Homemade ram-airs

[Chris]

I see your point, but ram air boosts power throughout speeds, by the cold air. So it is still
confusing. I will e-mail some of the companies and ask why. Sometime.

[Dillweed]

Yeah, that's true, cold air induction.

I think bottom line is that the manufacturers just rather a more powerful engine instead.

Heck, why should we be complaining!!
It gives us something to do when we want a few more hp.

[Chris]

Amen

[i_rebel]

From what I understand, Ram air has little to no value on automobiles.

It has been used to the most benefit in motorcycle production.

For any benefit, it must be used in a place of high air pressure, such as at the base of the windshield where it meets the hood.

Cold air induction is not the same as ram air.

Ram air is basically force feeding your engine as the name implies (RAM the AIR into the engine . . . (?)) . . .

If cold air is what you want you just be sure to route your intake tubing as far away from the heat under the hood as possible, such as intakes that bring in air from behind a fog light or from under the chin spoiler, in front of the wheel well, et cetera.

[Chris]

Those are the same things! the air would go in, and be forced in. Normal induction is under teh hood, with little airflow. Any intake from outside brings in cold air at all speeds, and fast (RAM) air at high (90mph+) speeds. The cold air makes the most difference in real life, as it boosts power no matter the speed, and it boosts it by a lot.

[Chris]

Oh yah, Ram air would have huge advantages for automobiles, and the dis-advantages we have already discussed.

[Dillweed]

Amen.

[death]

so in other words just do it.

[Chris]

Pretty much, yes. I will be emailing companies today!

[Moppie]

Originally posted by Chris
I didn't know that, nic ebit of info.
Also, the WRX uses a ram-air device, so does the Evo (I think), so maybe it just requires more maintanience(spelled that wrong), like replacing that foam and air filter more often.
Still, I'm confused

WRC cars only use ram air for cooling the drivers heads.
Ram on a Turbo charged motor isnt going to give you much in the way of extra hp. Its easier to just wind up the boost another Lb.
They also have restrictor plates on the throttle body, which limit the HP, again adding ram air would net them nothing.
All the vents you see on the bonnets are for engine cooling marketing, and nothing else. Infact the large scoop on the bonnet of the WRC Imprezza is actualy blocked off (the FIA limits the number of open vents), and is only there to help ppl identify the car with the road going WRX, which houses the intercooler under scoop.

[Vis]

hey kurt, to solve this on going dilema let's install one on the old stanza, that will let us know if it is in fact worth doing, and if it is we can install them on our stanzas

[Dillweed]

Not worth it though.

You can put other mods and get easier horsepower.

Vis: Here, call me Dillweed.

[Chris]

It is essentially free power... it just takes work.
And, yes with turbo's and intercooled, it matters less. But you would have more boost to begine with, and that means less rpm's for the turbo, and it hopefully wont break. I have emailed the manufactures, but none have really answered yet. Also, the air would be cooler going to the intercooler, so it would leavew slightly cooler.
But isnt it fun watching them drive around wearing almost nothing in the cars, sweat pouring down them??

[Dillweed]

First of all, you don't put ram air when you have a turbo, 'cause the very little boost a ram air gives is dumb in comparison with a turbo. And how could you rig that up anyway. A ram air only starts being usefull on a NA car at around 90 mph.

When you see traps in hoods of turboed cars, its ONLY for the intercooler.

Chris: What do you mean by that last sentence?

[JD@af]

This may be a silly, unrelated point, but I thought I would throw this into the mix anyway.

As much as I like the import scene and working with four cylinders, I just about never find them to be as audibly stirring as, say, a Ford Mustang V8. But an intake (home-made or not) can help beef up the sound of your four cylinder.

I was driving yesterday next to a 1999-2000 Honda Civic Si. I noticed that every time the drivier hit the gas, the car emitted some very "muscular" sounds. I drifted behind him to take a look at his exhaust, and to my surprise, it was the stock piece. In fact, I couldn't pick out one detail by looking that did not look completely stock. And I know that Si's do not sound like this right off the dealership lot.

So I pulled up next to the car at a red light, and asked the driver if it was in fact stock. He said it was, except for an intake. Getting your car to sound meaner (and I mean a lot meaner) is in and of itself worth the investment of getting an aftermarket intake, or making your own.