Cold Air Intake

[bfay17]

I have a 70 c/20 that is getting a mid built carburated 350 and i was wondering if they make a cold air intake for carbed motors? If they do what would you guys suggest... Thanks

[matthufham]

hood scoop or have a long intake tube to the front of the engine compartment. i don't think that would work any better than a big filter on top because it'd be like using a straw to breathe.

[Gray Ghost]

There's an aftermarket setup but it costs over $300. I has a dual snorkel intake and two tubes that go down through the rad core. Sure clutters up the compartment though.

The coldest and most dense air comes up at the base of the windshield. Cowl induction hoods are usually the best solution. They also allow heat to escape the compartment which is also good for the motor. Course they cost over $500 shipped unless you can find a deal.

[thirdstreettito]

They have some.

http://www.spectreperformance.com/#CATALOG

[Andy4639]

Not a carb. setup but it works great on my TPI. 4" hole cut in support with a 90 and 2 couplings from Lowes and a tube from Pep boys with a 1990 caddy air box modified by me to use the coupling.

[neonlarry]

I think this is the one Gray Ghost is talking about:
http://www.ramairbox.com/

[LuckyHenriksen]

I like the whole idea of CAI but like you guys say, it clutters up the engine bay. I say just go with a KnN Extreme filter

[texanidiot25]

On my truck, the motor came with a third gen Camaro air cleaner:


One could run some tubing to the head light bucket area and pull air from there.

[WorkinLonghorn]

I agree with Texan... above that looks good. I know that my truck must run about 20% faster with ice-cold air in the morning and it always baffles me why performance guys always opt for warm air/open air-cleaners.
That looks like the ticket Tex. I'll be looking aroung for one of those.

[Gray Ghost]

Yep the Ram Air box is the one I was thinking of. That snorkel setup might be a bit restrictive but it would work for cold air.

Most of us opt for the big air cleaner for more air flow. Yeah it's not cold air but the more you have the better the carb will run up to a point. I thought about trying the K&N top but vetoed it when I saw the cost knowing that someday I would add TPI to the mix.

I like your setup Andy....are those Corvette Ram Horns?

[Andy4639]

I wished. I did some cleaning on them and got them pretty slick on the inside before having them coated which was about 20 years ago now. I did a cheap coating that a friend of mine in Denver NC started out using before it got big. Now he does all the Nascar stuff locally.

[texanidiot25]

Originally Posted by WorkinLonghorn

I agree with Texan... above that looks good. I know that my truck must run about 20% faster with ice-cold air in the morning and it always baffles me why performance guys always opt for warm air/open air-cleaners.
That looks like the ticket Tex. I'll be looking aroung for one of those.

With a cowl hood it works as a cold air intake. But with out, your just sucking in 200-300 degree hot air from the top of the motor. While arguably good for fuel mileage, not the best for performance.

A "Snorkal" wouldn't be restictive if used right. You could use a DIY cold air kit that comes with stainless steel pipes and rubber/SS elbows. This would be a nice looking piece when welded up. It would flow no worse than when pulling air through the normal opening in an old school OE air cleaner. Which often times, isn't too bad. Or with a hammer, plenty big Or do like Andy did, and adapt a stock intake.

Big air filters wouldn't make up for cold air. Sure more air can pass the filter, but your still limited how much air actually makes it through the carb. Optimizing that air (colder the denser the fuel mix can be) is much more important than volume coming to it... in my opinion at least. Just my theory, but I don't race or build engines for a living so I could be wrong.

[Gray Ghost]

You're right and I know that cold air is much better. That said, an open element cleaner like I have is ten times better than a stock snorkel cleaner.

If the snorkel were piped from the grill area that would certainly change the equation and I have no idea if that would surpass the open element or not.

As far as snorkels go the ram air setup is king but that's some big ass pipe running through the engine bay.

A cold air box cowl induction beats all takers [carb wise anyway] but it's expensive to set one up.

[bfay17]

Thanks for all the input guys.. and i do have to say that a cowl hood has been on my mind but then there is the question of a 2" cowl or a 4"... i think the 2" would look good and i could also use a newer style cleaner on top of the carb with a ram air setup as well. I will have to look around the forum more and see what looks best. Thanks again