No more hot air! Ram air box complete

[gchemist]

I'm preparing to drive the truck 1500 miles! Wonder how much gas that's gonna cost.
I had some free time to finish the ram air box installation. It took some time to find a few parts to fit. Everything turned out great. I'm going for a test drive after this post!!



81-82 bumper grill air intakes




Final install pictures start here:


I hope you don't have dial up!!

[69BBsuburban]

Me likey!

[swb85]

Lookin good! You even have the fire blanket on your hood---haven't seen one of those in a LONG time.......

[slug]

Wouldn't That Aluminum Tubeing Soak Up Heat From The Engine And Heat Up The Intake Air??

[kevindtimm]

where did you get the plastic/abs holder for the air filter/intakes

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by kevindtimm

where did you get the plastic/abs holder for the air filter/intakes

www.ramairbox.com

[bigblock73]

Looks great G!!!

[Rooster's82]

Originally Posted by slug

Wouldn't That Aluminum Tubeing Soak Up Heat From The Engine And Heat Up The Intake Air??

Good question? What material would you use Slug?

That looks like a pretty slick system...maybe i will ghetto rig something up for my truck.

[slug]

i have seen in the performance catalogs where they have a wrap for intake tubes to insulate them. i would think with that thin of aluminum you may have some heat from the exhaust and radiator soaking into your intake tubes defeating the function of the ram air effect




http://www.jegs.com/i/Thermo%20Tec/893/14500/10002/-1

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by slug

i have seen in the performance catalogs where they have a wrap for intake tubes to insulate them. i would think with that thin of aluminum you may have some heat from the exhaust and radiator soaking into your intake tubes defeating the function of the ram air effect

Even w/the thin aluminum, it should still be a cooler 'air charge' vs. sucking up the engine compartment air. Only way to tell would be some comparison testing.

I've been toying w/this idea for my 68 Beater. I've layed out some 4" openings in the core support & mocked-up 4" stainless 'head pipes' to intake outside air from behind the grill bars. The air cleaner housing would connect to the head pipes w/some black flex hose or coated aluminum (stainless would be too heavy for the ducting IMO).

I did the core support & started fitting up the head pipes but the size of the hoses coming down from the intake (plus the head pipes) kind of over-whelmed the engine compartment making it the immediate focus after opening the hood.

I can't decide if it's worth continuing because of the look. If there's significant gains, I'm for it. If not, it's hard to justify the time/expense when your on the fence of the appearance.

[69BBsuburban]

Originally Posted by slug

Wouldn't That Aluminum Tubeing Soak Up Heat From The Engine And Heat Up The Intake Air??

Nope.....I can grab the tubes on my truck after a drive and they are cooler than than other components underhood...
The incoming air through the tubes is much cooler than the ambient air under the hood.....which is the point of the ramair box.....to get cooler air.

If your worried about the aluminum tubing getting hot.....you could use the convoluted vinyl tubing, which is basically what was used on 442 W-30 cars.....

[gchemist]

I agree. I can put my hand on the aluminum tubing. Hot but not extremely hot. I wanted to use brake hose similiar to the lower bumper to adaptor connection. The hose costs $65 for 10 ft! I'll probably but it later anyway. I like the almost black look for the engine bay. Black makes all the aluminum really stick out.

I drove around the city so no full throttle runs. It's raining today. I may be a few days before a run at highway speeds. I'm curious about the change. The open air element was 4.5". The ram air box K&N is only 4". I do know the intakes flow a lot of air. Truck ran about 170 at highway speeds with a 180 thermostat. Slightly higher for city driving. Open air intakes into the engine cooled the engine down to 153-160 at highway speeds. In combination with the ceramic coated headers, engine temps reach only 203 even in dead stop traffic.

The alternator pictured is a late model 145 amp. I had to partially drill the left side to fit the new alternator. It uses the same plug as a CS130D. It has a 4 guage wire directly to the battery post. Same post where the electric fans receive power. I noticed the difference right way when fans kick on.

I may have a chance next week for a 100 mile run to the lake. I'll post comments. The carb need another tune since the flow has changed. I'm still not happy with the factory 10 degree TDC timing. I need to fix my tach or install the autometers guages for final tuning.

[gchemist]

Originally Posted by kevindtimm

where did you get the plastic/abs holder for the air filter/intakes

You can find the plastic connection at any A/C or plumbing store. The interior ring that I cut, I bought at Homedepot. The ring is a 4" to 3" adaptor. I cut off the 3" part then slit the 4" to fit the interior part of the tubing.

[Rooster's82]

Originally Posted by gchemist

I may have a chance next week for a 100 mile run to the lake. I'll post comments. The carb need another tune since the flow has changed. I'm still not happy with the factory 10 degree TDC timing. I need to fix my tach or install the autometers guages for final tuning.

I'm very interested in the change, you should definitely follow up with some comments. Do you know your base mpg? I would be interested to see how much it will effect fuel economy.

[69BBsuburban]

Originally Posted by gchemist

You can find the plastic connection at any A/C or plumbing store. The interior ring that I cut, I bought at Homedepot. The ring is a 4" to 3" adaptor. I cut off the 3" part then slit the 4" to fit the interior part of the tubing.

Mine is similar....but the only plastic part is the box itself. It has dryer duct wall mount flanges mounted to the rad core support where the factory square holes are....

[Motor City GMC]

This is such a shock to see being that i just left an old mechanics house that had a 86 silverado and he was explaining to me how this worked, he had the same thing on it but homemade with 2 stock air filter boxes one with the bottom cut out mounted on top of the other. Same concept but more of a cheaper homemade way of doing it.

Can you tell me the part # for this? I went to the link you posted but I have no idea which one I need. I have a 87 sierra with a 350, which I believe you have a 350 as well. thanks

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Motor City GMC

This is such a shock to see being that i just left an old mechanics house that had a 86 silverado and he was explaining to me how this worked, he had the same thing on it but homemade with 2 stock air filter boxes one with the bottom cut out mounted on top of the other. Same concept but more of a cheaper homemade way of doing it.

Can you tell me the part # for this? I went to the link you posted but I have no idea which one I need. I have a 87 sierra with a 350, which I believe you have a 350 as well. thanks

RamAir lists a p/n for GM trucks. From their site . . ....

73-95 GM truck, Suburban and full size Blazer/Jimmy/Yukon /C&K Series.
-With small block : 14x4@110 air box, AF4 air filter, 14AL/Rbase1.5,
14AL/FCover, 10x AL4 tubing, 2x 4FLC intakes, 4x HS64 clamps, Stud & Nut,
Sold as Kit part # R14x4@110Kit
-With big block: 14x4@110 air box, AF4 air filter, 14AL/Fbase,
14AL/CCover, 10x AL4 tubing, 2x 4FLC intakes, 4x HS64 clamps,Stud & Nut,
Sold as Kit part # F14x4@110kit

[gchemist]

Mike's truck was the inspiration for the conversion. The 88-91 front end posed a problem. The radiator support does not have extra 4" cut outs like a stock 87 and older radiator support.
http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/drivetrain/ram_air.htm

I would only order two things from Ram Air box. The raised lower base and the fiberglass box. Everthing else you can buy at a hardware store. Even with a raised base you'll have to notch the rear of the box. I didn't because the air gap intake is taller than stock. The air box clears the HEI cap and wires.

Kit for SB and BB's
73-95 GM truck, Suburban and full size Blazer/Jimmy/Yukon /C&K Series.
-With small block : 14x4@110 air box, AF4 air filter, 14AL/Rbase1.5,
14AL/FCover, 10x AL4 tubing, 2x 4FLC intakes, 4x HS64 clamps, Stud & Nut,
Sold as Kit part # R14x4@110Kit
-With big block: 14x4@110 air box, AF4 air filter, 14AL/Fbase,
14AL/CCover, 10x AL4 tubing, 2x 4FLC intakes, 4x HS64 clamps,Stud & Nut,
Sold as Kit part # F14x4@110kit