My '68 Barracuda convertible has undergone significant changes from the Slant 6 car it started out life with over the last decade + including dropping in a 500 hp 2000 EFI'd Magnum based 408" stroker with massaged Eddie heads, moderate Hyd roller cam ground on 108* LSA an port matched Airgap intake, 45 lbs an hr Ford Racing injectors and a Big Gulp throttle body.

The throttle body to hood clearance is limited due to the adapter that is needed to fit the 2bbl throttle body onto the 4bbl intake. I had been running a low profile Jeep Cherokee air hat with a short factory corrugated tube hooked to a K&N air filter until I could figure out something better. I didn't realize how restrictive this set-up is until a well-versed Magnum swapping member from A-Bodies only pointed it out. The inside diameter of this set-up is only 3" at the narrowest point inside the air-hat feed. It was a pretty restrictive set-up for even a stock 5.2 Magnum, but it kept the dirt out of the motor.

I stumbled a crossed a cool small company (RamAirBox.com) that makes old school airbox systems that feed cooler air from outside the engine compartment to the engine. After calling them and talking with the owner, I ordered up one of their airboxes and picked-up the appropriate K&N filter from Summit.


The installation was quick and simple. I didn't have access to the front end of the car to source cooler air without putting the battery in the truck and moving my surge tank, so I cut two 4" holes into my cowl as a source the cooler air.

I had the car out for a little testing last night and it is noticeably quicker in all gears. If I had a bit more hood clearance, I would have ordered the next size larger airbox and gained even more flow. As it is, the new system made enough of a difference for a significant seat of the pants performance improvement to more than justify the $400 expense. Even at that price, the hp per dollar ratio is some of the cheapest power I've bought and paid for on this car.

Nice!

Agreed,Nice job!

Cool NASCAR look to it! Bada$$!!!

Years ago I put one of those on a 70 Cuda but routed the ducts to each side of the radiator (batt was already in the trunk)
Took it to the track and bested my 1/4 mile time by 1/4 second with NO other changes (low 13 second car).

I'm a believer.

I thought of doing the same thing. Was worried
the interior vents would become unusable.

I have my air box tapped into may wheel wells.

Do your vents work?

Mike

I'm inspired, I think I'm going to change my system over to the way you did it.

Very nice setup.

I was just looking over some logs from my passes at test n tune last night. I have EFI as well so I can log the manifold air temp(taken at entrance to 4150 throttle body). I have a stock flat hood and with it being 65* out last night the air temp when I hit the throttle was 122.5* and when I let off it was 102*. I imagine that whole pass would have been faster if the temp was 65* the whole way down. I like your idea but I think I am going to do something like a 6 pack scoop or a cowl on my 68 Barracuda.

I vote 6 pack.Dont go all "Sussino" Clark.LOL

I few years ago I dyno'd a near to stock 440 magnum. I asked the guy what air filter assembly he was going to run. It was a restored 70' Cuda and he said he was going to run the stock dual snorkel. I made a pull with it in place and lost over 27hp. I flipped the air cleaner lid over like we all did when we were kids and then made another pull, gained back 26hp.Dave

Thanks, guys! It's a nicely made product and fits well.

(http://www.ramairbox.com/parts.html )

I sprayed the fiberglass housing with VHT engine enamel. They make the best spray bomb paint I've used yet.

Yes, the interior vents still work like normal, but the passenger side vent was blocked off when I put in the Vintage Air Gen-V A/C-heater box.

I haven't had the vent open when its at full throttle.

Years ago in the early 90's I performed the same Nascar trick on a 68' Firebird and a 1980 Pontiac Lemans, both running 455's.

For kicks the gentleman with the Lemans took off the set up and the car dropped in real world ET by almost two tenths. Put it back on and each time the car picked right up the lost two tenths, all within a 20 minute window span.
The beauty was that the car retained its stock flat hood look and would carry the wheels for 2 feet or so. Both these car were at the time high to mid 12 second street legal driven cars.

that is one of the nicest pics I have ever laid eyes on! I am wondering how much of the increase is from the cold(er) air and how much is from the less restricted setup (as we know both are VG).

I agree

i track tested it awhile ago exact same ram air setup except mine gos to the rad support on my 68charger it is worth 1.5tenths opposed to no air cleaner at all.i posted pix of mine if you do a search.