whp gain with this even though others have reported more, tuning additionally will only yield an additional 10-15whp. Is 10-15whp worth risking the warranty when you gain 50 already and don't risk the warranty? And please don't say the intake alone will void the warranty because it wont and if youre the person that worries about that, remove it before service. it take a few minutes. Now if youre going to go harder with headers or a pulley, yes a tune is a must. In my eyes if I can get 50whp, that wonderfully blower whine, and keep my warranty for 600 bucks... No brainer
Last edited by jdmdohcpower; Mar 13, 2015 at 03:53 PM.
Speaking with Jim, he told me the tube is very helpful in corrected A/F and allowing the throttle to open fully down low at 3500ish where the stock tube was restricting that. Also he went on to say that the system that was considered tuning only "may" not require tuning after all. The original concern was the tuners were seeing knock, but has they dove in further they found that the software was reporting a preventive knock measure as knock. So it was not really knocking, just not displaying the incorrect info in the tuning software. So to summarize I think the plastic version of the intake system is the way to go. Lets assume your getting 50whp gain with this even though others have reported more, tuning additionally will only yield an addition 10-15whp. Is 10-15whp worth risking the warranty when you gain 50 already and don't risk the warranty? And please don't say the intake alone will void the warranty because it wont and if youre the person that worries about that, remove it before service. it take a few minutes. Now if youre going to go harder with headers or a pulley, yes a tune is a must.
I agree, I think I was the second one to pre-order the plastic version for that very reason. That last 5-15 horesepower is not worth the potential risk of having a problem and the warranty being voided.
Someone removed the air filter all together and dynoed their car at the forum, it showed no difference in hp.
That's kinda what I was looking for. K&N's filter for the C7 says a little hp and torque gain(probably means not measurable) and their intake kit says 12.5 hp. With the increased Z06 airflow needs any restriction is magnified greatly. I'm going to wait just a little longer before I pull the trigger but I'm leaning towards the plastic kit.
I think that unless you dyno it yourself you probably won't get an answer to your question. The guys making the intakes have no reason to try just an air filter to see if that helps. They would have the expense for the testing and not gain anything from it. Maybe someone that gets an aftermarket intake can do it, stock, with filter, and with new intake filter combo. Otherwise I doubt you'll find out.
So off base here (being nice)
Halltech has been the leader in Corvette intakes and makes a great product. I have the new intake ordered.
a lot more than a filter. Whole new intake tube (a lot larger) removing I presume a silencer. Looked like 3-4 times more filter area and much BIGGER better designed housing. All made to read correctly with the stock MAF. I fully expect the 50 rwhp.
Last edited by 3 Z06ZR1; Mar 13, 2015 at 06:27 PM.
You can pick up an easy 12 horsepower by just waiting 10 minutes and then doing another dyno pull with the stock air filter assembly. No need to made mods to gain horsepower.
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