Free Ram Air

[1htv6]

Have any of you guys had problems with CAI? I heard they take in water and can really mess up your engine, is this true? if so, how does the SS drive in the rain? Does it have a switch or something that closes the hole in the hood? [img]graemlins/omg.gif[/img]

[Guardiannknight]

I did the free ram air mod back in late summer of 2001. I've had no problem with water getting up into my engine. I've driven through a lot of bad rain storms and still no problem with water going up into the motor. The only real way I would think you would have a chance of water going up into the engine is if you went through a huge puddle of water about 3 or 4 inchs deep and you where going above 20 or 25(not proven just guessing now.) ;) In the case that it does start raining really bad, I usually slow down a few mph to be on the safe side. You never know where a nice size puddle of water is going to be at. [img]tongue.gif[/img] Although, as I said at the beginning, I've had no problems and I've been on the interstate going 75 and hit places where water stands(i'm guessing no more that 1/2 inch to an inch deep) and it be raining bad and I've never had water go up into my engine, and from the times I've checked, water has never made it up into my intake.

2000 V6 Camaro(bought brand new)
5 speed
Project: Unreal
Will give details when fin.

[1htv6]

Cool, thanks for the info. I got another one, did you buy an aftermarket lid, snap the ribs off the stock one, or leave it alone? Did you notice any significant horsepower gains? How much? [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[Guardiannknight]

I shaved the ribs off of the stock lid. I figure there is no way I was going to pay around $129 for a after market lid when shaving the ribs off the stock one would be right about the same. Also, you will want to take off the big air silencer that is right after the lid. You can replace it with a 3" pvc pipe. I got mine from Lowe's. I would suggest the black pvc pipe(looks better than white). As for HP gains I can not give a exact amount since I did not have my car placed on a dyno. I can however say that when I first did the free ram air mode. The only upgrades I had was K&N air filter, dynomax exhuast with duals, and a stage 2 Jet chip. Also, I did not have the ribs shaved out of the lid and I had not replaced the air silencer with pvc. With this I hit 15.7 in the 1/4 mile. I was hitting at best 16 flat with the K&N air filter, dynomax exhaust, and stage 2 jet chip. So with only doing the free ram air mode I gained .3 in the 1/4 mile and that was without doing the shaved ribs in the lid and the pvc to replace the air silencer. Also, I live and drag in a high elevation. So my times are a little slower thatn someone that leaves at a lower elevation. Since then I've done several updates but, the drags here do not open up again until the last week of March(not much longer left) :D Need any other help just let me know. ;)

2000 V6 Camaro(bought brand new)
5 speed
Project: Unreal
Will give details when fin.

[1htv6]

Thanks for your help.

[SeanC97]

About that whole water in the cai thing. I don't see how that could really be a problem, unless you are running without a filter or have a jimmy rigged cai.

[Blk Bird]

just my $.02... i snapped off the baffles in my stock lid, 'n didn't notice too much difference. everyone that i talked to HIGHLY recommended an aftermarket lid. i bought one used (9 out of 10 times, you'll find one for cheap used on either this board or ls1.com or something). after installing... HUGE difference in sound and power... WELL worth the $80 i spent on a perfectly good, used whisper lid. i also have free ram air, and am looking at getting the fast toys ram air kit soon... again, i've heard the FTRA was a BIG improvement over just the FRA. again, just my $.02. hope this helps.

neil O.

[AMinor65]

I wonder if it has something to do with the outlet on the whisper lids being almost as large as the inlet on the throttle body?

[F1GT]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 1htv6:
Have any of you guys had problems with CAI? I heard they take in water and can really mess up your engine, is this true? if so, how does the SS drive in the rain? Does it have a switch or something that closes the hole in the hood? [img]graemlins/omg.gif[/img] <hr></blockquote>

Well, I did my Free Ram Air mod back in the summer of 2000 and I've always worried about it whenever I drive in the rain. When you are on the freeway you are driving at a high rate of speed. All the tires on the freeways are creating a constant mist that is "Ramming" it's way up the radiator and air filter. One rainy night after driving ~20 miles on the freeway I exited and pulled into a gas station. I immediately popped the hood and unclamped the Whisper Lid. Guess what? The filter was damp and there was some water around the lower box area. From then on, I've kept the FRA taped up with masking tape. I will keep that tape on until sunny skies show up again.
[img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[Askidracer]

This is gonna sound stupid but we all gotta ask at some time or another. What exactlly is a whisper lid, how much does it cost, where do you get one, and what are the benefits? sorry for being so ignorent

[shortdog273]

The whisper lid is an aftermarket lid that replaces the stock lid on 98+ cars. It increases hp a little and deepens your exhaust tone.

[redbird00]

i had the fra on my old car and had no problems with it ever being damp, i also have the whisperer lid, and its great. they worked great together. i haven't done it to my new car b-cuz of the whole water thing but what you might consider is to raise the airbox with a couple washers thats what i did and it makes the opening about as high as the stock ramair lid. and askidracer, same thing shortdog273 said and www.thunderracing.com use with k&n filter = great stuff. good luck. oh yeah and another thing about fra you gotta cut up you car and im not about to start cuttin on my new one, just a thought.

merlin

[RaVeN1469]

I have also done the fra and ghetto whisper lid. I haven't had any problems what so ever with rain but then again I haven't drove in much rain since I did this mod. I was wondering what the difference between pulling off the fins and getting a real lid are. I've heard some are raised so theres more room between the filter and lid and someone here just mentioned the outlet size. What are your opinions of whether or not the lid is worth the money. I did the lid and fra at the same time so I don't know what was from which but I noticed a difference in power and sound, I love the little whistle/gurgle it has now.

Raising the lid with washers: I've read about this and heard about it but never really thought it would do much, anyone know any different?

Silencer: I have a 98 so my freakin TB is angled down, anyone have any ideas on how to remove the stupid silencer? I heard someone used dryer duct but I would prefer something else. Might just buy a bunch of pvc elbows & fittings and see what happens.

Stupid styrofoam: Does anyone know how to remove the styrofoam behind the grille? It looks dumb and I would like to try the other ram air also that I saw on LS1.com but they don't mention how to take it out.

If you can't notice free is my favorite word and these are a couple things that have been bothering the hell out of me. I hope someone has answers

[1htv6]

TTT