The question is simple...will I still be able to drive in 25 degree air? I love driving the SS in the winter because it can get very cold here without the precipitation. You guys know how well our cars can run in the bone chilling cold! I don't want to switch back to the stock setup if I don't have to. Your thoughts are welcomed. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

 

The bypass mod is on the priciple that hot fluid going into the TB has the potential to heat the incoming air. Hot air mean less HP... does it really work... I doubt anyone really knows... haven't anything it hurts ethier.

 

While I am somewhat of a newbie to LS1's, the TBB mod is one of the stupidest things I have heard of.
The arguments are that the coolant heats the TB and that it increases the air temp which is bad. While this is true probably during startup or if your only purpose in life is to be a drag queen, I do believe that as the car continues to run that the TB can reach a temperature that is hotter than the coolant temp.
Put it this way: its on there for a reason. I would not mess with it. Ill probably get alot of flames for this but so what.
The best thing about not doing the TBB mod is that I dont have to explain to a GM service tech what I was trying to accomplish if I am questioned what it is during warranty work. Since I cant offer any empirical evidence to support the fact that the TBB works, Im not going to try it.
Hope that helps.
Also remember that there are some people who think that the TBB is cool. These are also probably the people who wonder if removing thier rear brakes will help them in the quarter, or that removing your front and rear bumpers somehow makes your camaro a race car. Think about it.

 

i havent done it yet but i dont see what it would hurt or help really. the air going into the throttle body is moving wayyyyy too fast for it to matter. the throttle body still gets hot anyway. its still a few inches away from heads that are hundreds of degrees etc etc. i think the only reason is because the intake manifold isnt metal so it doesnt heat up the tb as well. if youre having trouble opening the throttle because its frozen shut i think youve got worse problems like frozen oil too <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_tounge.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

 

Thanks for the responses. And I agree, there's been a debate on this mod for a long time. I've read over and over, "it may not help but it can't hurt either". Thanks again.

 

This mod had been around for as long as I have! I first saw it all over 5.0 mustangs, then lt1's, and now here.

The line is there for freezing temperatures, and 25 is freezing so I would not do it in your situation.

But, if you look at the mod wantingly, and even for a second question it, then dont do it. You will see no gain in seat of the pants performance, and I take it your not a big time drag racer.

But if you do decide to do it, it would take about 5 minutes to put the car back to its original configuration. So there is really no reason to cringe in fear from the big bad GM service writer.

Good Luck

 

Thanks Mike. Your post makes perfect sense.

 

I think the key is will you operate the car where it's freezing, if so pass on this mod if your concerned about it.

As to GM Warranty work, my car was in over EIGHT times for warranty work the dealer didn't care in the least about the TBB mod or any of the others listed below. In fact, they were willing to install some of the mod's and suggested a set of headers would be a nice next additon to the car. <img border="0" alt="[Burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />

However, I told the dealer we got my wife's Grand Am from about the EGR mod and doing a plug change at 11,000 miles, I thought the guy was going to have a heart attack on the spot. Dealers vary...know yours.

So you might want to talk with your service rep and see how he/she views basic bolt on type mod's. My dealer was very reasonable about it, but I was told point blank if I cracked the engine and did a cam or head & cam the warranty on the engine would be void.

My car was a little bit of a novelty for them (just another very mild bolt on car) as they mainly sold SUV's, Grand Am's, and many of the other T/A owners didn't mod their cars out of fear. One thing is for sure they did pay the car a little extra attention because they could usually point out the newest mods, was actually kind of fun.

FWIW: My warranty problems:

speakers
flasher
gauge cluster
power window motor
brake squeal
bad weather stripping over drivers door

All issues were fixed to my satisfaction.

<small>[ July 21, 2002, 01:20 PM: Message edited by: 99 Black Bird T/A ]</small>

 

The point I was trying to make is that the block (and the TB) get hotter from normal usage than the coolant. I do not believe it is just for cold weather, as it has been widely reported.