C6 Corvette Air Intake Testing (Is the Stock Unit Good - or - JUNK?)

[@andycraig14]

Wow, I wish I saw this video before I started my intake system, it would have confirmed some of my thoughts on intake/ filter set ups. With help from Vararam I came up with a Ram air set up with a race air filter( flows twice as much as a standard Vararam filter). Not being an engineer our assembly was an educated guess system, plus home fabrication. After dyno testing we made 650 crank horsepower and 640 ft lbs of torque, and that was with a failing throttle body confirming your findings of filter flow. Our Vette is an autocross car so we don’t have to worry about rain, debris or low flying birds, so it’s not a street car application, but it works. Thx for your videos, keep it up. Wish I could include pictures, you’d like it!

[@frankpecenka5606]

Interesting video as I did my own previous research when confronted with all the hype regarding aftermarket air intake systems. I researched the air filter elements used on the LS2 Corvettes and found that the Cadillac North Star Engine uses a single air filters element that the LS2 uses in a pair.

[@profm4601]

Well You're a scientist at this stuff. Love it.😊

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@kentwright5346]

Absolutely excellent analysis! Using the stock MAP sensor and your analysis of the forces involved is excellent. Many thanks!

[@myfastcars]

Try removing the filter housing completely and see if that makes a difference. EXCELLENT Video! Well done!

[@WarriorsPhoto]

Agreed. His testing does show the stock system is very good.

[@richardcorcorran8965]

Not that improvements cant always be made, but looks like Corvette engineers did pretty good getting the most air into a stock LS.

[@Joey856721]

I just wonder how good the scavenging is on this compared to something like the C5 or C5Z stock air boxes especially those cars without the zip tie mod

[@WarriorsPhoto]

@@Joey856721Good question. I wonder if that mod will assist with the amount of absolute pressure. 😮😊

[@Toys4Life]

@richardcorcorran8965 Agreed, not a ton of easy HP to pick up - but we have to look!

[@tman3831]

Then they completely changed it to one Donaldson filter for the ls3. Would be interesting to see how they compare

[@creverett9]

Man if your c5 wasn't supercharged id love too see a video like this for c5's! I've always wanted to do the "zip tie flip mod" but idk what the factors are before I go cutting up my stock shroud in my z06. Love these testing videos, totally supporting the "what actually increases the performance of the car and needs to be modified before I just spend money on ___ thing that everyone else had an opinion about" love it!

[@justincraven39]

same. was literally ready to purchase an intake of some sorts, but would want to know more

[@Glide1992]

I love the results from the no filter test. It says a lot about the stock GM filters. I read an article that said that for all the air required for a stock LS engine, a stock GM filter is going to provide all the air needed. You just proved that. I have a CAI just cuz it looks cool.

[@Toys4Life]

Agreed- most do look better - especially the carbon fiber halltech's! but that is way too much $$$

[@jhuntosgarage]

Heather Thomas? I remember that poster! 😂 Very informative, thanks for sharing.

[@Toys4Life]

I watched that show as a kid for the big truck and Jody!

[@Simple_Youtube]

I did run the Corsa ram air on my LS2 car for months. The system works great but the filter gets dirty and clogged real fast.. maybe less than 3k miles. Now I use a K&N system but i cut the radiator shroud below the air filter so it can pull cold air up from the air damn.

[@rapid13]

Heather Thomas played Jody Banks in The Fall Guy. I had that poster lol!

[@rpach1613]

I have a corsa intake and exhaust. The increase due to the ram air effect is tremendous. Since it moves the intake from under the hood to just behind the front grille, it lowers the air temp and forces air into the intake..

[@tman3831]

Is driving in rain an issue?

[@rpach1613]

No issues in rain. The intake is behind the front lower grill. It goes into a large box. The throttle body is connected to the large box on top. Almost impossible for water to get in. The corsa intake made a huge difference. @@tman3831

[@kenhigginbotham4989]

Do you have a similar video for the C5 air intake / filtration system ?

[@Toys4Life]

Not exactly the same but I think this is a decent mod for the C5's. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iH_cY6mtZZKLgtk

[@ctvette1318]

Great video as always. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@Toys4Life]

Thanks for watching!

[@keepamerica2astrong280]

I have a 2007 3LT Z51 Atomic Orange Metallic only 11k original miles. Just put a KnN cold air intake on. Really a big difference the stock was so restrictive imo. I also have a 96 coupe Z51 and a 95 convertible. I put on SLP air intakes big difference imo

[@darrylsjodin7184]

Always love your videos! Question, if the air filter housing was sealed off in the engine bay so only air coming in through the front grills reached it, would the air blowing into the assembly from the car moving at high speed increase the static pressure that it sees, like the pressure you feel if you stick your hand out the window?

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you. Seems like it would add a small but measurable pressure increase. I would love to test the Vararam for this exact reason.

[@christophershafer5615]

I drilled a 1.25" holes in the plastic pocket where the clips are that hold the main radiator ducting in. I drilled them from the bottom. My thinking is that since the holes are in a pocket outside of the main ducting flow path where the velocity is high but pressure is low. These holes being in the recessed portion should not allow for debris to have a direct path to the air filter, but it should allow for more cooler air. Also, I did take the front bumper off for some brake ducting mods and there is a ZO6 shaped inlet grid on my 2005 and the bumper foam also has the indented ramp pathway leading up to it.

[@Toys4Life]

Very interesting - thank you!

[@jerryhorn3621]

could the reason the "cardboard " did not restrict as much as thought was because the sides of the filters were still uncovered allowing air to flow? Which is the reason for the pleats in any filter (paper or gauze)? As it increases the surface area of the filter. I would guess that if you made the cardboard to be like the cover of a shoe box (top &sides) you may have seen you you thought you were going to see? Do not know is my description draws you a picture or not. OPPS!!!!! I stopped the video before you got the vacuum out. Sorry I'm old (71+) and have to write things down Before the sponge in my head lets my thoughts escape. So I went away and finished watching the "WHOLE THING". And the only ting that would like to add is that the K&N "type" filter (gauze) is supposed to be better because it can be cleaned and also paper filters pores are supposed to close up our time from Moisture that is in the air. Is that true - no idea but every thing I own and have owned gets one. Fuel mileage in my cars has always increased a minimum of 1 mpg. That is same car, same drivers, same roads and conditions over many tanks of fuel! At the least just the cost of multiple paper vs i gauze filter makes it worth it-at least to me. Just an "Old Frat" car guy. Been a ASE tech since the 80's Our Vette is an 08 LS3

[@StevenCivit60]

I wish you did more work on the intake stream then the filters after you saw they weren’t restricting with the cardboard. Smooth bellow, maf screen, maf sensor itself, so on.

[@Toys4Life]

Thanks for the comment, much appreciated.I like doing this sort of thing, but I'm so far into the weeds right now I'm starting to lose interest of quite a few people. It's a fine line 🙂

[@motorgearhead]

LS7 - haltech 103 super bee - 450 stock - 485 after 103, long tubes & tune.

[@R.J.1]

Neat video and fun cars. Looks like you're in MN as well. We got about 3 more weeks or so before the toys are stuck in the garage till spring... Keeps the mileage low i guess

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you, we have to drive home as much as possible cuz we know our season so short!!

[@R.J.1]

@@Toys4Life Agreed. Appreciate the Vettes, the Fiero is my personal favorite. Nice job man.

[@TheCemonthegreat]

13.0 The way you explain cold air is interesting. Does this mean that you get more power when driving in the winter because the air is cold, then hot summer air? Is there much of a noticeable difference with a LS3 car?

[@Toys4Life]

About 1% more power for every 10 degrees F the temp drops. Yes, winter gives the best HP vs hot humid summer.

[@InTheHookJohn]

Slightly off topic. Is the Fast 102 intake a worthwhile mod on a stock ls2? I've seen it as comparable to headers and exhaust. Thank you

[@Toys4Life]

My understanding is that it is a great upgrade mainly because the LS2 Manifold was made differently than the LS1 & LS6 manifolds and has some flow issues. The only issue is the big $$ Price.

[@InTheHookJohn]

@@Toys4Life thank you for your answer. I love your channel

[@InTheHookJohn]

@@Toys4Life I've purchased both the FAST and headers. Love the upgrade. Next might be a cam to take advantage of the much better air flow.

[@OLLI_UP]

You need to test a vararam or something similar where are is forced in ram style into the intake tube on the front grill on these c6's

[@Toys4Life]

That would be interesting to measure!

[@devinchambers532]

Not related to the video sorry but please tell me what exhaust tips are on your friends z06!

[@Toys4Life]

Sorry - don't know for sure.

[@jamesvodnik9359]

How about cfm's? That is actual airflow, seems like they are equivalent? Seems like you may not get much bang for your buck on the intake you built. Maybe a Dyno test is needed.

[@Toys4Life]

Ha, I agree- back to back testing on the Dyno test would be best - but since I do not own a dyno (yet) tests like this would be cost prohibitive. The MAF sensor measures flow but I think the MAP is more accurate for this purpose (IMO) - so I went with the pressure inside the manifold as the indicator for this test. The intake shroud will hopefully keep MAP pressure the same or better, run cooler, and take longer for heat soak to set in in slow traffic. We shall see what the tests show - working on that today and this week. Cheers!

[@joshuat2408]

I know C5 has a heltech screen upgrade that supposedly flows better. Would it fit the C6 as well??

[@Toys4Life]

I think so.

[@doug.s6289]

Similar results on your C5? Any advantage and can we install a C6 air intake into a C5?

[@Toys4Life]

I don't think it would fit - but the LS2 does flow more air I do believe.

[@phoenix21studios]

good content : )

[@SargentandGreenLeaf]

I got a haltech killer bee upgrade, it literally did nothing, maybe like 1% faster, and a litttle more gurgle. They are telling me that i need to make it breathe better, and fart better, before i can make it go faster. So thats what we are doing, Cooks headers next, and then the cam. If it still not enough i think we will start building the engine, they said something about a 383 stroker, but thats last thing we do i think. Theres not much i can do for weight, unless replace panels, and skin the inside of other panels, i am working on getting a lightweight racing battery and alternator to drop 50 pounds, not sure what else i can do to make it faster without a supercharger.

[@Toys4Life]

What engine do you have?

[@ctvette1318]

Put a blower on it and call it a day! You will spend just as much doing everything you mentioned and still not make the power a supercharger will.

[@SargentandGreenLeaf]

@@Toys4Life LS1, and now it has a LS3 mass airflow for future upgrades

[@SargentandGreenLeaf]

It's a 2003 convertible

[@SargentandGreenLeaf]

Last thing , it's tuned to 93 octane, and I put lucasoil octane booster in, and it made 293 whp on the Dyno tuned to 93 with no octane booster