Characteristics of performance intakes?

[JMatt]

Let me know if I get this right:

There are really only two issues on any intake setup,

First: What is the manifold air pressure at wide open throttle?
Second: What is the intake air temperature?

It seems to me that it all comes down to those two questions, right? I guess there are some theories out there about air velocity and possible "swirling" of the intake air, but that seems to be more related to the intake manifold than just to the actual intake/filter combo, which brings me right back to the two issues.

So here's the question: It seems to me that the best drag strip ready intake system is the one the shows the highest Manifold pressure at WOT and the lowest intake temperature.

With that in mind, I bought a ScanGauge (no affiliation) which does a bazillion things, among them is to provide me a readout of Intake Air temp and manifold pressure. I intend to fabricate my own intake, and to test with/without the air filter in place, etc. to see what, if any improvements I can make at the drag strip.

Am I missing something?

BTW: If you don't have a scangauge, you owe it to yourself to check it out. I can't believe it hasn't been discussed more on this forum. I got mine last night and it's already indespensible in my mind!!!!!!!

[stevesrt8]

don't forget that inside the intake manifold the "pressure" is lower than ambient, sometimes called manifold vacuum. Your MAP sensor readout on the scan tool will give you this.

Most swirling and other turbulence-inducing schemes were developed to aid in mid range torque output and driveability/economy issues. Max HP comes from flow volume, so the ideal air intake would have the least restriction on incoming air flow and thus generate the lowest manifold vacuum.

I am hoping someone will come up with a larger throttle body and the appropriate intake set up as this seems to be where this engine is restricted. Note the very small exhaust gains. Combined with some software to advance timing appropriately and we would have a 500 HP beast for sure.

Steve
06 CSRT8
all stock all original
everything but DVD
waiting for software