I have a 97 SS with ram air. This means that my intake goes over the top of the motor to make access with the hood scoop. I have not been able to find a CAI for the ss model with the LT1 motor. I also had a hard time even finding a K&N air filter for this setup. I ended up calling K&N and they stated that a filter used for a Jeep (can't remember the model) would work. I bought and installed it. Then I heard rumor that although this filter looks like it fits it does not make a secure seal and tends to leak. This causes dirt to get into areas that it should not Is this true I would hate to be allowing dirt into my motor just for a couple extra HP. Does anyone know of a K&N product for CAI that is for my SS or maybe a comparable brand like KoolBlue

 

True K&N doesn't make a filter for our cars it's some genaric one. if you want put a bead of sealent around the edges to make it seal. I got a K&N and it doesn't seal totaly gut I have been checkin it here and there and it doesn't let any dirt in. I look in the air box and it ain't dirty. I am pretty sure that Holley make a filter for our airbox. HTH.

 

Any CAI kit for a non SS LT1 will work in your SS. I am running a K&N FIPK in my 96SS.

As for the filter, I have a K&N Jeep filter. I also have a factory filter. From what I can see, they are exactly the same dimensions.

 

Wouldn't using a non SS CAI bypass the ram air hood If so I think I would rather stay with the normal ram air setup than use a CAI that bypasses it.

 

That is what i was thinkin too...hmmm.

 

The cai's will bypass the ram air hood. Holley does make an air filter for the ss airbox. i have a k&n on mine. The guy who had the car before me put it in though, so couldnt help you on what car it is actually for. Stay with the ram air! Its the best. I've run a moroso cold air on my car before and it gave more hp down low but took it away up top. Not a major difference down low though.
some will prolly disagree about ram air being the best. I've had the best of both worlds and am running ram air. Hope that helps.
-Michael

 

Thanks for the tip on the Holley. I'll check into theirs. As for ram air versus nonram air CAI I agree I will definately stick with ram air. Not only for the performance, but I would hate to feel like a Stang owner. It makes me sick to see that Ford added a huge hood scoop on the newer Stangs (copying the Camaro and Trans Am) and didn't even have the nuts to use it. Just proves that they are more interested in looks than performance.

 

Sure does!

You'll find that the majority of high hp SS guys are not running the factory airbox. Most I know of ditch that airbox in favor of a CAI kit.

 

Brent, I hear that mentioned on the board over the years, but I have to say that I don't understand why the aftermarket CAI is favored over the oem SS air intake. I'm wondering if it is a simple matter of believing aftermarket products "must" be better than stock or if there has been valid testing that has actually demonstrated the benefit of switching.

 

That was my thought too Don. I know that the aftermarket CAI is a definate improvement, but most say it will only get you about 10-15HP at best and that is over a normal setup not the ram air SS. The stock ram air is a boost of about 20HP. I assume this since a 97 Z28 is at 285HP stock and a 97 SS is at 305HP stock. The ram air is the only different performace upgrade from stock. So if you look at the numbers a Z28 with 285HP plus a CAI would jump to at best 300HP still 5HP short of the SS. I also have to beleive that SLP makes pretty good parts and an aftermarket CAI can not be that much of an improvement to make it worth bypasses the ram air.

 

Back when my car was naturally aspirated, I compared the SS airbox to the K&N CAI and at the track, the SS airbox was 1mph faster, and had lower IAT's. I did modify mine so it sat a half inch lower to the intake manifold, and sealed it completely to the hood.

It also dynoed 452rwhp through the SS airbox, and a fram filter.

 

I know that K&N makes a filter that gets a good fit bcuz I have it on my SS, and I know it isnt the one that is listed bcuz I have had that one too and it isnt a good fit.

 

Any chance you might remember the part number for it?

 

I got a K&N that fit's my Ram air filter box. The box I have is a RKS When i see my car next all get the number off of the filter.
It also fit's very tight in the RKS box. however your SLP box may be different than mine.

 

There was a guy on the f-body mailing list several years ago who tested the FIPK and factory SS airbox on a road course. He switched back and forth and could consistently get two or three more mph on the long straight with the FIPK as clocked by a radar gun. I want to say speeds were around 130mph or so. I don't remember all the exact details though.

I have not dyno'd one over the other but that is on my long list of things to do