Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Performance Short ram Question

Hey, I just installed a short ram intake(custome made) and it sounds really good but it seems like it hurt my low end.Like when I start from the line it seems like it takes for ever to wind up. Is it possible that my intake hurt performance?I used 3" piping and all of my sensors are connected to the stock air box pieces.I used the piece that holds the IAT sensor but i capped off that paddle shaped resonator that connects to it.Then i used the MAF.Those two things are attached to a 90 degree bent pipe about 18 inches long.I don't understand.An example of my problem is for instance...My friend has a 95 V6 explorer with a removed resonator. We used to always line up and see who was faster but everytime it ended in a stalemate...we were always exactly the same. After i put on my intake...we lined up again just to see how much it helped. He beat me through first so bad it was like i was standing still. At about 50 or 60 mph he was 2 to 3 car lengths in head of me...If anyone has a good informative reply i would love to hear it..I just don't want anyone coming on here saying..street racing is forbidden on the forums because i know...we raced on the track.Thanks guys

Ummm, why was the post moved..for me this is trouble...thats why it was origionaly in the trouble shooting section...I have a Zetec also...so why was this moved to the duratec performance section. Hmmm, can anyone at least move it to the Zetec forum...that is if it has to be moved.

the only thing I can think of is the combination of piping actually is losing you HP as it takes awhile for the air to be drawn through it. I used to have a 93 Sentra SE-R (quick little 4 banger!!) with a "tuned" CAI and actually had a pipe that decreased in size as it got towards the throttle body, speeding up the air flow....Just an FYI

Do ya think my zetec could be gasping for air?It seems like its straining trying to wind out. Hmmmm, top end seems to be ok,its just low end thats giving me shite

I think the way you have you pipe arranged is making the engine "work" too much to take in the air charge....i think you'd be better served with just an open element and a heat shield.....However, I see alot of 2.0 Zetec intakes up on the net....maybe you could "copy" one of those???

Have you ever seen the street flight CAI protoype for the zetecs? Mine looks like that but with an open element filter by the fender wall.I couldn't make a cold air...stupid fuse box was in the way.Hmmm, D Davis said that the street flight CAI made 10 HP!!!!! Hmmm, i am confused

maybe the car is now sucking in more hot air than cold air.

If you have done everything correctly, and have no air leaks, it is most likely that you killed the low end because of the engine overworking to take in air as previously stated. I've done my own setup similar to what you have described, making a ram air setup into the stock air box, although my results were a bit different and the getup and go off the line was a tad bit worse but at speed, it was definately a lot better than stock although I burned through a half tank of gas after only 70 miles of some spirited interstate driving.
But think of it like this. You have a vacuum cleaner and w/ a short hose it has great suction. Same vaccum w/ a hose twice the length, the suction decreases and continues to do so as the hose gets longer. The engine is the same when it is starting from a stop. The shorter the intake tubing, the more air getting in. So the ram actually hurts the performance until you get up to speed enough for air to be forced in.

like i said before, my ghetto intake had better low end than the CTA intake i'm guessing due to the fact that I used smaller pipe and it was a little more restricted and had less heat inducted.

Well, my short ram is almost exactly as long as the CTA intake...but without the s bend that the CTA has.Wouldn't that be better for the engine...you know less bends? Hmmm,i don't understand how the street flight CAI made 10 Hp on the dyno while mine is exactly the same except for the pipe going into the fender wall(how the hell did they get a 3" pipe in there).I know short rams tend to become subject to heat soak. I feel like my top end is ok,it seems to feel a little more powerful but you know how modding goes...even if the mod didn't do you any good....your brain tricks you into thinking your car is faster...I could be fooled by the loud ass noise that the thing makes .All i definatley know is that i am a lot slower off the line and it makes me very discouraged.I spent a lot of time planning this and a lot of money buying things for this intake and as far as i am concerned...it was a disaster Hmmm,do you think that i should use a smaller pipe? I don't know how the MAF would fit if i did, even if it did fit,i would think that i would hurt my top end. Did anyone notice anything similar when you bought the CTA intake?