Fernco Mod: What's All This Bitching?
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 53
From: Saskatchewan, Canada - where arguing "DA" is for the slow and weak...
Fernco Mod: What's All This Bitching? Seriously.
I read thread after thread on this board with sandy-vagina opinions expressed about the difficulty of various modifications or services done to these LS1 F-bodies (plugs, porting throttle bodies, headers, motor mounts, etc.). I am going to tell you right now this is all kids stuff.
The Fernco mod is no different. I think it took me 30mins of dicking around to complete the install in 1*C weather using this post as a guide:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showpost....07&postcount=4
The only thing I did differently was the 1/4-1/2" cut made for me ended up being the far side of the relief of the coupler into the relief for the hose clamp. I removed the exact width of this section 1/2" way around the coupler, which faces up and toward the MAF/Lid. This was followed with a trimming of the inside of the throttle body side of the Fernco, roughly a 45* angle 1/4" into the coupler to allow the throttle body to better ease into the rubber coupler.
Then I tossed it in the water for 15mins, jammed the coupler over the MAF, and then onto the throttle body. Put on the hose clamps, snapped the lid back on, and took the car for a short drive with no problems.
The only reason I made this mod was to accommodate the wet nitrous fogger nozzle that will be installed soon. That and the factory bellow was getting hard and brittle after 118K miles.
I read thread after thread on this board with sandy-vagina opinions expressed about the difficulty of various modifications or services done to these LS1 F-bodies (plugs, porting throttle bodies, headers, motor mounts, etc.). I am going to tell you right now this is all kids stuff.
The Fernco mod is no different. I think it took me 30mins of dicking around to complete the install in 1*C weather using this post as a guide:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showpost....07&postcount=4
The only thing I did differently was the 1/4-1/2" cut made for me ended up being the far side of the relief of the coupler into the relief for the hose clamp. I removed the exact width of this section 1/2" way around the coupler, which faces up and toward the MAF/Lid. This was followed with a trimming of the inside of the throttle body side of the Fernco, roughly a 45* angle 1/4" into the coupler to allow the throttle body to better ease into the rubber coupler.
Then I tossed it in the water for 15mins, jammed the coupler over the MAF, and then onto the throttle body. Put on the hose clamps, snapped the lid back on, and took the car for a short drive with no problems.
The only reason I made this mod was to accommodate the wet nitrous fogger nozzle that will be installed soon. That and the factory bellow was getting hard and brittle after 118K miles.
Tech Resident
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,117
Likes: 3
From: Philly
People complain about the smooth bellows/fernco mod because it causes lots of negatives and absolutely no positives. The fernco/smooth bellows mod (the fernco is more notorious because it's incredibly stiff) takes almost ALL the flex out of the intake. The motor does not stay perfectly still, especially on the stock rubber mounts. It twists and flexes and pulls on the airbox. This is not an issue with the stock accordion-style bellows as it is soft and spring-like. After the smooth bellows/fernco mod, the stiff bellows causes twisting on the lid. This often results in the lid rubbing against the top of the hood, causes the lid to fit improperly and have sealing issues, and in some cases, even cracks the lid.
And you get all this for zero horsepower. You just spent time, money and energy on a mod that does nothing but cause problems. That's why people complain about it.
And you get all this for zero horsepower. You just spent time, money and energy on a mod that does nothing but cause problems. That's why people complain about it.
People complain about the smooth bellows/fernco mod because it causes lots of negatives and absolutely no positives. The fernco/smooth bellows mod (the fernco is more notorious because it's incredibly stiff) takes almost ALL the flex out of the intake. The motor does not stay perfectly still, especially on the stock rubber mounts. It twists and flexes and pulls on the airbox. This is not an issue with the stock accordion-style bellows as it is soft and spring-like. After the smooth bellows/fernco mod, the stiff bellows causes twisting on the lid. This often results in the lid rubbing against the top of the hood, causes the lid to fit improperly and have sealing issues, and in some cases, even cracks the lid.
And you get all this for zero horsepower. You just spent time, money and energy on a mod that does nothing but cause problems. That's why people complain about it.
And you get all this for zero horsepower. You just spent time, money and energy on a mod that does nothing but cause problems. That's why people complain about it.
Tech Resident
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,117
Likes: 3
From: Philly
It's a bigger scam than the Turbonator. At least the Turbonator makes sense in theory. Hell, it's actually cheaper than the smooth bellows!
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Wow; dude did you even read his whole post? He said he did it for a nitrous jet.
Also, I think he was wondering why people complain about the installation difficulty, not the mod itself.
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I didnt have any problem at all getting my smooth bellows on. It looks nicers, not cheap like the stock one and I havent had any issues with it or the lid, except for hood rubbing but that will change once the motor mounts go in.
On my side note, I got the SLP flow pack, no fitmint issues and my LID doesnt rub either, stock mounts.....
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 53
From: Saskatchewan, Canada - where arguing "DA" is for the slow and weak...
Ding! Ding!! Ding!!!
Thank you for taking the time to read the post, not simply react to it.
Can I see it cracking the lid? Maybe. I really had NO PROBLEMS installing this part, and didn't have to force the lid on. As for the supple nature of the factory bellow: I already stated that it left a long time ago.
i have the SLP lid and smooth bellows . . . i'm goin with appearance on the bellows. i've got some problems goin on with mine and i know others who have an SLP lid are having this great rubbin issue and i've also got a second problem now . . . this damn bellows doesn't want to stay on the TB!!!!! i was thinkin it was something different why my idle would be funky every now and then or sometimes i got better gas mileage then other times: keeping record of gas mileage is very simple, i drive the same route everyday 5 days aweek highway mileage. this what your talkin about chaco when the engine flexs and moves?
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
I've got the SLP bellows. $50, 5 min install, 1.5 yrs, no problems. Fits perfect, smooths airflow, looks better.
People spend wayyy to much time worrying about what is a simple little intake mod. I didn't bother dicking around with plumbing parts (not badmouthing those who did), just ordered the SLP bellow when I ordered my lid and air filter and was done with it.
People spend wayyy to much time worrying about what is a simple little intake mod. I didn't bother dicking around with plumbing parts (not badmouthing those who did), just ordered the SLP bellow when I ordered my lid and air filter and was done with it.
My smooth bellows have been on for over 2 yrs and still no problems. Install took 5 minutes tops and yes it looks alot better than the stocker. The stock one didn't work well with 85mm maf. The bellows even have a notch for it so it works perfect.
http://www.installuniversity.com/ins...st3.132001.htm
install university has a link that shows there results.
install university has a link that shows there results.
