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Smooth Bellows, MAF and Cold Air: Worth it?

Old 03-23-2006, 11:37 AM
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Default Smooth Bellows, MAF and Cold Air: Worth it?

I am going to be doing some intake work in the next week. I am planning on the LS6 intake and an SLP lid for sure. However, I am unsure as to the performance gains offered by the aftermarket MAF, Smooth Bellows and Cold Air. Are any of these worth buying? What gains did you all experience with them? Thanks a lot.
Old 03-23-2006, 11:51 AM
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Just stick with the lid and LS6 intake. Those will net you the most...I'd expand, but this topic comes up a lot.
Old 03-23-2006, 12:03 PM
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Stick with the lid and LS6 intake, take the money you were going to put towards that other stuff into other performance parts(port/polished stock TB for ex.)etc. etc.
Old 03-23-2006, 12:04 PM
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i would'nt buy the Smooth Bellows... u can make one yourself from any hardware store for $10 instead of paying $49.

On the MAF sensor I would change it only if ur planing to change a better intake manifold n throtlebody in future, otherwise I leave it alone.

ColdAir Inductions kits always worth it. guesing 4 to 8 horsepowergain but it'll help your engine alot..
Old 03-23-2006, 12:11 PM
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Could I just make a homemade ramair (cold air) induction kit myself?
Old 03-23-2006, 12:15 PM
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Originally Posted by SVT THIS
Could I just make a homemade ramair (cold air) induction kit myself?
definately. there are a couple threads going on right now showing how people have done theirs
Old 03-23-2006, 12:23 PM
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There's the FRA (free ram air) mod also.
Old 03-23-2006, 12:25 PM
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buy the hardware store furnco "smooth bellows"... about 12 people i know has one without issue... works great, looks like it belongs there, and its cheap.

the MAF and actual "smooth bellows" wont net you anything but a lighter wallet.
Old 03-23-2006, 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by 2001NBMZ28
There's the FRA (free ram air) mod also.
yes. do this... a few cuts with the dremel, and it does show lower IATs... some people claim dragstrip ETdrops, but i couldnt guarantee that... it does work though.

also, EVERYONE i know has this done, noone has water induction issues, even during the wet season down here...
Old 03-23-2006, 01:45 PM
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A have the larger SLP MAF and cold air kit. Car runs great and has a little more SOP power. If you purchase the SLP MAF and cold air kit make sure you get the correct version for year model of car. You can buy the cold air kit and MAF from Summit (free shipping). You will also have to cut a small notch out of the bellow for the SLP MAF to line up correctly.

This kit and MAF fits my 2002 SS.
http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...h.asp&x=38&y=9
http://store.summitracing.com/defaul....asp&x=29&y=10

Last edited by gollum; 03-23-2006 at 01:59 PM.
Old 03-23-2006, 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by MrDude_1
yes. do this... a few cuts with the dremel, and it does show lower IATs... some people claim dragstrip ETdrops, but i couldnt guarantee that... it does work though.

also, EVERYONE i know has this done, noone has water induction issues, even during the wet season down here...
Hi. I'm Steve.

Now you know ONE person who has had water induction issues with the FRA mod.
Old 03-23-2006, 02:55 PM
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Originally Posted by MeentSS02
Hi. I'm Steve.

Now you know ONE person who has had water induction issues with the FRA mod.

hi steve.

what issues have you had??
Old 03-23-2006, 02:58 PM
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It was last April, and we had about 10 inches of rain overnight when I had to drive from here to Pensacola to take the GRE. Yeah. Not the brightest move, but it was a requirement. Got in to some 3-4" puddles of standing water, and the air filter got wet...threw a MAF code (so I know it at least made it to there), and it was not happy with me. Luckily, it did not do any damage to the engine. Just had to change the air filter out ASAP.
Old 03-23-2006, 08:53 PM
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Its good we don't see that much rain in north east texas.
Old 03-23-2006, 09:20 PM
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Ya I think we've had about an inch of rain here in OK in the last 6 months. Random **** keeps catchin on fire. I think I'll do the FRA mod.
Old 03-23-2006, 09:32 PM
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I have the FRA mod and the SSRA (scoop) kit, seems to work fine for me, keeping in mind i've never been canoeing in the z28.

Do not touch the stock MAF unless you're upgrading to a 90/90 combo and want an 85mm MAF. Do not even descreen/port polish it. Doing these things can (will?) cause more problems than it's worth.

Smooth bellows from a hardware store (AKA Fernco mod) are stiffer than the stock one and have been known to CRACK lids. The stocker flows perfect, fits perfect, and is already on the bitch. The only real purpose of a smooth bellow is how it looks, which does not justify the downsides.
Old 03-24-2006, 03:46 AM
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What is a scoop kit?
Old 03-24-2006, 04:54 AM
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Originally Posted by TheBlurLS1
I have the FRA mod and the SSRA (scoop) kit, seems to work fine for me, keeping in mind i've never been canoeing in the z28.

Do not touch the stock MAF unless you're upgrading to a 90/90 combo and want an 85mm MAF. Do not even descreen/port polish it. Doing these things can (will?) cause more problems than it's worth.

Smooth bellows from a hardware store (AKA Fernco mod) are stiffer than the stock one and have been known to CRACK lids. The stocker flows perfect, fits perfect, and is already on the bitch. The only real purpose of a smooth bellow is how it looks, which does not justify the downsides.
what this guy said!

I made the mistake of purchasing an slp maf and bellow. The bellow is for looks and the maf got sold asap after I found out it actually MADE ME SLOWER.
Old 03-24-2006, 05:05 AM
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Smooth belows didn't end up on my car. I have a F.A.S.T Intake and a Whisper lid. I dont know if the intake to the monifold sits higher or the Whisper lid points down too much, but there was no way these two items were going to line up with the rigid smooth belows. Perhaps the belows work good on stock stuff, perhaps they just didn't work with my combination.

Since then I have used a heat gun on the whisper lid and made it point higher, lines up to the throttle body much better now. I should have thought of that before I binned the smooth belows.
Old 03-24-2006, 05:10 AM
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Originally Posted by MeentSS02
Just stick with the lid and LS6 intake. Those will net you the most...I'd expand, but this topic comes up a lot.


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