I just instaled a AEM Brute Force on my 4.8 The only other performance mod (if you can call it that) is that I replaced the factory muffler with a cherry bomb, then a turn down. The intake seems to have improved throttle responce, and made the exhaust sound louder. Not sure about overall power gain. I was looking at this thing and thinking a couple of things; 1. The heat shield that comes with the kit doesn't seal the filter from air in the engine compartement, I could tinker with it until it's tight to under the hood, and all leaks are tight. Then it would be forced to suck up air from directly below. 2. The tube gets quite warm, I could wrap it with some sort of header/heat wrap. And finally 3. I could make myself a ram air tube, running ABS from where the running light would be (if I didn't have the base model) to a 90 or two 45s, then up to under the filter. I know Volant has such a thing, but it was an extra $200. My question is; How would something like this work with rain and snow? Oh, also, I know that K&N makes a waterproof pre-wrap, any way of knowing if it would fit my AEM, or if a universal one is available? Any help would be appreciated.

 

ask v8 about wraping his intake tube. he did it but i think i remember him saying that it made 0 difference. home made ram air tube is a cheap easy mod. i made mine out of the volant kit. i cant say for sure that it "rams" any air in there but it gets cooler air which dosent hurt anything. you have to clean the filter way more too. its like a treasure hunt every 3-5000 miles. i find all kinds of wierd sheit in my airbox. stuff like coke tabs and cigarette butts

 

What about rain/snow?

 

You should be okay on the rain/snow thing. Unless you plan on driving in monsoons and blizzards?

 

Moving to Fort McMurry in a month where you either plug in your ride in winter, or you've got yourself one expensive block of ice. I think I'll just try it and see what happens. If snow builds up, I'll just take the ram tubing off, and it's high up enough that I don't think rain could get to it. Anyone with a simillar setup, advice, tips, experiences still welcome though.

 

I made a ram air system for my caviler useing piping straight off the bottom of the factory airbox I never had any problems with the rain. As for the way you described your system it will act as a ram air even if it's not totally sealed.

 

Well, the rain would certainly have farther to go on my truck then a cavalier, so that's good. Sure the ram effect would work if it's not sealed, but it would work better if it was right?

 

Shorty,

I made a ram-air setup for my 04 by vacuum forming an ABS sheet over a wooden mold. I then ran it to the metal air box plate of which I welded a 4" metal pipe to. All of the pictures are in this thread.

https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...d.php?t=315183

As far as rain goes, I haven't noticed any issues with it. I didn't even see any water in the air box after driving in heavy rain. I am planning on selling the scoop, hose and base plate for $150.00, but I haven't got around to making more complete kits. However I do have a scoop ready to ship for $70 + shipping. BTW the scoop mounts to the lower tow hook bolt.

With this system I noticed a 0.1 second reduction in 1/4 mile time. For what you want to do would definetly add a ton of fresh air.

Jeff