Will the FRA mod hurt my motor in the long run?
01-12-2002, 08:42 PM
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Will the FRA mod hurt my motor in the long run? It's me again! I know you guys are thinking, "man this guy asks a lot of questions!" Sorry...I am a newb! <img src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" border="0"> Anyway...
I finally got the itch to do this mod and i have downloaded some how-to stuff and I am ready to go for it tommorow after church!
I just have a few things I wanted to ask though...obviously more air (dirtier air too) is going to be coming into the box. Am I going to run the potential of messin up my motor in the long run because of increased dirt consumption? In case it matters, I have the MTI Clear Lid and the Holley Powershot Filter.
I finally got the itch to do this mod and i have downloaded some how-to stuff and I am ready to go for it tommorow after church!
I just have a few things I wanted to ask though...obviously more air (dirtier air too) is going to be coming into the box. Am I going to run the potential of messin up my motor in the long run because of increased dirt consumption? In case it matters, I have the MTI Clear Lid and the Holley Powershot Filter.
01-12-2002, 10:19 PM
#3
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Re: Will the FRA mod hurt my motor in the long run? Two things to consider:
1) It definitely allows your engine to breath better and to have less restrictive inflow. The price for that, though, is cleaning your filter. This is easy enough to do, just watch it every now and then.
2) There is a small but serious risk of blowing your engine if you drive over too deep a puddle of water too fast with this mod. Basically, you can spash water strongly enough through the bottom of your filter - which then goes into engine - and then breaks it because water is not compressible (you should see what happens to connecting rods when the piston tries to compress water). My suggestion is to fabricate a blockoff plate. The idea for this is to get an aluminum sheet and two or three screws. Cut the aluminum so that it can ride under your filter and airbox but block off the new opening you made. Drill two or three holes through the aluminum into the top of the plastic shroud beneath your airbox (but not into the radiator or air conditioning coils!!). Then, if it is ever raining hard or there is a lot of standing water, get a screwdriver and you have a 5-minute to install blockoff plate. Rain and water go away, spend 5 minutes to take it out. Note that the Fast Toys Ram Air kit has a blockoff plate that comes with their setup, which is something you might want to consider getting if you really want to have a true ram air intake.
1) It definitely allows your engine to breath better and to have less restrictive inflow. The price for that, though, is cleaning your filter. This is easy enough to do, just watch it every now and then.
2) There is a small but serious risk of blowing your engine if you drive over too deep a puddle of water too fast with this mod. Basically, you can spash water strongly enough through the bottom of your filter - which then goes into engine - and then breaks it because water is not compressible (you should see what happens to connecting rods when the piston tries to compress water). My suggestion is to fabricate a blockoff plate. The idea for this is to get an aluminum sheet and two or three screws. Cut the aluminum so that it can ride under your filter and airbox but block off the new opening you made. Drill two or three holes through the aluminum into the top of the plastic shroud beneath your airbox (but not into the radiator or air conditioning coils!!). Then, if it is ever raining hard or there is a lot of standing water, get a screwdriver and you have a 5-minute to install blockoff plate. Rain and water go away, spend 5 minutes to take it out. Note that the Fast Toys Ram Air kit has a blockoff plate that comes with their setup, which is something you might want to consider getting if you really want to have a true ram air intake.
01-12-2002, 10:57 PM
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Re: Will the FRA mod hurt my motor in the long run? Will the FTRA or SLP CAI take the place of the FRA? If so I won't even worry about the FRA because I am definetly going to get the SLP CAI. I chose the SLP one over the FTRA because I don't want to seal off the air intake from my hoodscoop (however small/large it may be).
01-13-2002, 12:25 AM
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Re: Will the FRA mod hurt my motor in the long run? [quote]Originally posted by xSSelerate:
<strong>Will the FTRA or SLP CAI take the place of the FRA? If so I won't even worry about the FRA because I am definetly going to get the SLP CAI. I chose the SLP one over the FTRA because I don't want to seal off the air intake from my hoodscoop (however small/large it may be).</strong><hr></blockquote>
The FRA mod basically is just cutting out the bottom of the airbox and the top of the radiator shroud. You have to do the FRA in order to install the FTRA.
Also, the hood scoop on an SS is essentially worthless - it is not a sealed system. The SS MIGHT have more power than a stock Z28 only because of a better flowing exhaust (rear wheel dyno numbers are *slightly* higher on stock SSs, but it is very little over a stock Z28). You thus lose nothing and gain a lot by going with a FTRA or the SLP equivalent - you can get a real ram-air intake with those. Doing those does introduce the water issue I raised above, though.
<strong>Will the FTRA or SLP CAI take the place of the FRA? If so I won't even worry about the FRA because I am definetly going to get the SLP CAI. I chose the SLP one over the FTRA because I don't want to seal off the air intake from my hoodscoop (however small/large it may be).</strong><hr></blockquote>
The FRA mod basically is just cutting out the bottom of the airbox and the top of the radiator shroud. You have to do the FRA in order to install the FTRA.
Also, the hood scoop on an SS is essentially worthless - it is not a sealed system. The SS MIGHT have more power than a stock Z28 only because of a better flowing exhaust (rear wheel dyno numbers are *slightly* higher on stock SSs, but it is very little over a stock Z28). You thus lose nothing and gain a lot by going with a FTRA or the SLP equivalent - you can get a real ram-air intake with those. Doing those does introduce the water issue I raised above, though.
01-13-2002, 08:15 AM
#6
Re: Will the FRA mod hurt my motor in the long run? [quote]Originally posted by xSSelerate:
<strong>Will the FTRA or SLP CAI take the place of the FRA? If so I won't even worry about the FRA because I am definetly going to get the SLP CAI. I chose the SLP one over the FTRA because I don't want to seal off the air intake from my hoodscoop (however small/large it may be).</strong><hr></blockquote>
You don't have to block off the front. Fast Toys reccomends it, but it's not nessecery. Most of run with it wide open.
<strong>Will the FTRA or SLP CAI take the place of the FRA? If so I won't even worry about the FRA because I am definetly going to get the SLP CAI. I chose the SLP one over the FTRA because I don't want to seal off the air intake from my hoodscoop (however small/large it may be).</strong><hr></blockquote>
You don't have to block off the front. Fast Toys reccomends it, but it's not nessecery. Most of run with it wide open.
01-13-2002, 08:55 AM
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Re: Will the FRA mod hurt my motor in the long run? [quote]Originally posted by WeatherGuy:
<strong>
Also, the hood scoop on an SS is essentially worthless - it is not a sealed system. </strong><hr></blockquote>
I donn't want to start a SS hood functinoal/unfunctional debate but it does have some functionality. That is one the first things I checked when I brought the car home. I put the hood up a little bit and used a blower to blow air through the hood scoop and air of course came out in front of the airbox (at a fairly high pressure). I know that it is not the greatest system in the world and the FTRA/SLPCAI is a better system. I know that the hood has very little to do with any power increase, but it does do something and thus I would prefer to leave functioning. Plus, and I may be crazy, but it takes away some of the heritage of the SS if you block off the hood. That is just part of what makes a SS a SS. I bought the car with a hood scoop and I prefer to leave it that way. Don't want to end up like the new mustangs with their ridiculus totally nonfunctional scoop. Also you would never notice if the hood added an horses because the hood is up on a dyno. There is really no way to tell.
Thanks guys for your help!
<strong>
Also, the hood scoop on an SS is essentially worthless - it is not a sealed system. </strong><hr></blockquote>
I donn't want to start a SS hood functinoal/unfunctional debate but it does have some functionality. That is one the first things I checked when I brought the car home. I put the hood up a little bit and used a blower to blow air through the hood scoop and air of course came out in front of the airbox (at a fairly high pressure). I know that it is not the greatest system in the world and the FTRA/SLPCAI is a better system. I know that the hood has very little to do with any power increase, but it does do something and thus I would prefer to leave functioning. Plus, and I may be crazy, but it takes away some of the heritage of the SS if you block off the hood. That is just part of what makes a SS a SS. I bought the car with a hood scoop and I prefer to leave it that way. Don't want to end up like the new mustangs with their ridiculus totally nonfunctional scoop. Also you would never notice if the hood added an horses because the hood is up on a dyno. There is really no way to tell.
Thanks guys for your help!
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01-13-2002, 09:29 AM
#8
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Re: Will the FRA mod hurt my motor in the long run? [quote]Originally posted by xSSelerate:
<strong>
. . . . I put the hood up a little bit and used a blower to blow air through the hood scoop and air of course came out in front of the airbox (at a fairly high pressure). . . . . I know that the hood has very little to do with any power increase, but it does do something and thus I would prefer to leave functioning. . . . . Don't want to end up like the new mustangs with their ridiculus totally nonfunctional scoop. Also you would never notice if the hood added an horses because the hood is up on a dyno. There is really no way to tell.
Thanks guys for your help!</strong><hr></blockquote>
The hood scoop is not the nonfunctional POS found on new stangs (along with their nonfunctional brake rotor cooling ducts, and sometimes nonfunctional performance <img src="gr_tounge.gif" border="0"> )
The hood scoop does add something, but not very much, and the performance of the FTRA would drawf it. Also, track time differences on the stock vehicles are not really different, so the hood up on the dyno question kind of gets answered by the cars' track performances (but the larger 275s on stock SSs could slow it down a bit).
Having said all of the above, I do have to say that the entire look of the SS, including the hood scoop, is really b*tchin'. What an awesome looking car!
<strong>
. . . . I put the hood up a little bit and used a blower to blow air through the hood scoop and air of course came out in front of the airbox (at a fairly high pressure). . . . . I know that the hood has very little to do with any power increase, but it does do something and thus I would prefer to leave functioning. . . . . Don't want to end up like the new mustangs with their ridiculus totally nonfunctional scoop. Also you would never notice if the hood added an horses because the hood is up on a dyno. There is really no way to tell.
Thanks guys for your help!</strong><hr></blockquote>
The hood scoop is not the nonfunctional POS found on new stangs (along with their nonfunctional brake rotor cooling ducts, and sometimes nonfunctional performance <img src="gr_tounge.gif" border="0"> )
The hood scoop does add something, but not very much, and the performance of the FTRA would drawf it. Also, track time differences on the stock vehicles are not really different, so the hood up on the dyno question kind of gets answered by the cars' track performances (but the larger 275s on stock SSs could slow it down a bit).
Having said all of the above, I do have to say that the entire look of the SS, including the hood scoop, is really b*tchin'. What an awesome looking car!
01-13-2002, 06:44 PM
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Re: Will the FRA mod hurt my motor in the long run? [quote]Originally posted by Damian:
<strong>I always check my filter about once every 2 weeks and flip flop it. You'll notice that one section of the filter gets a LOT dirtier than the other side, so I keep alternating sides to help prevent a restriction.
Josh</strong><hr></blockquote>
Pretty nifty idea there Josh <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">
<strong>I always check my filter about once every 2 weeks and flip flop it. You'll notice that one section of the filter gets a LOT dirtier than the other side, so I keep alternating sides to help prevent a restriction.
Josh</strong><hr></blockquote>
Pretty nifty idea there Josh <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">
01-14-2002, 12:06 AM
#10
Re: Will the FRA mod hurt my motor in the long run? [quote]along with their nonfunctional brake rotor cooling ducts, and sometimes nonfunctional performance ) <hr></blockquote>
LOL!! Good one..
The SS ram air is an improvement at 80 mph+ speeds. Anything lower than that, and it's not much better than a standard Z28. During high pressure situations(80+ mph) it will show significant gains without a doubt.
FYI, I have ran my FRA for about 20K miles now, and ran through several puddles and things of the sort. I have never had a problem with it. Just use your common sense and stay away from small lakes in the middle of the road, and you will be just fine with the FRA. Keep your filter clean, and replace it about every 15K(if you don't have a K&N) I always check my filter about once every 2 weeks and flip flop it. You'll notice that one section of the filter gets a LOT dirtier than the other side, so I keep alternating sides to help prevent a restriction.
Josh
LOL!! Good one..
The SS ram air is an improvement at 80 mph+ speeds. Anything lower than that, and it's not much better than a standard Z28. During high pressure situations(80+ mph) it will show significant gains without a doubt.
FYI, I have ran my FRA for about 20K miles now, and ran through several puddles and things of the sort. I have never had a problem with it. Just use your common sense and stay away from small lakes in the middle of the road, and you will be just fine with the FRA. Keep your filter clean, and replace it about every 15K(if you don't have a K&N) I always check my filter about once every 2 weeks and flip flop it. You'll notice that one section of the filter gets a LOT dirtier than the other side, so I keep alternating sides to help prevent a restriction.
Josh
01-14-2002, 12:18 AM
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Re: Will the FRA mod hurt my motor in the long run? I've been on the f-body boards along time. Since '95. I'm on my 3rd f-body.
The SS hood does jack **** on a LS1 vehicle. It is in NO WAY connected to the air box. Even if it was, air travels OVER the opening anyway. Spray some water on your hood and do 80mph, then check the hood right before the opening and you'll see that there is still water there.
This has been debated since the late '95 when the SS came out as a '96 model.
Guys were switching to K&N FIPK's or similar because they're SS Hood/Air box did jack **** for them. And their airbox was actually attached to the Hood opening and sealed.
Now if you still think your SS hood does ANYTHING AT ALL for you, your sadly mistaken. MAYBE drop under hood temps by 1*..lol
Rick
[ January 14, 2002: Message edited by: NASSty01 ]</p>
The SS hood does jack **** on a LS1 vehicle. It is in NO WAY connected to the air box. Even if it was, air travels OVER the opening anyway. Spray some water on your hood and do 80mph, then check the hood right before the opening and you'll see that there is still water there.
This has been debated since the late '95 when the SS came out as a '96 model.
Guys were switching to K&N FIPK's or similar because they're SS Hood/Air box did jack **** for them. And their airbox was actually attached to the Hood opening and sealed.
Now if you still think your SS hood does ANYTHING AT ALL for you, your sadly mistaken. MAYBE drop under hood temps by 1*..lol
Rick
[ January 14, 2002: Message edited by: NASSty01 ]</p>
01-14-2002, 08:28 AM
#13
Re: Will the FRA mod hurt my motor in the long run? Don't waste your time trying to make the SS hood work. It is too low, and not in any kind of air path at all. You want it to be at the end of the hood (WS6/Firehawk) or at the cowl for any kind of forced air induction. The only way you could get a good amount of air from the center of the hood is with a tall scoop. I don't plan on running a pro-stock hood anytime soon so I use the FTRA on my SS. I picked up over 1mph at the track with it too. Hell, you can tell just driving around, especially on the highway. The difference is phenomenal.
Dope
Dope
01-14-2002, 08:30 AM
#14
Re: Will the FRA mod hurt my motor in the long run? Oh, and I forgot to mention - about the water thing, it is true. After a car wash and highway running, there is still water in the scoop area.
The hairdryer is extremely poor testing...why? Cuz sure, it proves that the hood flows air, but it doesn't mean that the hood is GETTING air.
Dope
The hairdryer is extremely poor testing...why? Cuz sure, it proves that the hood flows air, but it doesn't mean that the hood is GETTING air.
Dope
01-14-2002, 08:34 AM
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Re: Will the FRA mod hurt my motor in the long run? I understand the points you guys are making, and you guys no much more than I do...
But just for argument sake, one of the greates sports cars ever made (the Ferrari 550 Maranello) has alomst an identical intake system. The scoop is in the same place and the same principles apply under the hood. My grandfather has a 355 and I have been to one of his "Ferrari club" meetings and met a guy with a 550. The underhood setup (as far as the intake goes) is very much like that of the SS. Why would the greatest sports car company in the world use an ineffective hood setup? Again...you guys are probably right...I juts want you to explain it to me.
But just for argument sake, one of the greates sports cars ever made (the Ferrari 550 Maranello) has alomst an identical intake system. The scoop is in the same place and the same principles apply under the hood. My grandfather has a 355 and I have been to one of his "Ferrari club" meetings and met a guy with a 550. The underhood setup (as far as the intake goes) is very much like that of the SS. Why would the greatest sports car company in the world use an ineffective hood setup? Again...you guys are probably right...I juts want you to explain it to me.
