Thread: Cold air intake system

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Hi Dave, I made a cold air set-up for the '94 Camaro that I used to have. I got the filter from K & N & I got the plastic pipe & fittings from Home Depot. Actually it turned out pretty nice. I just painted it black. I wish I had some pic's. When I had my Camaro I used to hang out at camaroz28.com a lot & they had articles, pic's, diagrams to show what other people had done & I pretty much just followed what they did. Except I used the biggest filter that K & N had! Which was totally unnecessary. It was like 18" long, 8" around (or something like that). The Home Depot parts didn't cost much at all & neither did the K & N..... Bill

Bill, you think like I do, cobbling something up from inexpensive parts that works. Your filter size was real close to being right in my opinion, 144 sq. in. Bigger is better when it comes to filters.

It's a fact that for each 10 degree drop in air temperature going into the motor, the motor will pick up 1% power, assuming of course that fuel delivery is enriched at the same time to allow the proper a/f ratio.

If the vehicle already picks up ambient air from outside the engine bay, then you're not going to gain much with a different filter and ducting, but if the filter is picking up air from within the engine bay, then changing the system to pick up ambient air will improve power.

I just have to laugh to myself and turn away when I see these ricer guys at the dragstrip who have spent megabucks for aftermarket piping and a K & N filter arrangement and then terminate the filter right behind the radiator in the engine bay. Just another case of monkey-see, monkey-do without thinking the whole thing through. It's like the first guy who cobbled up a system for sale made it all wrong and everyone else followed his lead. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

I guess that brings me back to my original question - about homemade cold air intakes. My big concern with this particular truck is that there is soooooo much that is computer controlled, including the throttle (fly by wire) I'm worried about what parameters do I screw up - if any. Does it mess negatively with my already ho-hum gas mileage for my 7400# vehicle?

Originally Posted by IC2

I guess that brings me back to my original question - about homemade cold air intakes. My big concern with this particular truck is that there is soooooo much that is computer controlled, including the throttle (fly by wire) I'm worried about what parameters do I screw up - if any. Does it mess negatively with my already ho-hum gas mileage for my 7400# vehicle?

Don't think you'd get enough return on the investment, if that's your concern.... but then that's not real unusual when playing with a truck anyhow....

the weight is the biggest hold back on the truck... Only thing I've ever got any kind of decent mileage out of in these behemoth trucks is a diesel. The diesels will really react to air flow improvements, bigger exhaust, and a chip... I've got a V-10 laying in the corner, someday going to build a light little car to put it in and see what happens....

Anyway, pulling around that much mass, a couple mpg improvement is probably about the best you could hope for... Changing all the lubes to synthetics would probably accomplish the same....

...Gee thanks Dave I needed some reasurance that I'm not excessive!!! yeah it was 18" long & 7" in diameter, just got a pic of it off of the K & N website.... In fact I think what I used was sewer pipe!!! ..... And I remember using a cutting torch to get it to fit!!! It was beside the radiator & hung down so you could barely see it if you leaned down & looked under. Oh & now that I think about it, it got stolen so I had to replace it!!! Just the filter not the pipe}... Yes, the car sounded better with it....... Don't know about milage....

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Don't think you'd get enough return on the investment, if that's your concern.... but then that's not real unusual when playing with a truck anyhow....

the weight is the biggest hold back on the truck... Only thing I've ever got any kind of decent mileage out of in these behemoth trucks is a diesel. The diesels will really react to air flow improvements, bigger exhaust, and a chip... I've got a V-10 laying in the corner, someday going to build a light little car to put it in and see what happens....

Anyway, pulling around that much mass, a couple mpg improvement is probably about the best you could hope for... Changing all the lubes to synthetics would probably accomplish the same....

Mileage increase with syn lubes was a waste of $$. Mobil 1 - NADA, so am back to Motorcraft Semi Syn. ATF is whatever Ford uses. Differentials have a friction modifier that is compatible with the Ford Equalock/Traction Lock or whatever it's called.

Big mileage increases are not possible with this big of a truck and the less then spectacular aerodynamics - all I want is a consistent 10.5 to 11 town and 13-14 road. And the new Ford diesels, the 6.0 and 6.4 - their fuel mileage is not much better (1-2 mpg) then mine. With diesel fuel here over a dollar more per gallon, sure isn't worth it for a daily driver that seldom sees much bed or hauling load. Then there are the added maintenance costs (and warranty downtime) that really negate a diesel for the average joe. For a guy that regularly hauls a load though, the diesels are the way to go.

Funny, I never had any luck at all with cold air setups. On my '88 Merc 302, I gained 3 mpg by tossing the factory tube, opening the air cleaner entry hole, and sucking air from under the hood. On my '95 Dodge Ram, I'm going to make an old style open filter setup like on any 4bbl. carb and see what happens. I think most factory intake tubes are just too small to work at highway speeds.