I currently am running the free ram air mod with a lid and k&n filter on my 99 a4 t/a. I also have a self ported throttle body & ls6 intake as my other intake mods. Is it worth the money to get the fast toys ram air or another aftermarket setup over what I have now?

Thanks in advance,

Mike in Oregon

 

i think there is alot of posts on this already you might try a search. me myself i have the !FRA mod and never thought about the fast toys ram air, but hell im cheap the best i can say is do a search and figure for yourself if it is worth that cash for maybe a little better air 'grabbage.

 

This might help: http://www.installuniversity.com/ins..._12.262000.htm

 

i think its worthwhile....

 

Free ram air, means free hot radiator air sitting
at the light, a heat-soaked IAT and worse street
performance. A ducted system is somewhat better
but I'd stay away from the stainless SLP CAI for
similar heat reasons. The more the ducting reaches
out of the radiator air space, the better.

 

Just F.Y.I if you decided to go with the SLP setup, they are having a sale on them right now with free shipping.

 

I'm with Jimmyblue ... immediately noticed my car started running hot on days over 85* ... with the 160* thermostat and the fans coming on at 180* ... just after I installed the FTRA. I thought it may have been a faulty thermostat or something motor-oriented. That was two years ago. Now, my motor was recently forged and a new Mezziere EWP with new 160* thermostat ... supposed to keep the engine cooler in stop-n-go traffic, but, with the FTRA being the ONLY thing not replaced under the hood in October, I'm seeing the exact same engine temperature problem. I also believe it's causing my Tranny temp gauge to read 230* on hot days - due to heat transfer from the motor to the transmission.

MY FTRA is coming off when the car comes out of the shop. Next hot day, I'll post to let you guys know if removing the FTRA allows it to cool like it did before I installed the product.

 

interesting...

 

what about if you have your fans turned on earlier?


anyhow,in cooler temp. youll definitely benefit.

 

Its worth it.

 

I think that it would be better to go to the local hard ware store and get some insulated flex duct pipe/tube and remove the foam in the nose behind the grill insert make a collector to fit a k& n air filter mount it behind the grill best to use the billit grill and have the tube routed to the mass air flow sensor. fresh cool air just be sure to wash filter weekly.

 

Dang. Never heard this side of it. Do you think the FTRA will cause heat problems like Jeb's for everyone else?

 

so the free ram air mod is most likely the cause for my DTC code P0113 (IAT Sensor Circuit High Input)? i did the ram air mod and its winter so its really f****** cold out, and of course Hotter air results lower input and Colder air results higher input, so would the freezing air coming up through the ram air cause the high input, also causing the DTC code?

 

GMHTP magazine did a short write up on it and said they did gain mph at the track with it.

 

get the SSRA. it's plastic.

 

... mph when the car is cooled down 'at the track' is a lot different than overheating in traffic. I just had my 45,000 mile motor replaced/rebuilt. I honestly believe it's very short life had a lot to do with the heat from the blocking of the radiator by the FTRA kit I have installed on my car .... IMHO.

 

i've never had any overheating issues with the A/C on and in stop and go, bumper to bumper Wash DC traffic. and the SSRA scoops all the way down and infront of the bumper so it blocks the radiator even more.

have drove the car over 50k miles in the past 2 years. with a 3000 miles in 5 days trip last spring. and i've got a '98 TA so the temp guage is the most accurate of the Fbodies.

 

My gauge on my 1999 is a full sweep AutoMeter electronic gauge and runs hot on 80*+ days. The old motor reacted the same. The old motor and the new motor both had separate brand new 160* thermostat's, as well. Only thing not changed was the FTRA. There's nothing else to explain the overheating. EVERYTHING has been eliminated. I was warned that it might cause the engine to run hotter before I ever bought it. If you search, you'll find there are a LOT of people here who have had the same problem after installation of the FTRA.

If you wanna' chance it, be prepared to do what I had to do ... replace/rebuild the motor. Maybe your situation would be different than mine. I learned a valuable lesson and will be taking my FTRA off when my car comes back from the shop tomorrow.

 

No heat issues with my SLP unit, but I can't say I noticed any track improvement from it. I guess if you've got the extra cash and want another mod to show off, then go for it.

I wouldn't have paid full price for one. I found mine here in the "Parts For Sale" forum a few years ago, and got it really super cheap

 

I have FTRA on my 98 Z28. I have not really seen any temp problem's with it. I have read post's on this site or another site before I bought it that they had gained time and MPH on there runs with it. I have not been to the track so I don't know for my self.