Ram Air vs Cold Air

[2002MineralGray]

Im thinking about ordering either a cold air or ram air intake for my GT. I know some of the basic differences such as how they are both mounted in different locations. The cold air usually in the fender wall to draw in the cooler air from outside the engine bay. The ram air being roughly in the same spot as the stock air filter. I also know that in theory cooler air means better performance but thats about it. I know that it is best to find an intake made out of plastic or any other material other than metal since metal conducts more heat. Can someone tell me the benefits of each or the negative aspects of each. If there isnt that much of a difference between cold air and ram air intakes then Im thinking of just ordering a ram air from JLT performance so I could avoid having to relocate the filter.

 

[Bruce Steagall]

I guess it all depends on how fast you want to go..If it is performance you wan't cold air is the stuff that makes horsepower so the way and i would go with cold air from the finder well.

 

[Tim2002GT]

The difference between the two will likely be negligible. Just go with whichever one you like the best.

 

[Bruce Steagall]

air

The difference between the two will likely be negligible. Just go with whichever one you like the best.

yep you are only talking a couple a HP either way.

 

[superstang01]

i wouldnt waste alot of money on one, not worth it.....i could not feel the power gains

 

[Wolvrin704]

i wouldnt waste alot of money on one, not worth it.....i could not feel the power gains

I agree, power gain is un-noticable. I went ram air just so it would be easier to take out to clean. I also went with a chrome tube MAC for the looks, I don't look at this as a performance item at all. If you want one get a JLT ram air and call it a day.

 

[GREENBIOCH]

I was looking at one for the car as well, and the JLT from american muscle looked pretty good, i liked the fact that it moved the MAF into the fenderwell with the air filter and pipeing is huge like 4" or something, looks pretty clean. Not sure how moving the MAF will affect the performance but I do think it looks alot nicer than any ram air or other CAI on the market.

As far as power gains I wouldn't expect much either I had one on my 98 and it pretty much sucked balls for performance, but the air sucking throu the tube sounds cool. I think putting a TB/Plenum on with the JLT will gain some #'s.

Anyone know if I stick N/A for a while is it worth going to 75mm or should I just bump up to a 70mm tb/Plenum combo. What is the stock size anyways (2004)?

sorry for hijackin the thread just curious

 

[2002MineralGray]

Yeah Im not really expecting big gains if any at all from it. Thats why I was just curious on the difference. I figured there couldn't be THAT big of a differnce so I figured Id just get a ram air kit and save a **** load of work having to relocate the air filter. Looks like Im going to be getting the JLT kit or maybe a K&N ram air seeing as it would be more convientient to have the filter right there. Gonna be a couple months before I do this though because Im a little strapped for cash. Exhaust and new wheels on the way! Just figured Id do a little research before hand.

Thanks guys.

 

[Winters98GT]

I wouldnt bother, just get a kn. If your not expecting gains, why get it?

 

[Bruce Steagall]

stock 60 MM throttle body

I was looking at one for the car as well, and the JLT from american muscle looked pretty good, i liked the fact that it moved the MAF into the fenderwell with the air filter and pipeing is huge like 4" or something, looks pretty clean. Not sure how moving the MAF will affect the performance but I do think it looks alot nicer than any ram air or other CAI on the market.

As far as power gains I wouldn't expect much either I had one on my 98 and it pretty much sucked balls for performance, but the air sucking throu the tube sounds cool. I think putting a TB/Plenum on with the JLT will gain some #'s.

Anyone know if I stick N/A for a while is it worth going to 75mm or should I just bump up to a 70mm tb/Plenum combo. What is the stock size anyways (2004)?

sorry for hijackin the thread just curious

The stock throttle body is 60MM. Don't kid your self, horse power comes frome small incraments,it all add's up and the stock is good for about 300 HP on the top end. you will gain some on the top. some torque all the way through. EVERY power adder is worth it.

 

[Wolvrin704]

The stock throttle body is 60MM. Don't kid your self, horse power comes frome small incraments,it all add's up and the stock is good for about 300 HP on the top end. you will gain some on the top. some torque all the way through. EVERY power adder is worth it.

Thats kinda my goal, to get somewhere in the 280-300 range N/A. But thats down the road. Sad thing is all the $$$ it takes to get there combined would be about enough to purchase a supercharger, but I prefer to stay N/A.

2002MineralGray, keep an eye on Ebay and Craigslist. I got my MAC for $100 which is almost 1/2 price(it was new too) but at the time I almost scored a JLT. They can be found for a decent deal, just make sure you have a top price that makes it worth buying used over new.

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

If it is performance you wan't cold air is the stuff that makes horsepower s

, some mod please make this a CT!

 

[Winters98GT]

it is pretty amusing.....

 

[Stan Weiss]

If the Ram Air system seals the air cleaner from under hood air then it is the almost the same as a cold air system up to a point.

quoting MadBill,
"Any reasonably well designed scoop will convert 100% of the air's kinetic energy into a pressure which increases as the square of the speed. At 100 MPH, this would be 0.176 psi, or ~ 1.2%, thus ~9 HP on a 750 HP engine. e.g., because of the squared factor, it would be 0.7 psi /4.8% / 36 HP at 200 MPH."

 

[Fastwrx15]

I know someone how had a RAI on a 99 GT and sucked
all kinds of stuff up there like dirt,debris,tree leaves etc.
He even got a small bird sucked up there somehow.

 

[Wolvrin704]

I know someone how had a RAI on a 99 GT and sucked
all kinds of stuff up there like dirt,debris,tree leaves etc.
He even got a small bird sucked up there somehow.

I'd like to know how that happened? The RAI is about the same as the stocker for location and air entry. It's getting its air from the fenderwell same as the stocker and for that matter the CAI would be down in there and would seem more likely to get that stuff. The only way I could see it happening is if he didn't have the shield over the filter.

 

[Fastwrx15]

I'd like to know how that happened? The RAI is about the same as the stocker for location and air entry. It's getting its air from the fenderwell same as the stocker and for that matter the CAI would be down in there and would seem more likely to get that stuff. The only way I could see it happening is if he didn't have the shield over the filter.

He had the March ram air intake witch sucks the air from the
front of the vehicle.Needless to say it sucked up alot of unwanted things lol.

 

[Wolvrin704]

He had the March ram air intake witch sucks the air from the
front of the vehicle.Needless to say it sucked up alot of unwanted things lol.

Oh yeah, those things are horrible because their inlet is down at the bottom of the bumper. That makes allot more sense.

 

[GREENBIOCH]

The stock throttle body is 60MM. Don't kid your self, horse power comes frome small incraments,it all add's up and the stock is good for about 300 HP on the top end. you will gain some on the top. some torque all the way through. EVERY power adder is worth it.

So knowing that I'm staying N/A for a couple of years at least, would you recommend going with a 70mm TB/Plenum combo as opposed to the 75mm. At least thats what I have been reading and I think I will do unless someone here can give me reason to go with the 75mm TB/plenum. But I have heard that that is too much for an N/A car, True or Not?? Anyone?

 

[Bruce Steagall]

stock 60 MM throttle body

So knowing that I'm staying N/A for a couple of years at least, would you recommend going with a 70mm TB/Plenum combo as opposed to the 75mm. At least thats what I have been reading and I think I will do unless someone here can give me reason to go with the 75mm TB/plenum. But I have heard that that is too much for an N/A car, True or Not?? Anyone?

you are correct, 70 is all you need, why that is 10MM bigger than stock and unless you have cams it is just right, that is all I have and my car is not affraid of any LS1.
ofcorse I am known to spray them like a skunk.....