If looks could kill, well it just looks killer. My favorite mod on the whole car. Nuf said.

 

I think that YELLOW TAGT is talking about measuring the air flow through the maf.

I dont think that reading has as much to do with the type of CAI / Ram Air as much as it has to do with your motor.

Different rpm @ idle = different readings

cam , heads , rockers = sucking in more air

I would bet if both cars were equal in hp and were running the same, the #s would be closer

 

Well after reading most of these replies and doing my own research, I think I'll just wait on the ram air set up. I agree with those who said it is basically for looks. I'd rather keep my $300 bucks and use it for something more practical unless I just have $300 bucks to blow soon. Thanks for the input guys.

 

Have there been any tests done comparing the actual intake temperature of a car with ram air and a car with CAI? I would think the ram air would be a little hotter since the top of the hood is the hottest part of the car.

 

This would be true if you are using a stock steel hood. The only way to make raim air as efficient and beneficial as possible is to go with a fiberglass hood. It does not get hot from the sun and does not soak up engine temp. Covering the underside of the hood with reflective insulation would help as well, but Im not sure how much. The Ram Air on the Camaros is probably equal to if not worse than a CAI because of the bends in that RA system. However, the RA on a TA or Formula is a very straight shot, no bends in the piping and very short distance to travel. A RA setup on a Pontiac, especially with a fiberglass hood should beat a CAI anyday. OF COURSE this is speculation and I have not seen any testing to back this up. It is absolutely true that past a certain speed (would assume as little as 10-20mph, again no tests) the RA will flow more than a CAI. All of this is directed towards a Pontiac because the Camaro RA sucks, such a stupid design,

 

The only speeds that the increased airflow on a ram air setup would be noticeable are high speeds like 100mph on up.

 

Proof please? The vents on the front of the hood are going to see more air velocity and flow that is much closer to laminar than the CAI setup that receives air from under the car where it has to turn and thus become turbulent. There will be no measureable seperation of the fluid flow into the Ram Air setup, however, the flow under the nose of the car will seperate from the body and thus increase turbulence and decrease the air velocity seen by the CAI. I do not see how they can be equal at speed. I believe the number should be less than 100mph, but I dont feel like calculating it right now, Fluids was the last two semesters and I'm sick of it, haha.

 

Well I think you would have to be going pretty fast for the incoming air speed to match or exceed what the engine would be sucking in by itself and then that's where you would be able to see higher airflow by a straight through ram air system. Whatever speed that is I don't know, but I know it can't be like 30mph.

 

So..... home depot in the mix?...I wanna see what you made...PM me some pics if you can..im interested in what you made...Thanks!!

 

You're starting to sound like an engineer... welcome to the club

Exactly what I was talking about... Piping Losses..

 

Yeah but that only makes a difference at high speeds. Take a vaccuum cleaner for example. If you turn it on it's like a car at full throttle. Blow in it with your mouth and the air from your mouth will not get any faster as it goes in than what was already being sucked into the vaccuum, it would just match the speed. However, if you take another stronger vaccuum cleaner and turn it on reverse, then connect the ends so nothing escapes, it would make the airflow into the original vaccuum cleaner faster than if it had just sat there by itself. That would be like a car at higher speeds. Anything under that point and the CAI is just as effective as ram air.

 

you have e-mail

 

Yes, but do it with a curved hose that's 4' long, with atleast 3 bends in it, and do it with one that's about 12" long that's almost straight; which one has less restriction?????????

 

The ram air one is less restrictive, at speeds high enough for the incoming air to be faster by itselft than the speed of the air being sucked into the engine if it were full throttle at standstill. Anything under that and both would be exactly the same.

 

You're all missing the point.

You can try and "ram" as much air into the intake tract all you want, whether it be 35mph or 135mph, it won't make a difference. The engine will only breathe as much air as it needs. Unless there is a physical barrier (turbocharger, supercharger) between the source of the air and the combustion chambers, you will NOT see a gain from ram air. Like I said before, it's a cold air induction that looks cool.

Also, unless anyone has any windtunnel data that they would like to share, how do we even know that the placement of the WS6 nozzles are of a high-pressure zone? Same with the SS hood scoop, although that has been proven. The SS hood scoop is probably in the least ideal position for any "ramming" to occur. Center of the hood, low rise, low pressure, BAD BAD BAD. The OPTIMAL spot for intake vents is at the base of the windshield near the firewall. That is a high-pressure zone as air passes over the hood and hits the windshield, swirling clockwise (looking from the left). Ever drive in a car with windshield washer nozzles on the hood? Ever see them spray and have the water swirl backwards toward the hood?

This is why cowl induction hoods work so well.

Also, have you ever seen those pro-stock drag cars? Notice that the hood scoop is usually about 10" or 12" high? It's that high for a reason; away from any turbulence that the preceding body panels would have on any air that is received by the hood.

Ram air is a myth.