Ram air on 3.4 SE 2004

[cobra1]

Hey boys,

Wondering if I can install a Ram air (GT factory) on 3.4L SE, or would it be better to install after-market ram-air instead, let me know. Cheers

[HighwayProwlerz]

I would recommend installing a cold air intake instead. The Ram-Air isn't that great.

[nice96gt]

:agree:

[tgussie666]

Yep, this is tru. I had ram air until i changed over to a CAI, and boy, do i notice a nice difference...........:D

[gran_dam98]

Good Ol' GM marketing gimmick :)

[99GrandAMSE]

Originally posted by gran_dam98
Good Ol' GM marketing gimmick :)

OK, just a little pet peeve of mine and please, don't feel like I am centering you out as I am not!

Anyway, it 'irks' me when I hear people bad mount the RAM-AIR setup found in the Grand AM and tell people it doesn't work, etc. The fact is, it does work but it is a matter of degrees on how much it works compared to the more direct setup used on other GM products. There is no question a CAI is superior to the Grand AM RAM-AIR system but I simply don't like when people refuse to see that the RAM-AIR does actually work and does produce a slight increase in performance.

In my case, I went from a stock SE air intake setup to a complete 'brand new' RAM-AIR system and there definitely was a slight increase but mainly at higher RPMs (exactly where you'd expect it to be). Then. I changed over to a CAI and yet again, there was an increase in performance. Now, if the idea of changing the air intake is ONLY for performance gain, then go for a CAI, no question. On the other hand, if you want to keep you car 'more original' and have something in my opinion that looks much better and flows better in appearance under the hood, get the RAM-AIR.

End of rant! :lol: :)

[Boomin99GT]

While you may have noticed an increase in power thats only because you gave the airbox a bigger inlet of air, its not because of a ramming effect at all. True ram air doesn't create any amount of boost until I believe 130mph and since most of our cars can't even get up to that speed it would never do anything.

[TA^Guy]

http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?postid=513441#post513441
Originally posted by 99grandamse
OK, just a little pet peeve of mine and please, don't feel like I am centering you out as I am not!

Anyway, it 'irks' me when I hear people bad mount the RAM-AIR setup found in the Grand AM and tell people it doesn't work, etc. The fact is, it does work but it is a matter of degrees on how much it works compared to the more direct setup used on other GM products. There is no question a CAI is superior to the Grand AM RAM-AIR system but I simply don't like when people refuse to see that the RAM-AIR does actually work and does produce a slight increase in performance.

In my case, I went from a stock SE air intake setup to a complete 'brand new' RAM-AIR system and there definitely was a slight increase but mainly at higher RPMs (exactly where you'd expect it to be). Then. I changed over to a CAI and yet again, there was an increase in performance. Now, if the idea of changing the air intake is ONLY for performance gain, then go for a CAI, no question. On the other hand, if you want to keep you car 'more original' and have something in my opinion that looks much better and flows better in appearance under the hood, get the RAM-AIR.

End of rant! :lol: :)
Kelly I FULLY agree with everything you mentioned.

Those that have been around will remember I was the one that tried every little thing to keep my stock Ram Air setup. I smoothed the box, the transistions in teh tubing, K&N panel filter, etc. But I have since ditched it for the better looking CAI by Red99GAGT (same one Kelly has). The main restriction in the stock Ram Air setup is the tubing size. If it had larger tubing like my CAI, it would work better than any CAI in the fender could.
Originally posted by Boomin99GT
While you may have noticed an increase in power thats only because you gave the airbox a bigger inlet of air, its not because of a ramming effect at all. True ram air doesn't create any amount of boost until I believe 130mph and since most of our cars can't even get up to that speed it would never do anything.
Ram Air wasn't designed to create 'Boost'. It was designed to induce cooler, less restricitive air flow to the engine.

The frontal area of the vehicle is a high pressure point. True it won't create 'boost' but it does allow high flow of less restriced air to be freely ingested into the motor. Less restriction and free flow air means less the engine has to draw in, less vacuum restriction in the combustion chamber during the intake stroke means a crank that is easier to rotate.

The cooler, denser air is where the greater incress will be from. But it's not due to the air, but the fuel. The cooler the air, the denser more oxygenated it is. More oxygen, more fuel will be needed to balance it, and fuel is the key since it's the source of all stored energy.

The idea for the Grand Am's Ram Air is nice but I wouldn't blame it on Pontiac for it not being prefect. The designers and engineers are forced to work with-in government restrictions and guidelines such as intake noise, engine noise and cabin noise. Not to mention have to keep the motor running smoothly for a long time so they have to prevent water and debris from getting with with various baffles. All these are restrictions on the system and even cars like the Camaro SS and Firebirds with the WS6 package suffer losses due to. Yes the 'Ram Air' systems help the cars make more power but more is always found by removing such items that Pontiac needed to have inplace in order to produced.

Sorry not to target you but like Kelly it's a pet peev of mine and I know there are alot of people that don't understand and jus tsimply think automakers can slap together whatever they want and sell it to the general public.

[Colin]

^ :agree:

[Pte Socks]

hehehe Omg, thats the first time ive ever seen Kelly do a rant ! Yea Kelly!. Hehe anyways, if you want more performance, go with or even a SRI ( WAI ). Otherwise, like Kelly said, a RAM AIR is still and upgrade

[SilverGA2001]

Originally posted by TA^Guy

Not to mention have to keep the motor running smoothly for a long time so they have to prevent water and debris from getting with with various baffles. All these are restrictions on the system and even cars like the Camaro SS and Firebirds with the WS6 package suffer losses due to. Yes the 'Ram Air' systems help the cars make more power but more is always found by removing such items that Pontiac needed to have inplace in order to produced.

Like you said, they've had to think about debris... I know a guy locally that pulled a sparrow out of his Ram Air tube on his GAGT. Made it through the scoops and into the actual duct to the air box but was finally caught in the first bend.

Also, having cut out the bottom of my Firebird's airbox (see LS1.com for their free Ram Air mod) and put the scoop in under the car, I can tell you that having an outside air source like this does in fact add in much more air flow, even unpressurized, like TA mentioned. No boost, but mucho air flow, enough that the area directly below my K&N drop in where the air enters the box turns black every few thousand miles. :eek:

[ttah8]

I just installed my Ram Air assembly in my 3400 V6 SE2, and I can tell a difference in the high RPM band. From 4000-6000 RPM, I can hear the intake sucking in air, and when I let off the gas I can hear the Ram Air let off, and I hear a little PFFFH sound. I felt it was a good mod for $25 (used parts), and since I have an extended warranty til 6 yrs/75K miles, I sleep a little better at night knowing its a GM made product. Warranty underwriters are beasts, they find EVERYTHING. No doubt Ram Air works, how effective it is a question, it is still inferior to the Cold Air Intake. If you can get Ram Air for cheap, its not a bad mod...but I've heard people with CAI's love about them.