Cold Air Intake Options & Information:

[Krzdimond]

Both the "home plate" and "first base" are kind of like mufflers for your intake.

 

[blue88]

Thanks for the replies.

 

[kiltedscotsman]

so lemme get this right, the first 2 big 'bellow' looking boxes before the filter are just mufflers to make the engine quieter?

So I can take at least one of them off? Or both of them?

 

[Krzdimond]

Yes, you can remove both of them.

 

[MrBuick (Magnum)]

Yes, you can remove both of them.

3" diameter pipe for one, a hockey puck for the other. YAY!

 

[kiltedscotsman]

3" diameter pipe for one, a hockey puck for the other. YAY!

I dont really want to 'swiss cheese' one of the boxes, is there something I can use/buy that will replace the lower box and be more ventilated for a neater less "DIY" appareance?? Im thinking of using a flat K&N filter.

Does this swiss cheese 'ing' or variants improve gas milage?

 

[MrBuick (Magnum)]

I dont really want to 'swiss cheese' one of the boxes, is there something I can use/buy that will replace the lower box and be more ventilated for a neater less "DIY" appareance?? Im thinking of using a flat K&N filter.

Does this swiss cheese 'ing' or variants improve gas milage?

milage should improve... it didn't for me, I use the GO pedal to much. Chopping the mufflers off sure helped.

You can always make a cleaner cut on the air box. I did another one and the cuts look quite a bit better. I didn' cut up as far, and used a better saw. But really, once you drop it down in there, you can't tell. If you used a bit of door gaurd type edgeing, you could give it a pretty smooth edge. Other than that, you don't really have any options for using a flat panel, that i know of. You can alwasy buy a Cone filter and stick in in there off to the side, but I've grown to not like that look, unless it has a heat sheilding box around it.

 

[kiltedscotsman]

Sweet! Thanks Cory! I think I now fully understand what I need to do to my 95 RMW! Im gonna rip those stupid home plates and mufflers and get to Home Depot sharpish!!

Until I can get the 2 3" elbows and PVC pipe, in the interim, one can just remove the home plate and hockey puck the hole until one does the rest of it?

Honestly, GM putting on a bunch of hollow plastic boxes to REDUCE performance and gas mileage??! Go figure......

Oh, a related issue, there isnt a 'home plate' on my 92 RMW, just a big rectangular box on the top with the big pipe leading the way to the front. Im thinking of just removing the branch pipe so it can take in more air. Is that a good idea?

 

[MrBuick (Magnum)]

Honestly, GM putting on a bunch of hollow plastic boxes to REDUCE performance and gas mileage??! Go figure......

Oh, a related issue, there isnt a 'home plate' on my 92 RMW, just a big rectangular box on the top with the big pipe leading the way to the front. Im thinking of just removing the branch pipe so it can take in more air. Is that a good idea?

GM had driveby noise standards to meet. the intake mufflers where a way to meet it. 100% stock, the car can still reach almost 150 MPH, so they felt the performance was there. the car can pull over 25 mpg on the highway, milage was there.

as for your 92. removing the tube is OK. But you would want to add anouther one, a bigger PVC one. I think the big gain on that engine, is cutting the baffles out of the inside, or stealing the intake bit from a Caddy. I think the 4.9L V8 has it. Looks kinda like a snail shell.

 

[kiltedscotsman]

...as for your 92. removing the tube is OK. But you would want to add anouther one, a bigger PVC one. I think the big gain on that engine, is cutting the baffles out of the inside, or stealing the intake bit from a Caddy. I think the 4.9L V8 has it. Looks kinda like a snail shell.

I see! I had a good look at the air branch tonight, and the hole that goes into it, there seems to be some sorta metal flappy thing on a spring that goes up and down when I push it with my finger going into the box, that seems to control airflow to a smaller metal tube below. What does that do, and can I get rid of it?

secondly, on the 92 intake, there is a large bladder attached to the arm, I pulled it off, there is nothing inside, Im assuming this is a silencer? If so, can I remove it, and stop off the hole? (duct tape haha?)

Thanks!

 

[MrBuick (Magnum)]

some TBI intakes right here. http://www.impalassforum.com/vBulletin/showthread.php?t=118999

 

[kiltedscotsman]

some TBI intakes right here. http://www.impalassforum.com/vBulletin/showthread.php?t=118999

Thanks Cory for your info!🙂 That thread has got alot of info for TBI owners. I indeed can remove the bladder looking thing, (apparently its called a resonator, same idea as the 2 squarish boxes on the more recent RM's) and plug the end with a spray paint can lid! Oh, you were right, the little metal flexi tube going into the exhuast manifold(?) is a heat riser, but as far as the metal flappy thing just inside the neck of the airbox, I cant see how it 'knows' to open up fully once engine is warm. Theres some sensor looking thingy underneath it if one looks at it from the inside.....maybe that does it....

But Im thinking if there isnt a mechanism to open the flap to full horizontal (I couldnt see one) doesnt that restrict airflow? The flap seems to default at 45 degrees, kinda closing off the entrance to the airbox...Some people on that thread you posted seem to remove it.

Anyone in the colder areas care to explain if removing this flapper affected you in any way bad?

Im also going to somehow, remove the 'ribs' on the front end lid of the inside of the air box. GM probably put them there to slow down the air.... *rolls eyes*
....Now, if only I could think of what to use to get rid of the ribs....maybe Ill file them down with some sorta grinding bit...

So, anywhoo...after removing the stupid resonator tonight, I took it for a lil run. AMAZING! Upon start up, the engine seems alot happier, and it doesnt sound as lumpy and chuggy as it did. Also the car seems to 'run on' alot more easily, and loses speed more slowly. Maybe its just me but the car runs alot happier now!

HAHA Ive done my FIRST EVER mod!!!! Yay me!

 

[kiltedscotsman]

I think I figured it out.....The tube leading to the airbox intake is the heat riser allegedly to help in cold weather, and the metal flap in the box assembly is something to do with it too, in cold weather. How I found out? I removed the heat riser tube and the metal flap part, started her up, and after a few mins pootling around the neighbourhood,(-20 celcius) she didnt sound happy. In neutral, it would rev to about 1800 and putting it in reverse, the engine revved even higher, spinning the wheels in the snow... Odd. Putting the heat riser tube and the metal flap thing stopped all that odd behavior.

Perhaps someone would care to explain what was happening here.....? 🙂

 

[kiltedscotsman]

. oops dupe post.

 

[92RMSJMM]

dose anyone have pics of intake options for the TBI roadies

 

[MrBuick (Magnum)]

dose anyone have pics of intake options for the TBI roadies

look up to my last post. 😉

 

[92RMSJMM]

thank i got a few ideas to try out i'll post some pics later when i get a chance

 

[94sleeperwoody]

I just recently got a trick flow intake elbow and the k&n set up is next. I have completely removed home plate along with the mount, hopefully this weekend I can find the time to put the corvette injector covers on. It is quite a process. I highly recommend the trick flow elbow, it looks sweet! So much better and cheaper than the 1LE elbow. I just had to drill a 5/16" hole (i got the composite one, not aluminum) for the optispark vent, they supplied the grommet.

 

[92RMSJMM]

hey anybody got some quick hp and tq upgrades? i was wondering if an underdrive pulley kit from a TBI chevy pick-up w/ a 350 would fit a TBI 350 buick? or even fuel saving upgrades

 

[John D2]

I just completed my stealth "Cold Air Intake" modifications... my neighbor came up with the name S.S.O.B. (Sneaky Son Ofa B*tch)

I like the looks of the HomePlate & 1st Base... it keeps the "Grandpa's Car" mystique to the unknowing that there's an LT-1 lurking under there. Unless you really eyeball it hard, you'd never know about the bypassed HomePlate, 1st Base, and "swiss-cheesed" airbox. Now when you hit it, it sounds like a healthy powerplant!.. Not an Electro-Lux.

Parts:
2) 3" PVC 45deg., "street" elbows
1) 3-1/2" long piece of 3" PVC pipe
1) 3" rubber pipe connector w/ clamps (Fernco)
1) 3" PVC "outlet cover"
3) 15" TyRaps
Semi-Gloss black spray paint

Tools:
Dremel tool or Die Grinder (with bits)
Cordless Drill
7/8" hole saw
1/4" drill bit
Hacksaw
Basic Hand Tools
About 4-1/2 hours & beverage of choice