[WorkinLonghorn]

I read somewhere a long time ago (Hotrod) that car makers started putting hood scoops on there cars (facing front) basically to look good but in actual fact that was probably the worst place for it since the air hitting the front of the car would be steaming OVER the hood scoop and actually causing a low pressure area right where the scoop was. When they did tests they found that at the base of the windshield/hood area was a higher pressure area,thus the cowl hood scoop arrangement.
However,I am guessing that the pressure there would not be significant until very high speeds are reached,but I could be wrong.
The stock air cleaner snorkel on our trucks seems pretty restrictive for some reason (maybe it promotes low end torque??) I can feel more power when I flip the cleaner lid over so air bypasses this. But it does stick out pretty far to the front and just may pick up a mixture of cold and radiator heated air.Maybe a compromise with mileage in mind.
I tend to believe that the engineers had solid reasons for their designs. But for strictly power considerations I'll go with the cold air intake with a larger than stock air cleaner opening similar to what Texan... has,plumbed to the front.