Actual HP/ET gain using a cold air kit?

[The Darkside]

I am really considering adding a Big Mouth or a Tinman cold air kit & was wondering if anyone has actually went to the track after adding either of these kits & seen a definate improvement in their ET without changing anything else? I know I've heard alot about how incredible the new sound is, but what about actual ET gains?
I am also considering making my own set up,anyone have any cheap efficient ways of doing this?


Thanks,
The Darkside

 

[UNGN]

At the track, where you can (and should) cool your car off between runs, you won't see much improvement when compaired to a cone K&N on the MAF. On the street, when the engine compartment is up to operating temperature, the difference is noticeable, however.

 

[The Darkside]

I'm hoping to get 2 tenths faster w/ a cold air kit with my combo, does that sound realistic???


The Darkside

 

[azgn]

.2 faster than what?

I don't think so unless you are going from a stock airbox and filter.......and even then I don't think so.....

 

[The Darkside]

I was hoping that it would gain 2 tenths over a 9 inch K&N that's connected straight to the MAF. I was also hoping that getting the filter out of the engine compartment away from the heat & into cooler air, it would be possible to pick up at least 20 HP.I figured that if a top of the line cold air kit cost 175.00+ dollars, that it would provide a little more HP & not just sound effects.
Don't get me wrong, I really want one & will still be buying or making a kit, I just want some more HP!!!



The Darkside

 

[azgn]

I think you will find a cold air to be an incremental improvement when combined with other upgrades that will benefit your performance......to say it will pick up .2 (over who knows) is making some big time assumptions...that said, I have one on my car because I think it is beneficial (but I never tried to prove it.....)

it is a relatively cheap upgrade that most fast cars have

 

[ALBERTAN]

Originally posted by The Darkside
I figured that if a top of the line cold air kit cost 175.00+ dollars, that it would provide a little more HP & not just sound effects.

Make your own. The kits you mentioned are very slick, but it's just too expensive to bring anything across the border so I made my own. Here are a couple of pictures... 1 & 2. The pieces aren't that hard to come by if you know where to look. And the less you spend on it the less likely you are to be disappointed. They do indeed sound awesome. Mine is especially loud because it is such a straight shot. Good luck.

 

[The Darkside]

ALBERTAN,

Thanks for the pics!!!Could you please give me a detailed list of what to buy & where to look for the parts I would need to make a system like yours? Also, how much of a performance gain did you get or feel?

I was thinking about going to my local muffler shop & getting them to mandrel bend a single pipe to go from my MAF to the opening in behind the headlights & down a bit. Couldn't I put a rubber connector between the MAF and pipe & another rubber connector at the end of pipe & simply connect my K&N to it?It sounds easy, but would that possibly work?If so, what size pipe would I need & should it be stainless steel, & where would I go to buy the rubber connectors?

Thanks,The Darkside

 

[JToups386]

I made one of my own back in 1993, back when you could still find the thin walled 3" PVC pipe. However, I ended up going back to the typical cone MAF setup, as all I really seemed to be getting was a bunch of water on the K&N from it hanging down too low, as well as more turbulent air coming into it. Don't know that I saw any notable gain back then, but the car was only a 12.80 range car then too.
Keep in mind though, this was nearly 10 years ago, and I'm sure I could engineer something much better now. As for the rubber connectors you asked about; you can find those at Home Depot, Lowes, etc.
I've always gone to those places to buy different oddities for making my own performance upgrades, whether for my Buick or my Z28. It's a poor man racing method, but, anytime you can fabricate/engineer your own stuff, for cheap, it carries a certain level of satisfaction, even if the performance gain is minimal.

 

[ALBERTAN]

Sorry for taking so long to reply. I forgot. Anyways e-mail me and I will give you all the part numbers and how I did it. Maybe I'll make a quick page on my site or something. I don't know if it really made for any significant performance gain, but if you ever heard it you would want it for the sound alone. Nothing like having the guy in the burnout box stop you after a burnout and tell you you just broke something. Ummm.....no. That would be the turbo. Then proceed to mph some old muscle car by 30 mph on the ensuing run. I love these cars!

 

[6pack]

Dean I too would like the list of parts!! Your system looks good. Ever think of marketing it? I'll email you

 

[The Darkside]

Thanks for offering a list of parts!!!I'll e-mail you later tonight.




The Darkside

 

[ALBERTAN]

http://www.turbogm.com/cold_air.htm

 

[tangofox]

I also made my own cold air system. I went to Lowes and bought a piece of schedule 30 PVC pipe (30 is the thin stuff), 2, 22.5 deg elbows, and a 45 deg elbow. I used the existing rubber hose that I had (had to buy 1, 3" hose at Napa.). I painted it. And to be honest, you can't tell there is sewer pipe under the hood.

As for perfomance gains, I can't tell you any numbers. But what I CAN tell you is that my MAT readings on the SM II went from reading in the 110 deg range to ambiant (or very close). As mentioned above, I don't think it' will help alot at the track, since you engine should be relativly cool. but on the street it has to help. My 02's worth.

By the way, my homemade kit cost less than $10.00 to make.