GT350 intake with GT500 airbox / cover?

[1MeanZ]

I installed the GT500 airbox kit from Levittown. I figured I'd post up here to show more pix of the install and I have the perfect solution to seal the smaller GT350 MAF tube to the larger opening in the GT500 airbox.

The heat shielding is a aluminum backed fiberglass that I got from DEI. I'm sure it will reduce my IATs to below freezing even in summer. The foam seal I used on the airbox to seal up the MAF tube is part number 1601N122 from McMaster Carr. It's just a multipurpose Neoprene foam with an adhesive backing.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MIm6Lh5vichAMVJkpHAR1bSA4IEAQYASABEgLlfvD_BwE

https://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/130/4082/1601N122

Sponsored

 

[Strokerswild]

I installed the GT500 airbox kit from Levittown. I figured I'd post up here to show more pix of the install and I have the perfect solution to seal the smaller GT350 MAF tube to the larger opening in the GT500 airbox.

The heat shielding is a aluminum backed fiberglass that I got from DEI. I'm sure it will reduce my IATs to below freezing even in summer. The foam seal I used on the airbox to seal up the MAF tube is part number 1601N122 from McMaster Carr. It's just a multipurpose Neoprene foam with an adhesive backing.

That's some amazingly effective heat shielding.

 

[1MeanZ]

That's some amazingly effective heat shielding.

Well it's about 30% the heat shielding and 70% the quality of the install I"m sure. With IATs this cold I'm sure I'll be making an extra .25hp at least. Will be a huge seat of the pants increase...

 

[Paul McWhiskey]

I installed the GT500 airbox kit from Levittown. I figured I'd post up here to show more pix of the install and I have the perfect solution to seal the smaller GT350 MAF tube to the larger opening in the GT500 airbox.

The heat shielding is a aluminum backed fiberglass that I got from DEI. I'm sure it will reduce my IATs to below freezing even in summer. The foam seal I used on the airbox to seal up the MAF tube is part number 1601N122 from McMaster Carr. It's just a multipurpose Neoprene foam with an adhesive backing.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MIm6Lh5vichAMVJkpHAR1bSA4IEAQYASABEgLlfvD_BwE

https://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/130/4082/1601N122

I am curious to hear your results. I like the fact that it protects the hottest portion of the airbox, but does not muck up the appearance of the engine bay. Now, to find a way to insulate the inlet duct that is conveniently positioned right behind the radiator that doesn’t look crazy.

 

[1MeanZ]

I am curious to hear your results. I like the fact that it protects the hottest portion of the airbox, but does not muck up the appearance of the engine bay. Now, to find a way to insulate the inlet duct that is conveniently positioned right behind the radiator that doesn’t look crazy.

This enclosed airbox will only yield lower IAT when stopped or at low speed. I drove the car today (super rare saltless February day in Indiana) and at speed the IATs are essentially the same. That said, all of the Ford air boxes draw air from beside the radiator right behind the grille, so there shouldn’t be hot air from the radiator getting into the airbox.

The other reason I made this switch was to protect the air filter from water every time I wash the car.

 

[Paul McWhiskey]

This enclosed airbox will only yield lower IAT when stopped or at low speed. I drove the car today (super rare saltless January day in Indiana) and at speed the IATs are essentially the same. That said, all of the Ford air boxes draw air from beside the radiator right behind the grille, so there shouldn’t be hot air from the radiator getting into the airbox.

The other reason I made this switch was to protect the air filter from water every time I wash the car.

I am aware that the engine draws air from the front grill. Insulating the airbox, since it is so near the L/H exhaust manifold seems like a good idea to me. Additionally, the duct from the airbox to the TB runs right behind the radiator and is in the engine bay so it seems to me to be a good candidate for insulation of some sort. The problem is that there are not too many ways to do this that look good to me. There is the gold reflective tape and the product that you have used on the airbox (I like the way that it is not covering the entire box and making it look like a lunar lander package), but I think that it may be somewhat difficult to apply to a tube and still have something that you would want to look at. I have contacted some companies that make spray on insulation products that have a good appearance (I could be fine with a crinkle finish), but they have all stated that they do not have any products that could be applied to plastic.

It is probably chasing unicorns, but I would like to find a way that does not cost an arm and a leg to get ambient air to the IAT sensor with no heat gain. No doubt it can be done and look good, with a space program budget, but so far I do not have a line in the Federal Budget. I live where the summer temps can get into the triple digits and as we all know, heat elimination is a good thing. My car generally runs about 4 degrees over ambient on the highway. In stop and go I have seen it rise to 150+. That is all from heat soak. Even if I could just minimize that I might be able to be satisfied. I am adding Race Louvers along with a few more items very soon. Perhaps venting the heat from the engine bay will help. Don't imagine that it can hurt.

 

[GregO]

Who has checked the actual air temperature vs cold start IAT ? My IAT delta is +6° F higher at the MAF sensor during cold start vs. outside ambient air temperature.

 

[Paul McWhiskey]

Who has checked the actual air temperature vs cold start IAT ? My IAT delta is +6° F higher at the MAF sensor during cold start vs. outside ambient air temperature.

Ditto

 

[1MeanZ]

@Paul McWhiskey I misunderstood you. Your “air duct” = my “MAF tube”.

You may be correct that there is some heat saturation of the inlet ducting before the throttle body, and like you, I often don’t like the look of most heat shielding jobs, which is why I did the air box the way it is.

After driving the car more yesterday I can say this. With the open top GT350 setup I was ALWAYS 4 degrees over ambient on the IAT, and as soon as you stopped, you could almost watch the IAT go up. Yesterday while moving, the car maintained a 2 or occasionally 3 degree delta over ambient which I’ve never seen before. Also, once stopped in traffic, the IAT would eventually go up, but it took a while and then when it did it was very slow rate of increase.

So the system is doing what I wanted it to do, doing what we all expect it to do. My cornerstone reason for doing this is to keep the engine in a position to be as detonation resistant as possible. I also have a 170 thermostat. The car is tuned and only runs on premium fuel, and I want to make sure that it’s never in a condition where it has to pull timing.

 

[Paul McWhiskey]

That’s what I am talking about. Please supply some under hood photos of the air box. I like the way that it is only insulated where it is subjected to the radiant heat from the left header.

There might be more to be had insulating the tube from the air box to the TB. But, what with? Something that insulates, but still looks good.

The results you posted are what I want to do and for the same reasons.

 

[1MeanZ]

This is the latest pic from yesterday. You have to zoom in and you can barely see the wrap on the airbox.
My first idea on the inlet tube is some type of separate heat shield, similar to what you’d see on a motorcycle exhaust. It would attach to the tube and help form a boundary layer of air not exposed to the heat. I’ll have to look more closely to see if this is possible.

 

[Paul McWhiskey]

I like the look of that. A view from the rear of the air box would reveal more of the insulation I imagine. I guess that I just have to accept that there would be no way to hide it. Your results are the best that I have heard of yet and I am strongly considering doing the same. Now, if a solution can be had to insulate the MAF tube with something that isn’t just plain ugly there might be more to gain as far as getting IAT closer yet to ambient.

All, as you stated, to reduce the possibility of knock and timing retardation with the associated loss of power. Which will, also, help to protect the engine internals.

Good job!

 

[1MeanZ]

I like the look of that. A view from the rear of the air box would reveal more of the insulation I imagine. I guess that I just have to accept that there would be no way to hide it. Your results are the best that I have heard of yet and I am strongly considering doing the same.

The airbox is insulated all the way around to where it meets the inner fender. The airbox is funnel shaped and you kind of have to stand on your head and look in from the back of the engine bay to see that it's insulated. I'll see if I can get another pic, the car is covered back up in it's sleepy spot as winter is returning to our area.

My results are better than I've seen also. To be fair, the 2 degree delta was observed at 45-55 mph for only 1-2 miles at a time with traffic lights in between. On the highway for 5+ miles, not sure what would happen. Also should be noted that this was observed with an ambient temp in the high 30s to low 40s Fahrenheit Will the delta between IAT and ambient temp grow when it warms up again? I doubt it, but time will tell.

 

[ice445]

I'm curious as to the difference with A/C on compared to the GT350 open top. That's what raises my IAT's the fastest by far, the fan wash off the rad/condenser with the A/C on dumps loads of heat through every crack and crevice in the airbox and IAT's rise rapidly. With A/C off, it doesn't rise that fast.

 

[Paul McWhiskey]

I'm curious as to the difference with A/C on compared to the GT350 open top. That's what raises my IAT's the fastest by far, the fan wash off the rad/condenser with the A/C on dumps loads of heat through every crack and crevice in the airbox and IAT's rise rapidly. With A/C off, it doesn't rise that fast.

Makes sense. I went to the GT 500 air box and now, I believe the best way to improve it will be to insulate the box and air tube to tb.

Sponsored