Ram Air on GT's Not Fully Functional?

[Subtle_Cynicism]

Someone had once told me that in order for the Ram Air on Grand Am GT models to be FULLY functional, you must go in the air filter box (I think) and plug up a small hole or something?

Is there any truth to this; I know nothing about mechanics.

[birdhouse]

For the last time (not trying to be rude) ram air is a ploy by Pontiac to draw in more buyers. It's very restrictive and does not work like you would think it does (like in a Trans-Am). The best way for our cars to get cold air is a CAI, but that wouldn't make much sense for you since you live in upper Michigan which gets lots of snows.

[Subtle_Cynicism]

I just figured it'd be similar to the Trans Am Ram Air...I own a Firebird and my friend has a 5.7L Ram Air Trans Am and that thing hauls when need be.

The reason I ask is becuase I got some insane acceleration at 55+ on the highway...more than a 3.4L probably would have, or so I thought...just curious.

[Colin]

The ram air is functional , it takes air from the 2 nostrils in the front of the car . Problem is it's very restrictive as the air has to take many turns and twists , and the ducting is just too small . The air box has two ducts going into it one from the ram air and the other from the resonator in the fender well , which does nothing but muffle the sound of the air rushing into the intake . Overall it looks trick ( depending on your perpective ) but doesn't do the job very well . CAI is the way to go if you want airflow . ;)

[azeniskid]

it's poorly designed.

[jayhawk]

^^^ agreed. For ram air to work, you need it to go the shortest route possible. But when the cars throttle body is on the side and not the front, all effort is negated. It probably would have worked better on the 4 cylinders.

[TA^Guy]

Originally posted by Colin
The ram air is functional , it takes air from the 2 nostrils in the front of the car . Problem is it's very restrictive as the air has to take many turns and twists , and the ducting is just too small . The air box has two ducts going into it one from the ram air and the other from the resonator in the fender well , which does nothing but muffle the sound of the air rushing into the intake . Overall it looks trick ( depending on your perpective ) but doesn't do the job very well . CAI is the way to go if you want airflow . ;) :agree:

[way2crazy05]

here is a picture of the ram air setup. it sux. i have plans to move the air box and battery to starighten out the the path. alot of custom. work and prolly some parts needed. so if any one is replacing their ram air setup up with cai i can use the air box and everthing that is attached.

[dballz]

:bsmeter: You mean the ram air doesnt even work??? :offhood: Man I thought I was as fast as a TA because I had the ram air. Oh well maybe if I buy one of those +20 hp chips off ebay i can get that fast.:wtf:

[RocketFast321]

http://flathat.woodstream.net/ColumbusRacing/Dougs%20pics/DCP00629.JPG

ramair

[Subtle_Cynicism]

Don't be rude.

That's not what I was saying...

I was just saying that I got a pretty nice kick in acceleration...was wondering if the Ram Air played a huge part or not.

[Rayz]

I think that "Ram Air" has been a marketing buzzword for Pontiac since the last of the Ram-air III and IV engines were sold in the early 70's.
Ram-air back then meant something. You got special heads and cams to go along with the open hood scoop. :D

[way2crazy05]

people fail to realize it makes a difference rather than taking in so much hot air right off of the engine it gets cooler air from infront of the car. so what if it isnt "true ram air". better than nothinand with some time and effort it could be changed into somthing that functions better than stock. all this ricer CAI SH** pisses me off. so for those ridiculing it take a look at your CAI and the honda sittin next to it and tell me what makes you better.

[m411b]

Originally posted by way2crazy05
people fail to realize it makes a difference rather than taking in so much hot air right off of the engine it gets cooler air from infront of the car. so what if it isnt "true ram air". better than nothinand with some time and effort it could be changed into somthing that functions better than stock. all this ricer CAI SH** pisses me off. so for those ridiculing it take a look at your CAI and the honda sittin next to it and tell me what makes you better.

:mad: Dude cool down this isn't a ricer board this is an American Muscle board and if people want to put CAI's on their rides then more power to them.The Grand Am isn't all that unless you do some work to it and without a CAI you might as well forget power all together in the Grand Am.Any engine that gets cooler air will run better , so how do ya do it? CAI dude !!!

I agree that the RAM AIR in the Grand Am sucks.therefor you must add to the vehicle to make it better, which is what the newer Grand Am's are all about.The RAM AIR on our vehicles stock is to loose, it needs to be bigger and more air tight /w alot more straightness for almost like a turbo effect ( as in pressure ) in the intake.If one could make it straighter with a higher flowing filter with a direct route to the intake it would be much more beneficial to our engines , and it would do away with having to have a CAI.So go ahead and don't put a CAI on your car way2crazy05 and try to race me , and I'll blow you off the road with ease and no look back.Some of us are out for performance and some of us aren't, Thats OK.

[Rayz]

Originally posted by m411b
Some of us are out for performance and some of us aren't, Thats OK.
Why not open the scoop on the drivers side of your hood and use that?

[HondaCivicsSuck]

I think my "RamAir" works just fine! :D

[Pte Socks]

Whoa. Settle. The facts are true what most people are saying. If anything, if you want a ram air setup that does more, you need to be looking at something like an sc/t hood and running it down to your intake box. But all of that is quite a bit of customization that isnt cheap. Its fairly similar to the "warbird" style on a T/A. Also realise that the Ram Air on a GA is still better than the stock airbox on an SE. To way2crazy05, realise there the CAI is the best setup for the money on a GA and will beat out a stock ram air setup and I have the races behind me to prove. And dont be so quick to call those with a CAI a ricer because you very well know it is not wise to call so many GA memebers a ricer on such a board. My car and many others would quickly prove that is not true, just how I prove to ricers and fellow racers around area, you do not mess with me and you will give this car respect. Whether you like it or not, you will respect it.

[robry]

lol a ricer is someone with a CAI added? are you insane? dude if anything, you'd be more of a ricer saying 'yo I got RAM AIR' then 'yo I got a CAI now' seriously, they DO add power, and MAKE a different in the car. I thought my car pulled well with the Ram Air when I first got it, 55-60mph is that sweet spot for a 2nd gear drop. However, once I got my CAI on, it just pulled even harder. It's been proven that the Ram air system is worthless, and if you want to enhance the power of the car, a CAI is the way to go.

[JoeyK]

Lol anyone that says they can actually feell a difference w/ a cai is blowing smoke or lieing to themselves. Yes, I imagine they improve the numbers on a dyno in the midband range but they also cut your low end. All in all not a big improvemnt, not enough to feel it. That's like saying that you can feel the diff w/ a K&N.

[srxshadow]

It may have something to do with the noise that it makes, it makes your intake louder so you get the feeling that you are going faster. i have an SE1 with the CAI intake and i FEEl a difference.
I have yet to race a GT but i have a feeling i will end up in front. low 15's i'm guessing.. this one feels fast out of the factory

14k miles

[Pte Socks]

Well put it this way. Ive never raced a stock GAGT before without my intake. With a CAI, I can and will beat a GAGT. It even match the GAGT on the absolute high end ( govenor area ) even though the ram air on the the GAGT is running at its premium and the GAGT is taking full advantage of its final gear ratio improvement. My best comparison is a race against a stock GAGT coupe with a guy passenger vs my GASE sedan with stereo ( equal weight ). Off the line, we were dead even, after first gear I had the girl by a 1/3 of a car lenght. By the end of second I had her by a full car length and then we shut it down at 110 KM/hr. I will admit, that you do think your going faster because of the mean sound that the CAI makes, but I also know from dyno's that it does add between 5 and 8 WHP from stock, most notable at around the 3500 + range. That is the best I can do to explain the advantage of the CAI vs the ram air. Hopefully it helps some out in figuring out on what to get.

[azeniskid]

I'll beat you mr. butt hp calculator

[RamAirGAGT]

Whoever said a CAI is ricy??? Hot rods get them too.... the thing that sticks out of the hood that looks like it has throttle bodies on it=CAI.