Air Intake for 1996 lumina LS 3.1?

[Tdawg28]

anyone know were u can get aftermarket parts such as an air intake for a 1996 chevy lumina 3.1? Or do they all have to be custom made?

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by Tdawg28

anyone know were u can get aftermarket parts such as an air intake for a 1996 chevy lumina 3.1? Or do they all have to be custom made?

I've seen cone filter shortrams for them, but I can't remember who makes it...

I just busted out three 1.5" holes in the lower portion of the box, bottom, inboard and outboard, and dropped in a K+N panel filter...breathes nice now...

[Tdawg28]

ok, Would the air intakes off ebay work?
like this one --->http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

[smallbrady89]

Originally Posted by Tdawg28

ok, Would the air intakes off ebay work?
like this one --->http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

yes that would work nicely but i would first ask at your local performance parts shop.

[tblake]

Things like that will always work ok. GM did a good job designing the intakes on these IMHO Lets not forget the basics here, More air is alwyas good, but the temperature of the air is what matters most. Since cooler air is more dense it will increase performance. That K&N cone filter you showed us is good, but its sucking warm air fro the engine compartment.

[Tdawg28]

ya i suppose thats true but then is that not the case for all intakes?
and here is another one that i've found. Looks better then the other one i posted --->
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Chevrolet-Lumina-...QQcmdZViewItem

[smallbrady89]

like tblake said. cooler air is better. so if your feeling up to it. pick up just the air filter, the rubber adapter and some 3" pipe and make yourself a custom intake that picks up air from the front of the car behind the bumper. they sell these for popular car makes but not for luminas. besides if you do it yourself its just as good and cheaper.

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by smallbrady89

like tblake said. cooler air is better. so if your feeling up to it. pick up just the air filter, the rubber adapter and some 3" pipe and make yourself a custom intake that picks up air from the front of the car behind the bumper. they sell these for popular car makes but not for luminas. besides if you do it yourself its just as good and cheaper.

Hard to find a pass-through for air, at least in my generation ('97)...the factory inlet is woefully small...running out inside the bumper down low is a good idea...just keep it in mind if you find yourself in high water ever...without a waterbreak in the ducting, you'll pull up a big snort of cold water and hydrolock the motor and bend rods/shatter pistons..."aw shit!", bigtime...seen a few ricers do this, just before hangin' off my hook to the dealer for a new (and not covered under warrantee ) engine...

[smallbrady89]

ok so how about this. cut a hole in your hood and stick the air cone through it. that should get you nice cold air and a little more pep. also your car will look like shit buy hey its a small price to pay for the extra 2 HP.

[jeffcoslacker]

It's your hood...personally I think an intake blister would look better...

[jeffcoslacker]

My wife's ZX2, the intake duct runs right over to the inner fender on the driver's side...and just inhales air available between the inner and outer surfaces...loads of air available as it's open (aside from the splash covers) at the bottom...might be something to consider...

[jeffcoslacker]

While we're on the subject, and I feel this question pending...

Ram air is largely useless in street applications, regardless of what you've heard...and if the airbox, ducting and intake manifold aren't tuned to make use of it, it is pointless.

Ram air charging increases intake air pressure in an inverse square manner...and the effect isn't even measurable below around 80 mph...at around 120, there will be a 3% or so increase in inlet pressure, but after efficiency losses in the intake pathing, the useable amount is more like 1-1.5%...even the best designed motorcycles with ram air charging in effect at 185 mph are only gaining a bit under 10 hp from it, and around 6-8% useable pressure increase...

Even piston engine aircraft engines, which are designed to take maximum benefit from ram air charging, only see gains of about 15% in intake pressure at 350 mph...so you can see, it's not something you need on the street.

Looks tough, though, I must admit...