Slow Poke

Since no one has come up with a front breather cold air modification, I decided to take a peek at what is available for more airflow into the under fender mount location. I removed the right front wheel and wheel well cover to see how air comes into the air filter track. I found GM installed a rectangular 6 inch by 2 inch inlet which goes up and into the air intake track and is partially blocked by some frame bars. It appears that the air comes in from the void between the front bumper a small triangular hole opened up to allow air to pass in from beneath the car. I noticed how the right front brake duct goes through this location but does not allow any outside front bumper air into the cavity space. Since I only plan to drag race, I did not think the front brake duct is that important that I could not modify it to allow for more airflow into the air filter compartment. I removed the plastic front brake duct held in by two 10 mm screws and cut it roughly in half then went to Home Depot and bought a 4 inch plastic coupler and a 4 inch to 3 inch plastic duct with a square outlet. Total cost was about $6.00 and time to modify duct was about 10 minutes. Wheel well covers took the longest to get off at about 20 minutes. Enclosed are the pictures to explain the work.





View of under bumper where fresh air goes into air filter location.




Modified Front Brake Duct with coupler and 4 to 3 inch square opening.
Square opening inserted into stock air intake opening. The idea is to fill the fender cavity with outside air when at speed. This is not a Ram Air effect, it is just allowing for cooler outside air in front bumper area to enter intake air track much faster.




The stock 6 x 2 cavity is not totally filled, but the airflow through the front brake duct should really increase flow.






Finished product with new hose duct. LED flash light used to show hose inside brake duct.

NOTE: I am using the Halltech CAI and may actually be running car TOO LEAN with this mod due to faster airflow. I will post results later this month from track results. For a $6 dollar mod, it was worth a try!

Just an update:

Previous time slips using the Halltech CAI without this modification: Average 1/8 mi was 100 mph and 1/4 mi was 130 mph at 10.85-10.90.

After modification: Average 1/8 mi was 104-105 mph and 1/4 mi was 131-132 mph with no other changes. IAT1 (air intake) was ambient air temp at or slightly after the 60 ft mark.

For the minimal amount of time and investment this has been my best modification to date. I certainly do not mind giving up the front brake cooling duct intake since I do not road race.

Halltech's proto-type looks very similar to my modification and it will yield increases in performance but it will not show on the dyno. It must be driven at speed to work effectively.

badhabit_wb

You're coolant tank is really low. You have to vacuum fill it but it needs to be checked to avoid running into heat issues on a track.

Slow Poke

That is normal coolant level for a cold car. It expands when heated and the pick up hose is 3 inches below the water mark. IAT2 never goes above 130F after several hours driving in 90F S. Florida heat. I also use an external HX water box. Thank you for tip!

Zip Corvettes

There will be something out soon enough. It has been in the works for a long time.

badhabit_wb

Mine has 2 small bubbles at the top when cold. I checked it after reading about a problem somewhere here on the forum. i think it had to do with a problem on the road and track car because of high iat's. glad you're not having any problems.

wagoetzmann

Thanks for the idea....I modified the idea to keep the original duct outlet and hence the rear mounting screw holes for extra support.

383vett

Nice

jrwood

Great idea. I'm doing this

Slow Poke

Even better than mine! Looks nice and should give you 2-3 mph in the 1/4 if you drag race !

Mark

RoxyCarter

Does someone make a kit piece for This? I thought I had seen one somewhere.

any codes from doing this mod?

trevor90

OP, see you're in south fla. shoot me a pm

C7z066

I cut one side only to make it look like more oem. Lol

Bob U

JanosNFS

Nice mod for drag racing!

I track my car and this a nono but at least this gave me some ideas what could be done, perhaps an additional front duct to get air to the intake...