Isn't the stock intake on a crossfire already a cold air intake?

-Sam

 

It is as it is pulled from behind the front grill. But it is restrictive and the stock air box slows it down alot.

 

Its actually a forced cold air intake. Romio is correct it is restrictive in size and some of the guts. What makes no sense to me are people that remove this system in favor of one that has the air intake in the hot engine compartment. All it does is suck hot air. Needswings has the best system I've seen to date for our cars, at least that pulls air from in front of the radiator. Again I question the design mainly the filters which are not aimed in the direction from where air can be forced into them. They seem to end up sideways where the stock system has the intake lines aimed front ways. If I'm off base here let me know.

 

You are not, Pat. Needswings is a good choice.

Eurocharged has theirs sucking air from the front right fender box. This is down low where it is colder and clearly outside the heat of the engine. Downside is that you might have to worry about hydrolock in heavy rains.

Another point is that the aftermarket CAI are larger, up to three inches, and have smoother, less restrictive elbows.

You know there is a difference because the airflow sensor must be adjusted to deal with the change. It is also a good idea to increase your injector's capacities.



roadster with a stick

 

Ahh i see. The intake tubes and filter housing could be bigger. Thanks!

-Sam

 

As far as going from stock to the short chromed intake, trust me there is no power loss or gain for that matter, I like the look better than the stock.
I'm sure there is a gain with the Needwings intake compared to what I have.

 

"Forced" Cold Air Intake is somewhat misleading. Its been too long ago to remember the exact numbers, but you must drive your car something like 250 mph before the air actually becomes "forced" into the engine. Just something I remember when I attended a GM Performance class YEARS ago.

James

 

James, I'm sure more than a few 440 Sixpack Dodge, Plymouth, and Olds W-30 owners would argue that "fact" with you, but I agree with ya.
When it comes to cold air induction systems, there's a whole lot more "sucking" than "ramming" going on. (hope that makes it past the censors) .
That's the biggest reason I never made my scooped hood functional.
But if I had a SRT, I would probably open up the vents in the scoop for under hood cooling. Still, it probably wouldn't help that much because the scoop doesn't protrude high enough to get beyond the layer of "dead air" that envelops the car.
Pat, I think the biggest improvement offered by NeedWings intake is better (smoother) air flow characteristics, and volume. Needless to say, it sure works.
As for under hood filters, like Tony (Acrispy1) has, sucking heated air, I don't think it probably makes that much difference on a NA car. After all, that's the way it was always done before functional hood scoops starting showing up on Muscle cars back in the 60's. (Not to mention the 50's Baby Birds)
My 69 AMX came that way from the factory. But when I installed a functional 1970 AMX hood scoop (that had a "foam sealed" housing directing the cool outside air directly into the carb) it didn't lower my 1/4 mile ET's at all. But "obviously" I sure liked the way it looked.

 

the stock CAI seems to be suseptible to heat soak, as when I tapped into the cars ecu durring a 75mph drive on the freeway, the Air Intake temp held a steadty 110 degrees F while the outside air temp was 70 degrees F.

You might want to try the phenolic spaces from tvt site. they cost about $100? this will be perfect match to the needswings CAI, should give less change in Temp from ambient to heat soak entering the motor. I would do this first before getting the ECu tuned.