RAM AIR Does 'RAM'...Proof inside...
#1
RAM AIR Does 'RAM'...Proof inside...
I got tired of everyone doubting that ram air actually works at the speeds we see...yeah it might not be alot but it is something...more than i thought actually...
I did two test one with the car in stock form (breathing from the 1inch slit infront lid) and one with the ram air...The pressure was read using a monometer i jacked from work for the weekend...the tube was placed inside of the lid after the filter...see pics
The test consisted of setting the cruise control and waiting for the monometer to balance out around a given pressure in inches of H20...
There is an excel sheet for the ram air, but the stock form which is kind of obvious showed no increase in pressure inside of the air box when it balanced out at a given speed...But what about WOT???
This was the interesting part i did three runs for both tests and saw that the ram air had the same basic increases in pressure as the speed increased...But for the stock form under WOT it had a constant VACUUM of 5 inches of H20 throughout all three runs...So on the top end of the track 1/8-1/4 my car car traps 97-123 so we can use an average of 110mph which would be about 6 inches of H20 from the graph...So my car is gaining 11inches of h20 over a stock car that does not have a RAM AIR setup for half of the drag strip!!!
really over all of the drag strip it has a benefit but the faster you go the more gain you have...
FYI...11 inches of H20 is .809 in Hg...and for me every 800 ft is 10hp or 1 tenth...using an online DA calculator and only changing the alt. setting gives 918 ft...so i am gaining just due to the RAM effect 11.5 rwhp...So add the cold air effect of not breathing from the engine bay and you probably have around 20rwhp over stock...
My ram air is similar to a FTRA but to the extreme...
Also the tests were done in the same direction with a tail wind because when i tried on run the other way at 100 it was 2 inches higher...but i figure the gained pressure is negated more by the aerodynamics the car has to over come...aero> ram air effect (my guess)
Enjoy man that is a long thread...
I did two test one with the car in stock form (breathing from the 1inch slit infront lid) and one with the ram air...The pressure was read using a monometer i jacked from work for the weekend...the tube was placed inside of the lid after the filter...see pics
The test consisted of setting the cruise control and waiting for the monometer to balance out around a given pressure in inches of H20...
There is an excel sheet for the ram air, but the stock form which is kind of obvious showed no increase in pressure inside of the air box when it balanced out at a given speed...But what about WOT???
This was the interesting part i did three runs for both tests and saw that the ram air had the same basic increases in pressure as the speed increased...But for the stock form under WOT it had a constant VACUUM of 5 inches of H20 throughout all three runs...So on the top end of the track 1/8-1/4 my car car traps 97-123 so we can use an average of 110mph which would be about 6 inches of H20 from the graph...So my car is gaining 11inches of h20 over a stock car that does not have a RAM AIR setup for half of the drag strip!!!
really over all of the drag strip it has a benefit but the faster you go the more gain you have...
FYI...11 inches of H20 is .809 in Hg...and for me every 800 ft is 10hp or 1 tenth...using an online DA calculator and only changing the alt. setting gives 918 ft...so i am gaining just due to the RAM effect 11.5 rwhp...So add the cold air effect of not breathing from the engine bay and you probably have around 20rwhp over stock...
My ram air is similar to a FTRA but to the extreme...
Also the tests were done in the same direction with a tail wind because when i tried on run the other way at 100 it was 2 inches higher...but i figure the gained pressure is negated more by the aerodynamics the car has to over come...aero> ram air effect (my guess)
Enjoy man that is a long thread...
#9
Tech Resident
To all the people that hate on "Ram Air" kits: it doesn't matter what you call it. If you argue 'Ram Air,' you're doing nothing more than arguing terminology, which is meaningless. The fact is, kits sold as 'Ram Air,' like the FTRA and SSRA, are proven to work. Regardless of what you call it, they help just the same. I don't care what they call the kits. They work
#11
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so this was done on a base hood car correct? I wonder what is more effective ws6 ram air or a FTRA set up. I first has the FTRA with my base hood but am now running a ws6 hood. I left the FTRA in but didnt cut the ws6 lower box but I digress. Simply put whose better GM or aftermarket? also do you think id would cancel the effect to run both?
#12
so this was done on a base hood car correct? I wonder what is more effective ws6 ram air or a FTRA set up. I first has the FTRA with my base hood but am now running a ws6 hood. I left the FTRA in but didnt cut the ws6 lower box but I digress. Simply put whose better GM or aftermarket? also do you think id would cancel the effect to run both?
And you need to seal up the air box they cant work in conjunction...one will always be better than the other and that one should be sealed off...other wise you will just blead the extra pressure buildup off...
i would guess from these test that a JAAM setup used on a trans am might produce about 1.5-2 inches(AT MOST, being completely sealed) of water at 100mph...
#15
Tech Resident
Fast Toys has done tests and they have found that under-the-hood ram air kits work better. The F-body's operate better when the kits suck air from UNDER the car, not through the hood. Any setup that gets air through the hood will not be able to outperform an equal setup that takes air from under the car.
#16
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (6)
I agree. I have a track rental coming up on the 25th and I am going to seal off my hood after the first couple of runs of getting acquainted with the 1/4 mile track. The car will be hotter so if I see improvement (I know I will) then it will be due to sealing off the hood so the air box can better pressurize itself. I have the SS hood and FTRA by the way.
#17
I agree. I have a track rental coming up on the 25th and I am going to seal off my hood after the first couple of runs of getting acquainted with the 1/4 mile track. The car will be hotter so if I see improvement (I know I will) then it will be due to sealing off the hood so the air box can better pressurize itself. I have the SS hood and FTRA by the way.
#20
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (6)
From my readings it does not matter if it is a Firehawk or SS the FTRA or SSRA gets more air to the air box than the hood ever will. You will use the existing lid base and modify it (according to the FTRA instructions).