Interesting Ram Air

[Al Fernandez]

Bryan relax man, you're gonna have a heart attack getting all amped up over nothing. The stock LS air filter setup is legal, always has been. The SS LS air intake is not.

[BryanL]

Bryan relax man, you're gonna have a heart attack getting all amped up over nothing. The stock LS air filter setup is legal, always has been. The SS LS air intake is not.

So is the stock LS air filter setup legal for a 93-97 that is running the LS motor?

[Den34]

Bryan
I think You misunderstood me. Yes a stock LS air cleaner is legal. I am referring to the cutting out of the bottom of the stock air cleaner housing to allow forced air from the radiator ducting into the air cleaner box. That is what I refer to as illegal. The other stuff about headlight covers and such I have no comment right now. I would have to see the situation.
Bob

[Supercharged111]

Perhaps an RCR is in order where we specify that a ram air appearing intake must prove via data that it is not boosting air pressure in the intake above atmospheric. I've never logged a motor with a restrictor before, that may get interesting. I imagine it drops a bit more as it approaches redline or else the engine wouldn't make less power. It can really get messy in the case of a gutted LS1 airbox because again, they are restrictive in stock form. Even without a restrictor you are going to see a pressure drop as you approach redline. Now if gutting the box decreases that pressure drop, it won't necessarily be because of any ram air effects. The mere act of relieving a restriction in the intake tract, which is what this does, can absolutely decrease that pressure drop approaching redline. Some ram air systems do just this. They don't boost above atmospheric, they can only help with the pressure drop. A good free flowing intake that isn't bothered by packaging constraints can perform the same if it is fed cold air. So how do we as CMC define ram air? This is a loaded subject where a guy could get screwed over at nats by trying to have a cold air intake but, as long as someone has money and perceives that he is looking at a competitor's ram air setup, can have him DQd depending on how the directors perceive the intake to perform. Here's my thought: if the logged pressure drop is less at the top of 4th gear than it is at the top of 1st, you're getting some benefit of ram air. This is the only fair way to police this, and is what a racer should be doing to protect themselves before fielding such a system.

[Al Fernandez]

Wow talk about overcomplicating something that is really quite simple. The best way a racer can "protect themselves" is by not installing something that any reasonable person could construe as being able to provide increased air pressure at the intake. If you believe ram air doesn't actually work, then you have no reason to have anything other than a system that is obviously not capable of creating a ram air effect.

[Supercharged111]

Wow talk about overcomplicating something that is really quite simple. The best way a racer can "protect themselves" is by not installing something that any reasonable person could construe as being able to provide increased air pressure at the intake. If you believe ram air doesn't actually work, then you have no reason to have anything other than a system that is obviously not capable of creating a ram air effect.

It's clear that some believe blowing cold air in the direction of a cone filter could be construed as ram air. I believe cold air is within the intent of the rules and would hate to see a racer get punished over someone's perception. The airbox trick is a free mod. If one can prove it isn't making ram air, then it too falls within the intent of the rules IMO.

[blk96gt]

I've added A/C back in my car and it now blows directly onto the air filter. Is that OK?

[Sook]

Wow talk about overcomplicating something that is really quite simple.

It's clearly not that simple if we've got 30 posts on the topic. Racers are (and should) always be looking for an advantage. I've been working on my 'engine bay cooling' for the long back stretch this Sunday!

Just kidding of course...

- Josh

[Pranav]

Just watching this thread. Knocked some tire boogers out of my $7.99 Fram air filter that goes in my side-draw LT1 airbox.

RAM AIR!

[BryanL]

Wow talk about overcomplicating something that is really quite simple. The best way a racer can "protect themselves" is by not installing something that any reasonable person could construe as being able to provide increased air pressure at the intake. If you believe ram air doesn't actually work, then you have no reason to have anything other than a system that is obviously not capable of creating a ram air effect.

Al-you lost everyone in this group when you said "reasonable person". Seems obvious that even the directors disagree on what constitutes ram air and what should be allowed/not allowed.

There isn't even an answer to whether a 93-97 car with an LS can run the factory LS air filter or if one can run the factory LS filter with an LT.

A director explained to me that unless it's a sealed system grabbing air then it's not a ram air and legal. This would include trimming the bottom of the LS tray which clearly isn't sealed.