This is a write up for different modifications that LT1 owners can do to their air intake. As we all know, the stock intake on the 91-96 Impala SS/ Caprice/ Roadmaster is very restrictive. These modifications will help your LT1 breathe a little better. This should hopefully give it some added power, better throttle response, and maybe some extra MPG's (although who really cares?:biggrin.
AFTERMARKET INTAKE SYSTEMS
1. RAISS Intake (Street Trends) - IMAGE
---> This is by far the most popular after market intake system for b-body owners. It is a step above the SSRI intake from Clear Image Automotive. It comes in three options:
Raw ($359) - RAISS Air Intake System: Raw: Impala & Caprice Store
Black ($409) - RAISS Air Intake System: Black: Impala & Caprice Store
Polished ($439) - RAISS Air Intake System: Silver: Impala & Caprice Store
2. SSRI Intake (Clear Image Automotive) - IMAGE
---> The SSRI Intake is much like the RAISS intake, but has weather stripping that extends across the width of the engine bay, and uses plexi-glass walls to get as much airflow into the filter as possible.
SSRI Intake ($285) - High Performance Exhaust Systems - Chevy Impala SS Cold Air Intake
3. K&N FIPK2 Cold Air Intake (Street Trends) - IMAGE
---> K&N is the oldest and most trusted brand of cold air intake systems. This system replaces the air box and "first base" in order to utilize the stock air filter location. If you are interested in removing the "Home Plate" as well, you will need a plug: Aluminum Resonator Tube Plug - Polished
K&N FIPK2 CAI ($259) - K&N FIPK2 Cold Air Intake: Impala & Caprice Store
4. RAMMIT Intake (...ramairss...) - IMAGE
---> The RAMMIT Intake system is (IMO) the most unique system offered. This intake system routes the intake to underneath the front bumper, insuring the coldest air possible.
RASS Intake ($275) - . . . r a m a i r s s . . .
CUSTOM INTAKE MODIFICATIONS
For those of us who are unable to afford the multi-hundred dollar intake systems, there are a few other options that we can use to improve performance.
1. "SNUB-NOSE" Intake - IMAGE
---> There are many different ways of making a "snub-nose" intake, although there are a few common items you will need to begin:
FERNCO Coupler ($8.52) - Fernco P1056-43 Concentric Coupling at PlumberSurplus.com
Universal 3" Cone Air Filter ($30) - Spectre Performance
Using these two items, you can bolt the FERNCO coupler to the throttle body and then to the MAF. At first it looks like it won't fit, but TRUST ME it will contract down to the proper size. After this step, you should connect the Cone filter to the MAF. Something to note, you will have to drill two different holes into the sides of the FERNCO coupler in order to input the other sensors. This shouldn't be a problem. Once done you have a choice to make! You have the option to remove the weather stripping on the underside of the hood or not. This will improve air flow to the intake, but may allow other elements (such as rain) to find its way to the cone filter. If this is a concern, feel free to purchase the K&N Drycharger (available on Amazon.com).
2. "S-Bend" Intake (QaloSS Handbook - Page 13) - IMAGE
---> The S-Bend Intake is designed to be a cheap replacement for the "first-base" air box. The air box remains in its stock location, and the option to use the home plate or plug it up remains available.
S-Bend Intake (~$10) - http://www.impalaclub.com/naisso/ss_handbook.pdf
3. Swiss Cheese AirBox - IMAGE
---> This is a simple modification for those who want to keep their stock air box, but have a little more airflow. The process of this is removing the top of the air box, the filter, and finally the bottom piece of the air box. Once it's taken out of the engine bay, you can drill holes into the bottom piece. This should allow some more flow into the filter, which may add a slight increase in performance. Once done, re-install and you're done!
4. Other Modifications
---> There are other modifications you can do to help improve airflow to your intake manifold. These are items you can use to either slightly improve, or dramatically improve airflow. The links provided are not ALL the items available per category. They are just a good place for you to start and compare to.
Intake manifolds - IMAGE
A. Edelbrock 7109 ($509.95) - Edelbrock 7109 - Edelbrock Performer RPM Air-Gap LT1/LT4 Intake Manifolds - Overview - SummitRacing.com
B. Edelbrock 7107 ($449.95) - Edelbrock 7107 - Edelbrock Performer RPM Air-Gap LT1/LT4 Intake Manifolds - Overview - SummitRacing.com
Throttle Bodies (58mm) - IMAGE
---> GM High Tech Performance Article.
A. Professional Prod. 69702 GM LT1 58 mm Throttle Body ($225) - Professional Prod. 69702 GM LT1 58 mm Throttle Body
B. 58MM TWIN THROTTLE BODY ($365.95) - EDELBROCK 3810 58MM TWIN THROTTLE BODY $365.95 BUY ONLINE
Mass Air Flow Sensors - IMAGE
---> Another way to improve performance is to upgrade to a different MAF. You can either get one without a screen (below) or go for a bigger one (3.5"). Here is a good place to start:
A. Granatelli 350000 ($76.99) - Granatelli 350000 Granatelli Hi-Flow MAF Housing
Air Filter Replacements - IMAGE
--->If you're not interested in doing any major modification under the hood, there are performance based air filters that will fit right into the stock air box.
A. Spectre hpR® Performance OEM Filter Element ($24.99) - Buy Spectre hpR® Performance OEM Filter Element 886479 at Advance Auto Parts
B. K&N Panel Type Open Top Cotton Gauze Air Filter ($52.99) - Buy K&N Panel Type Open Top Cotton Gauze Air Filter 33-2057 at Advance Auto Parts
There will never be an end to this list! Owners and fanatics will always be finding new and unique ways to customize their intake. Please post your comments, questions, advice, pictures, and experiences on this thread. I hope this list helps!
AFTERMARKET INTAKE SYSTEMS
1. RAISS Intake (Street Trends) - IMAGE
---> This is by far the most popular after market intake system for b-body owners. It is a step above the SSRI intake from Clear Image Automotive. It comes in three options:
Raw ($359) - RAISS Air Intake System: Raw: Impala & Caprice Store
Black ($409) - RAISS Air Intake System: Black: Impala & Caprice Store
Polished ($439) - RAISS Air Intake System: Silver: Impala & Caprice Store
2. SSRI Intake (Clear Image Automotive) - IMAGE
---> The SSRI Intake is much like the RAISS intake, but has weather stripping that extends across the width of the engine bay, and uses plexi-glass walls to get as much airflow into the filter as possible.
SSRI Intake ($285) - High Performance Exhaust Systems - Chevy Impala SS Cold Air Intake
3. K&N FIPK2 Cold Air Intake (Street Trends) - IMAGE
---> K&N is the oldest and most trusted brand of cold air intake systems. This system replaces the air box and "first base" in order to utilize the stock air filter location. If you are interested in removing the "Home Plate" as well, you will need a plug: Aluminum Resonator Tube Plug - Polished
K&N FIPK2 CAI ($259) - K&N FIPK2 Cold Air Intake: Impala & Caprice Store
4. RAMMIT Intake (...ramairss...) - IMAGE
---> The RAMMIT Intake system is (IMO) the most unique system offered. This intake system routes the intake to underneath the front bumper, insuring the coldest air possible.
RASS Intake ($275) - . . . r a m a i r s s . . .
CUSTOM INTAKE MODIFICATIONS
For those of us who are unable to afford the multi-hundred dollar intake systems, there are a few other options that we can use to improve performance.
1. "SNUB-NOSE" Intake - IMAGE
---> There are many different ways of making a "snub-nose" intake, although there are a few common items you will need to begin:
FERNCO Coupler ($8.52) - Fernco P1056-43 Concentric Coupling at PlumberSurplus.com
Universal 3" Cone Air Filter ($30) - Spectre Performance
Using these two items, you can bolt the FERNCO coupler to the throttle body and then to the MAF. At first it looks like it won't fit, but TRUST ME it will contract down to the proper size. After this step, you should connect the Cone filter to the MAF. Something to note, you will have to drill two different holes into the sides of the FERNCO coupler in order to input the other sensors. This shouldn't be a problem. Once done you have a choice to make! You have the option to remove the weather stripping on the underside of the hood or not. This will improve air flow to the intake, but may allow other elements (such as rain) to find its way to the cone filter. If this is a concern, feel free to purchase the K&N Drycharger (available on Amazon.com).
2. "S-Bend" Intake (QaloSS Handbook - Page 13) - IMAGE
---> The S-Bend Intake is designed to be a cheap replacement for the "first-base" air box. The air box remains in its stock location, and the option to use the home plate or plug it up remains available.
S-Bend Intake (~$10) - http://www.impalaclub.com/naisso/ss_handbook.pdf
3. Swiss Cheese AirBox - IMAGE
---> This is a simple modification for those who want to keep their stock air box, but have a little more airflow. The process of this is removing the top of the air box, the filter, and finally the bottom piece of the air box. Once it's taken out of the engine bay, you can drill holes into the bottom piece. This should allow some more flow into the filter, which may add a slight increase in performance. Once done, re-install and you're done!
4. Other Modifications
---> There are other modifications you can do to help improve airflow to your intake manifold. These are items you can use to either slightly improve, or dramatically improve airflow. The links provided are not ALL the items available per category. They are just a good place for you to start and compare to.
Intake manifolds - IMAGE
A. Edelbrock 7109 ($509.95) - Edelbrock 7109 - Edelbrock Performer RPM Air-Gap LT1/LT4 Intake Manifolds - Overview - SummitRacing.com
B. Edelbrock 7107 ($449.95) - Edelbrock 7107 - Edelbrock Performer RPM Air-Gap LT1/LT4 Intake Manifolds - Overview - SummitRacing.com
Throttle Bodies (58mm) - IMAGE
---> GM High Tech Performance Article.
A. Professional Prod. 69702 GM LT1 58 mm Throttle Body ($225) - Professional Prod. 69702 GM LT1 58 mm Throttle Body
B. 58MM TWIN THROTTLE BODY ($365.95) - EDELBROCK 3810 58MM TWIN THROTTLE BODY $365.95 BUY ONLINE
Mass Air Flow Sensors - IMAGE
---> Another way to improve performance is to upgrade to a different MAF. You can either get one without a screen (below) or go for a bigger one (3.5"). Here is a good place to start:
A. Granatelli 350000 ($76.99) - Granatelli 350000 Granatelli Hi-Flow MAF Housing
Air Filter Replacements - IMAGE
--->If you're not interested in doing any major modification under the hood, there are performance based air filters that will fit right into the stock air box.
A. Spectre hpR® Performance OEM Filter Element ($24.99) - Buy Spectre hpR® Performance OEM Filter Element 886479 at Advance Auto Parts
B. K&N Panel Type Open Top Cotton Gauze Air Filter ($52.99) - Buy K&N Panel Type Open Top Cotton Gauze Air Filter 33-2057 at Advance Auto Parts
There will never be an end to this list! Owners and fanatics will always be finding new and unique ways to customize their intake. Please post your comments, questions, advice, pictures, and experiences on this thread. I hope this list helps!
Evan|IMPALER