Intake question...

[bigred88]

As I was poking around under the hood yesterday (doing what I do when I get bored, looking under there, touching a few things, but not really doing much of anything), I noticed that the intake tubing has a block on the front of it. Righ where it passes through the metal behind the grill, the plastic piece that it hooks onto has about an inch of space where it is open on the sides, but is blocked off in the front. (Does anyone know what I'm talking about right now, thats a terrible description...I'll post pics if need be)

Anyway, if you're still with me, wouldn't it be better to remove that block and let more air flow right in? I'm thinking that its there to prevent debris from getting sucked in, but I can't see anything much getting in up there, and there's always the air filter to catch that...

Thoughts?

 

[m-4x4-chevy]

I know exactly what you are talking about. That round plastic plate in front of the air intake, behind the grill. My understanding is that it will deflect water from, say, a big splash from another vehicle speeding through a pond of water on the road. If that big splash hit just right, the water would be sucked into the engine. It could hydrolock a cylinder. GM could not risk it. Do you feel lucky? Some years ago I modified that piece. First I drilled holes in it. Later I removed the plate completely. I felt lucky. Later I got a new piece with the plate and installed it. How many years can you be lucky? I could not feel a difference driving with or without the plate.

Now I'm thinking "dual intake tubes". There is a knock out in the core support on the driver side for another intake piece, with the plate of course.

 

[4xcrazy]

just how much air are you taking in with a stock/ish motor anyways....

leave it alone, it's there for a reason.

 

[ryoken]

I call it the tophat...... it's letting WAY more air past it than your motor can use...

 

[bigred88]

Alright, I'll take your word for it and leave it alone. Especially if it doesn't make a difference, there's no point in risking it.

I've though about the dual snorkel setup too... I'm just not sure about the routing of the tube- there's a lot of stuff in the way on the drivers side. And then there's the whole having to get the air cleaner housing welded, which I can't do... I think it would be pretty cool though.

 

[ryoken]

I actually have all the parts to do that.. but now I'm going with an airbox and functional cowl induction hood instead....

it's prepped, i just need to weld the second intake in... there is usually a cutout on the ds rad support already there, just have to pop it out...

guess i'll have to put that setup up for sale here at some point...