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Everything about Spectre Cold Air Intake

You might not have your connections on the rubber coupling type things that connect the pipe to the engine.  Mine came loose the other day and my truck went into limp mode.  Power was reduced, stabilitrak system was disabled etc...  My check engine light and traction control light came on.  Pulled over, tightened it back up and started the truck up.  After about 30 seconds all the lights went off on the dash and everything was good to go.
 
Your heart must have jumped out of your chest when it happened.  :eek: 
 
Anyone looking for a 9900, check amazon early in the week.

I just purchased my for 107.94 with free shipping yesterday, and today it is 139.95 ???

They have been all over the board on pricing, but it seems Sun-Wed is the best time to buy.  Maybe a micro-economics expert can explain this, because I can not.

 
Z66Modder said:
Your heart must have jumped out of your chest when it happened.  :eek: 
It definitely did.  I was pretty freaked out.  I had never had a vehicle go into limp mode before.
 
I was in autozone they carry Spectre Performance Intake Kit its half the price .... any good or  :9:
 
Looks like a good deal for the money ,,,,,,will see just sent my son to get me one ,,, :rolleyes:
 
It took me less than 1 hour to put the spectre on! I had so much time left, I cleaned the MAF, changed the spark plugs from champion platinum to iridium, and changed the stock wires to msds.  Whole project was done in less than 2.5 hours.  The sound is incredible, and I have tire chattering accelleration!

Good stuff!

(hoping for pics soon)
 
Unhooked my battery and took about 30-40 minutes from start to finish.

This may be a fluke, but I drove from my cabin back to the cities yesterday (100.2 miles) so not a full tank to get get a great reading and got 25.55 MPG.

Can anyone chime in and let me know if one gas pump's "auto-stop" is different than another?  That is my only guess for an error in my math.  Maybe the different pumps shut off at different "full" marks  when re-fueling?

Or...The AV Gods have smiled upon me  (y)
 
I think the pumps do have a different setting, but I also know I got 26mpg driving from Rock Springs Wyo to Cheyenne Wyo. Sometimes the Av gods do smile on you.
 
Hey all !

I just installed the spectre on my 02 lanche and the install was next to nothing!
I seen a couple post of guys saying that the sound is awesome? i notice the sound when i fire the beast up but when iam on the throttle i just dont hear it?
I dont know if is because the flowmaster super 40 has alot of cabin noise and i cant hear it or i hope i didnt install anything wrong which i dont believe i did?
So is the sound out there and i just cant hear it or did i screw sumptin up?
All input will help!

Thanks!
John
 
Read thru most of the whole post, and read about the bogging off the line if you mash into the throttle, but not if you "roll" into it. I was wondering if that was because of the lame torque management, as I recall reading similar effects on how the torque management works?

Right now I'm trying to decide if I want to do the CAI or MSD wires first... I need to see if It needs new plugs and all too, bought my AV with 83k miles on it, and its near the 100k but don't know if they ever changed the plugs and that before... damn lack of funds... to many mods!!
 
Do the plugs anyways, you will sleep better at night.  (y)
 
Do the plugs and wires. I have a saying, "when in doubt swap it out".
The Cai wont make as much of a difference if the plugs are old. I have changed my plugs 4 times in 105k since I bought mine. I like the NGK plugs.
 
yeah I was looking and the wires are AC delco and probably still original, since I fell like the 5.3 should be a bit more peppy then it is, and my dad said that i'll probably end up ripping a wire just to check so then I'd be stranded till I got new wires in lol.  I'll just have to go find some MSDs for a decent price and then put them in and wait for the CAI. :)
 
Well over the last few days I broke down and bought the Spectre intake kit, it was bugging me so I had to try it. Before buying it, I monitored my IAT with my diablo sport programmer and took notes, I have done this before as well and had a decent feeling for what the difference in IAT and ambient temperature is (via mirror, its always been within a degree or two, long as I am moving and not sitting in a parking lot for several minutes with A/C on lol)

Install was easy, the black rubber tubes can be tight, but with some finessing got it all installed. I Noticed the radiator hose was in direct contact, so I placed some foam in between to prevent contact. I then took it for a test drive, noting IAT, and they were much higher, stopping at a light, going as much as 35* above ambient really fast, within in a minute. (stock was about 2-5 in the same situation) I was initially disappointed. I went back home and took a better look at the set up, I felt the tube, and it was untouchable, where the stock set up under driving the same route, was hot, but not untouchable.

I then took and nearly blocked off all "hot air" passages that could get to the filter, including to the hood, so air would nearly exclusively come from the old fender holes and from below.

I preformed my drive, and notice that temperatures still soar in city driving. Going as much as 15-20 degrees hotter than what the factory box had, and being erratic, meaning it would jump in temperature quickly. The factory box I seen temps almost 20 degrees warmer than ambient and would take a long time to get there, where this kit would jump up to 20+ in less than a minute, and stay there for some time, cooling down I would say they are about the same. On the freeway, after a long time, the Spectre would cool down to within 1 degree of the ambient at times, but typically around 2-3 degrees warmer, the factory box never got lower than about 2 degrees than ambient but mostly within 4-5 degrees.

Each route I took I allowed my truck to cool too point where I could work on it inside our garage, and then drove in the city until it reached normal operating temperature, then took it on the freeway and drove at roughly the same speed for quite some distance, then got off the free way and took the same route, keeping track of temps and how fast things went up.

Before I sealed off the box, I did get the "bog down" feeling using the spectre, watching the IAT, at a light I'm sitting at 100* IAT, ambient around 95 (just got off the freeway) and when I punched it, the temps would jump to 120-130 degrees! (the factory airbox would go maybe, 5-6 degrees, and the spectre blocked off it would still jump 20 degrees) I bet what is happening, is with the IAT so high, the engine now has to make dramatic adjustments, that cause the bog down feeling. My best guess is that when the engine starts sucking more on take off, 2 things are probably happening, 1: more air is being sucked, so some hot air from my sealed box area would get past, 2, the clutch fan is moving more air, and since aluminum is a great conductor, and with the effects of forced convection, it gets heated up really quick.

I also monitored MAP (manifold absolute pressure) and the MAP readings were all the same before, during and after the Spectre intake system. I would of monitored MAF, but the readings were erratic, and the MAP was more stable. Off the line, initially punched it would be 12.5-12.6 PSI, then drop to about 12.3 PSI for most of the range, and then in the 5000 RPM range, drop to 12.2 PSI, with either the K&N with stock air intake system or Spectre kit installed, checked several times and at similar IAT and ambient temps. From this I conclude, correct me if I am wrong, that the Spectre isn't letting anymore air in than normal, and the stock set up is just as good for my stock engine (except magnaflow exhaust and diablo programmer).

So from my experience I stand corrected on my previous statement, saying the aluminum tube maybe better, it seems plastic is the way to go.

When the temps were down around normal in comparison, I had a really hard time feeling any improvements (I felt none), I would just notice more noise (which I liked, but not for the price) MPG seemed unchanged, traveling down a flat open strip of freeway I would check it on the DIC. My truck has 93k miles on it, and recently just did a plug and wire change, and keep up on it maintenance.

I swapped back in my K&N air filter and factory box and took the specter back to the store. But now I am going back to an AC Delco filter, because when I had the factory box and all off, I notice a large amount of dust in the intake tubing, MAF and right be hind the filter, it seems to me the K&N is crappy for filtering dust, and since I drive a lot on dusty roads, and after some more research, I will be sticking to the paper filter, to me a 1-2 hp hit at 5000rpms is worth it for the extra protection.

in conclusion, I know that my tests were informal, and the ambient temp readings can be off, but just seeing how the IAT temps would jump quickly and stay there was more than enough reason to stick with the factory airbox for now, I may, if i fell like it, get the airaid jr. tube to clean up the engine compartment only. The Factory was a couple of degrees warmer on the freeway, but much cooler in the city, and temps far more stable. If you do get a aftermarket intake, I personally would save my money, but if you had to, I would stick with a plastic tube, and some kind of air box that is sealed well against the engine compartment, otherwise you would just get a hot air intake ;)


On sort of a side note, I never been to fond of aftermarket "power adders" did a lot of things on a S10 to get more power, but nothing really seamed to help it, except things that would for sure add, or free up power, such as underdrive pulleys, being one of the few things I did where I felt a difference. Things I tried and could not tell a difference was: Airaid CAI, MSD wires, Accel coil, K&N headers, etc. My MPG never went up on my S10 and power seemed to just stay the same, I didn't dyno it, but honestly If I spend 200-500 dollars on something, I want to feel a difference in my butt dyno or make it sound better or look much better; I'm not racing, so that 1/10th of a second doesn't matter. Honestly at this point, I feel that if GM or some other manufacture in recent years could improve mpg by 1mpg or add 10 hp to an engine, then why didn't they from the factory? I know some of it is cost, but look at the factory airbox on a avalanche, and then an airaid one, which one do you think cost more to make? same thing with coils, wires and all that, sure it may cost more, but when GM can get one more MPG and/or 10hp (think how MPG conscious buyers are now, and all that fun MPG stuff) on the truck and make it cost $5 dollars more then why not? (yes I know aftermarket parts cost a lot more, but when GM is making them and all I doubt their increase in cost is the same as ours)

Other things I think aren't the same, such as the air intake tube or muffler, as these are designed from the factory to be quite, and in which may increase a small power gain form an aftermarket mod.  So now I'm done ranting, and putting my flame suit on, I will end my novel by saying I think my mods from here on out, no matter how tempting, will be things such as stainless handle covers, as put on today :) or lifts or stuff like that.

-Sterling
 
Awesome Research and data Konig!

Ive actually been contemplating removing my CAI...I noticed the Bog-Down from day one, and I stated it on this forum. I didnt notice any MPG inprovement with the CAI alone. When I added my Magnaflow exhaust the Bog-Down disappeared and my MPG inproved about 5-10% (depending on how I drive)

I may put the factory box back on just to see if there is any difference. I may test 0-60 now, and 0-60 with factory back on. It will be interesting.

On my Lexus GS300, I wrapped the Aluminum CAI tune with insurlation, because I noticed the tube got so hot and was right above the headers...kinda counteracts any cold air getting into the tube except at high speeds.

konigstigerii said:
Well over the last few days I broke down and bought the Spectre intake kit, it was bugging me so I had to try it. Before buying it, I monitored my IAT with my diablo sport programmer and took notes, I have done this before as well and had a decent feeling for what the difference in IAT and ambient temperature is (via mirror, its always been within a degree or two, long as I am moving and not sitting in a parking lot for several minutes with A/C on lol)

-Sterling
 
On sort of a side note, I never been to fond of aftermarket "power adders" did a lot of things on a S10 to get more power, but nothing really seamed to help it, except things that would for sure add, or free up power, such as underdrive pulleys, being one of the few things I did where I felt a difference. Things I tried and could not tell a difference was: Airaid CAI, MSD wires, Accel coil, K&N headers, etc. My MPG never went up on my S10 and power seemed to just stay the same, I didn't dyno it, but honestly If I spend 200-500 dollars on something, I want to feel a difference in my butt dyno or make it sound better or look much better; I'm not racing, so that 1/10th of a second doesn't matter. Honestly at this point, I feel that if GM or some other manufacture in recent years could improve mpg by 1mpg or add 10 hp to an engine, then why didn't they from the factory? I know some of it is cost, but look at the factory airbox on a avalanche, and then an airaid one, which one do you think cost more to make? same thing with coils, wires and all that, sure it may cost more, but when GM can get one more MPG and/or 10hp (think how MPG conscious buyers are now, and all that fun MPG stuff) on the truck and make it cost $5 dollars more then why not? (yes I know aftermarket parts cost a lot more, but when GM is making them and all I doubt their increase in cost is the same as ours)



-Sterling


Thanks for documenting all that, but I have a question on the headers.  Were they long tube or shorties? I ask as it's almost time for me to thow in a set but they will be long tubes if I do that.
 
I"m not an internal combustion guru by no means, but I would think hot air wold be better for a hotter combustion temp.

The tube that goes back in to the breather from the crankcase could or does reintroduce carbon monoxide which is unburnt fuel and make the engine more efficient.

Just a guess  :beating:
 
LornesAV said:
I"m not an internal combustion guru by no means, but I would think hot air wold be better for a hotter combustion temp.

The tube that goes back in to the breather from the crankcase could or does reintroduce carbon monoxide which is unburnt fuel and make the engine more efficient.

Just a guess  :beating:

It's power thru deception. If the engine computer sees colder temps, it will run a richer fuel table.

 
Z66Modder said:
On sort of a side note, I never been to fond of aftermarket "power adders" did a lot of things on a S10 to get more power, but nothing really seamed to help it, except things that would for sure add, or free up power, such as underdrive pulleys, being one of the few things I did where I felt a difference. Things I tried and could not tell a difference was: Airaid CAI, MSD wires, Accel coil, K&N headers, etc. My MPG never went up on my S10 and power seemed to just stay the same, I didn't dyno it, but honestly If I spend 200-500 dollars on something, I want to feel a difference in my butt dyno or make it sound better or look much better; I'm not racing, so that 1/10th of a second doesn't matter. Honestly at this point, I feel that if GM or some other manufacture in recent years could improve mpg by 1mpg or add 10 hp to an engine, then why didn't they from the factory? I know some of it is cost, but look at the factory airbox on a avalanche, and then an airaid one, which one do you think cost more to make? same thing with coils, wires and all that, sure it may cost more, but when GM can get one more MPG and/or 10hp (think how MPG conscious buyers are now, and all that fun MPG stuff) on the truck and make it cost $5 dollars more then why not? (yes I know aftermarket parts cost a lot more, but when GM is making them and all I doubt their increase in cost is the same as ours)



-Sterling


Thanks for documenting all that, but I have a question on the headers.  Were they long tube or shorties? I ask as it's almost time for me to thow in a set but they will be long tubes if I do that.

They were the Long tube with the y pipe, with the fancy coating they had... actually ended up with a crack in one of the headers, and realized it was the header itself, and not the egr tube, and of course it was a month or so after the warranty and they didn't want to fix it, so I welded them back up myself.

I'm sure in some way they can "help" make power, but I really didn't feel a difference, and of course I didn't do any dyno runs, just seat of the pants feel. Now if my engine was modded, like porting on the heads and all that fancy stuff, then I'm pretty sure better flowing headers would help, but a stock engine.... especially one that falls on its face after about 4500 rpms lol, the 4.3 has awesome low end power, never loss off the line to anything, but I just think in it stock form it isn't well suited for higher rpms, like the GenIII+ engines in our trucks seem to get going better higher up in the rpms, kinda opposite of the 4.3. 
 
Z66Modder said:
It's power thru deception. If the engine computer sees colder temps, it will run a richer fuel table.

Well in terms of efficiency its different, higher intake temps will gain a better thermal efficiency, since if I understand it correctly, the process of combustion doesn't have to use additional energy to heat up the intake air, Ideally, I think, it would be best to run an engine at the temperature of the combustion, that way heat isn't lost to warming up the air, and heating up the engine it self, which is eventually loss thru the radiator via the coolant, but of course the engines we have now won't stand up to high temps like that.  On ecomodder they talk about warm or hot air intake, and from what I read with mixed results, some speculate on some engines, hot air can cause the computer to pull timing and stuff like that... I'm sure if they had access and the ability to alter the computers programming correctly, they could re tune it where a hot air intake would work... or maybe not, engines are complex systems lol

Colder air does build more power, because of more available oxygen in the air that can combust with the fuel, just as if you ran forced induction, or drove at a lower altitude instead of at higher elevations.

I just personally believe that some bolt ons just wont add power or efficiency significantly by themselves, sure the aftermarket intake can flow more air into the engine, but does the engine need more air? If you modded your engine, where its spinning faster, better flowing heads and all then sure it may need a better intake system, but in stock form I think the automaker who has spent millions of dollars and lot of time developing these engines would gladly put a bigger air filter in or stuff like that to improve mileage and power, (think ok a bigger filter would cost Gm $2 dollars at most more, But now the truck gets 21 mpg instead of 19, I think that would justify the extra cost ten fold) but they decided what it has now is good enough with little to gain from a different system. In my opinion I think where gain can be had, is from places where noise, vibrations, emissions, engine life and significant cost differences and stuff like that are suppressed, as a lot of people want a quiet truck or one that drives smooth and shifts smooth and all the fluffy stuff. A supercharger will definitely add power, but at the cost of reduced engine and drive-train life. Or a different muffler or not one at all, a lot more noise that may drive away a lot of customers. Emissions I can't think of one right now except lean burn mode, some gm vehicles have but is disable because of NOx emissions but heard its good for 1-2 mpg hwy; I don't think modern Catalytic converters take power but can add power, as if I understand correctly they can design them where they pull the exhaust out (think ram jet) though i'm not 100% sure if they do that. There is no free lunch.
 
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