I was looking over the way CJ did his cold air hose, and realized that if anyone has the guts, the way to go for a true cold air/ram air set up would be to cut a 2.5 or 3 inch hole next to the driving light. It would be a simple run up to the center of the Outlaw filter without many bends. You could fabricate something with a funnel and maybe a wire mesh speaker grill, or use a setup like the 'Tuners' use. It would be very functional and look like a performance setup. Now, cutting a hole in the big front panal would take balls.

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/3/2/4/FrontcoldairDSCN3639.jpg

"Not I" said the man who can't afford to replace the bumper.

I was looking over the way CJ did his cold air hose, and realized that if anyone has the guts, the way to go for a true cold air/ram air set up would be to cut a 2.5 or 3 inch hole next to the driving light. It would be a simple run up to the center of the Outlaw filter without many bends. You could fabricate something with a funnel and maybe a wire mesh speaker grill, or use a setup like the 'Tuners' use. It would be very functional and look like a performance setup. Now, cutting a hole in the big front panal would take balls.

Lee
That is a great idea, but I am not so sure, no I know, :lol: my wife wouldn't let me do that to "her" car, but I like your thinking. I have an outlaw filter on order so I am going to try something with it.

Here is the Link to CJ's original post on what he did.

http://chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3042

I'm using both fog light holes to do that.( have no fog lights)
Still making my filter box and brackets.

If only I didnt have fog lights-
There is a spot where CJ has his hanging down, where it would not block the radiator. But, there would be a very sharp bend that would impede flow. Maybe a nice mandryl bent tube?

Did you see the pix of CJ's pipe?
No shape bends there.

It's rippled plastic though. :roll: All of those little ripples screw up the air flow. ;) Why do you think the tubing on a CAI is smooth? :confused: A mandrel bent tube would be 1000% times better for air flow. :thumb: You are going to have to seal off the filter completely in order to make it work right and be a true ram air system. ;) Otherwise any air you are forcing in through the tip is going to be negated by the air being sucked in through the filter itself. :lol:

So why dose Nascar use them?????????

They don't to my knowledge. :confused: I though NASCAR intakes are made of smooth aluminum tubing. ;)

They don't use it for the air intake, but for the brakes and air for the driver.
If it's good enough to cool there brakes for hours on end in a race. It's good enough to suck air into my non performance 4 banger.
http://www.vaughnandlisa.com/Pictures/TMS-Spring_2005/photos/IMG_5226.JPG

I did find this though CH
http://search.msn.com/images/details.aspx?q=nascar+brakes&color=both&size=1p&ht=75&wd=100&tht=75&twd=100&su=http%3a%2f%2fwww.v8vairs.com%2fimages%2fRauChar les%2fcharlesrau.htm&iu=http%3a%2f%2fwww.v8vairs.com%2fimages%2fRauChar les%2fRau.16_small.jpg&tu=http%3a%2f%2fimages.picsearch.com%2fis%3f2D55Gb 19QcQG5lGalKqvI5WbGbOQxjwEGM8POre_408&sz=5
It should work for my little car!

They don't use it for the air intake, but for the brakes and air for the driver.
If it's good enough to cool there brakes for hours on end in a race. It's good enough to suck air into my none performance 4 banger.

You are not understanding this. The ripples slow air flow! That's why you don't see rippled CAIs. They use rippled plastic tubing for the brakes and driver because the ripples slowing the air flow don't really make a diffrence. They use smooth mandrel bent tubing on the intake because it does make a huge difference. Use whatever you want on your own vehicle of course but everything I have said is true and can be backed up. :lol:

So your HHR has the same type of hose on it from the factory
Nascar brakes will get more heat in them then our little engines ever will.
I think that my filter box and 2 of those hoses will get lots more air flow than your stock ste up!!!!

I did find this though CH
http://search.msn.com/images/details.aspx?q=nascar+brakes&color=both&size=1p&ht=75&wd=100&tht=75&twd=100&su=http%3a%2f%2fwww.v8vairs.com%2fimages%2fRauChar les%2fcharlesrau.htm&iu=http%3a%2f%2fwww.v8vairs.com%2fimages%2fRauChar les%2fRau.16_small.jpg&tu=http%3a%2f%2fimages.picsearch.com%2fis%3f2D55Gb 19QcQG5lGalKqvI5WbGbOQxjwEGM8POre_408&sz=5
It should work for my little car!

A rear end 350 conversion? :confused:

Just showing that other people are using the same stuff that you say is no good!

So your HHR has the same type of hose on it from the factory

I know, it helps the vehicle meet emissions. ;) But if I am going to upgrade my intake I am going to put a smooth non rippled evenly bent tube not the same type of restrictive rippled unevenly bent plastic tube. :lol: I am still waiting for a true CAI system for our car because I still am not sold on the these warm air ricer tubes or heat boxes that are out for our vehicle. :roll:

Just showing that other people are using the same stuff that you say is no good!

I didn't say the plastic tubing is no good. :roll: You read into it that way. ;) I just said a madrel bent tube would be 1000% times better, which is true and can be backed up. :lol:

Well thats your opinion.
I'm going to do what I want to "MY" car on matter what anyone say's. I think It's going to work good. I don't think that this engine is a big HP maker and I don't want it to be one. I'm happy that you want to spend 200 to 300 bucks on a bent tube. I haven't spend a dime on mine yet. I'm just saying that if GM one of the worlds leading car make and Nascar are willing to use the stuff. Then It should be good enough for little old me.

Back it up then.
I want to see it.

I'd like to see where you get that your smooth pipe is 1000% better.
I could see 10 to 20% better, but not 1000%.
And I'll have 2 of thoughs pipes going to the box. not one like on your factory box.

CJ's pipes is not even plastic
I'm going to use the same pipe as CJ.http://chevyhhr.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=3093&catid=newimages

Why are you getting so bent out of shape about this? :confused: I was responding to Lee originaly. :lol: Like I said before it's your car use what you like and I wasn't saying anything against your decision to use plastic tubing. ;) Afraid I might be right? :lol: Before I start searching around on the internet I think you answer your own question about proof in your NASCAR question. ;) And when is the last time you've seen a rippled plastic or metal CAI? :confused: I'll dig around for proof if you want me to but it will be a waste of time in a pointless debate. :p:

It's rippled plastic though. :roll: All of those little ripples screw up the air flow. ;) Why do you think the tubing on a CAI is smooth? :confused: A mandrel bent tube would be 1000% times better for air flow. :thumb: You are going to have to seal off the filter completely in order to make it work right and be a true ram air system. ;) Otherwise any air you are forcing in through the tip is going to be negated by the air being sucked in through the filter itself. :lol:

Looks like your talking to me on this one.

I'm not saying that your wrong ether CH. I know that a smooth bend pipe is better, but not 1000% better.

I'm not getting out of shape! It's just You have no right to slam my Idea in to the durt and dis it like that. Do you rally think that the pipe will make such a huge difference on a motor that oly makes under 200 HP. I've had 5 Camaros and a big block chevy truck. I know how to make HP, and to start out with a 4 banger isn't the way. You do what you want and spend the 200 to 300 buck on a CAI, and I'll spend a few bucks and make my air box. I'm not saying that my intake will be better, but I want to come up with new things and try them. How do ya think Mike makes all of his stuff. trial and error. If my idea works good then thats great if not then who cares. At least I'm not going to spend 200 to 300 bucks on some thing that gives me 8 more HP or so.

Sorry about the Highjack thread Lee. Now back to that hole in the bumper.

Seriously I was reponding to Lee and could give a damn about what intake you put on your vehicle. ;) If you read back through my post never once did I mention anything about you or your homemade intake. Sorry if you are overly sensative. :cry: The percentage debate is just stupid. ;) It is an expression. :lol: Because I say Coke is 1000% times better than Pepsi does that make it scientifically proven? :confused: :rof:

Well you said that you have proof that it's 1000% better.lol
If this is such a stupid and pointlees debate than why do ya have to keep saying sh#t about your right and I'm wrong.
We all know that you will keep this up till you get the last word in.
I'm going to be the bigger man here and end this sh$t. This is the last post I'll make to you in this thread. You say what you want and do what you want. At least I'm going to do my mod.

Well you said that you have proof that it's 1000% better.lol
If this is such a stupid and pointlees debate than why do ya have to keep saying sh#t about your right and I'm wrong.
We all know that you will keep this up till you get the last word in.
I'm going to be the bigger man here and end this sh$t. This is the last post I'll make to you in this thread. You say what you want and do what you want. At least I'm going to do my mod.

Andrew

When you finish with your project I would love to see some pictures. Keep working on it and sharing. Thanks:thumb:

Well you said that you have proof that it's 1000% better.lol

Where? :confused: Find the post where I said that and quote it. ;) You really should learn how to read instead of reading things how you want and pull your panties out of your ass. :p: Why are there so many overly sensative cry babies on this site. :confused: :roll:

Right here:
I just said a madrel bent tube would be 1000% times better, which is true and can be backed up. :lol:

Holy sh*t I did! :eek: :red: It was still a figure of speach. :lol:

A mandrel bent tube would be 1000% times better for air flow.

I didn't say the plastic tubing is no good. You read into it that way. I just said a madrel bent tube would be 1000% times better, which is true and can be backed up

I'll dig around for proof if you want me to but it will be a waste of time in a pointless debate.

i am only going to make one post on this CH and no answer needed.
you made this statement 3 times in this thread and he asked you to prove or validate what you are using as debate.

if you cant prove or validate then your input and your information is inaccurate and not appropiate and shouldnt be used especially to badger forum members

i dont think you could dig on the net for a any length of time and prove your 1000% claim. and then of course you put a post up w an insult to not one but towards many forum members

Why are there so many overly sensative cry babies on this site.

to me, is it claims, opinions, facts or lies?

and then of course you put a post up w an insult to not one but towards many forum members


CJ :thumb:

I was looking over the way CJ did his cold air hose, and realized that if anyone has the guts, the way to go for a true cold air/ram air set up would be to cut a 2.5 or 3 inch hole next to the driving light. It would be a simple run up to the center of the Outlaw filter without many bends. You could fabricate something with a funnel and maybe a wire mesh speaker grill, or use a setup like the 'Tuners' use. It would be very functional and look like a performance setup. Now, cutting a hole in the big front panal would take balls.

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/3/2/4/FrontcoldairDSCN3639.jpg

Back to Lee's Original Post :lol:

Let us know your progress.

From wikipedia about CAIs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_air_intake) :

All cold air intakes operate on the principle of increasing the amount of oxygen available for combustion with fuel. Because cooler air has more density for a given volume, cold air intakes generally work by providing cooler air from outside the hot engine bay. However, the term "cold air intake" is often used to describe other methods of increasing oxygen to an engine, which may even increase the temperature of the air coming into an engine.

Some strategies used in designing cold-air intakes are:

increasing the diameter of the air intake, allowing increased airflow.
smoothing the interior of the intake to reduce air resistance.
providing a more direct route to the air intake.
tuning the length of the intake to provide the most airflow at certain RPMs.
using a more efficient air filter

It's really not rocket science guys and there is plenty of info to back it up but I'm not going to waste my time digging it up for you. Do your own research and you'll find out smooth tubing is way better than rippled in terms of air flow.

"Black"....

I take CH's side on this. Just because of common sense. Smooth would be better that "rippled", if you think about wind turbulance.

Also, he's not saying rippled will not work, just that smooth is better for a COLD AIR RAM INTAKE SYSTEM. All Formula 1 cars and all the "top end" vehicles I have seen use custom smooth tubing...because of efficientcy (admittedly they probably can afford it, also). NASCAR vehicles used the most direct route...the windshield and cowling....look at the NASCAR Monte Carlo you posted.

CH....

Stay posted.....I almost have a system designed and created that you are looking for....guaranteed CAI with RAM (thanks to some very special "Friends"). Trials and readings are going on now.

CH....

Stay posted.....I almost have a system designed and created that you are looking for....guaranteed CAI with RAM (thanks to some very special "Friends"). Trials and readings are going on now.

Awesome! :bow: I was kind of hoping you would chime in on this thread. :D

This forum is for the exchange of ideas. This exchange has gotten out of hand.

Agreed. I'll back out because all of my points have been said.

To sindy.....


Can I still talk about CAI????

of course you can!

O'k, I'm going to try this....on CAI and/or RAM

What I have learned from personal trial an error and from "friends"...

It's a b***h, to manage on the HHR. To manage cooler/colder air into the "system", heat needs to by removed from the engine compartment or air needs to be extracted outside that compartment at very rapid rates (this is the method i have chosen).

The stock intake, at the passenger wheel well, is adequate and meets "requirements". It essentially is "sucking" whatever the engine requires. But if additional air flow is needed (increased performance, etc), a different or larger venue is needed which provides air at increased volumes (and possible pressures).

The smoother the tube intake the more efficient the air flow (smoother, in this case, meaning no bends). But again, smooth tubing in place of rippled makes sense, also.

If tubing is used in the engine compartment...shorter and straighter is better. With secondary considerations of insulated tubing if length is not "controlled". Shorter appears, at this time, to support more efficient cooler air use.

If smooth tubing is used before the MAF, a MINIMAL amount of bends can be used to "tune" the intake to a specific RPM range (CGS ?).

Without "hacking" the HHR, RAM CAI will only prove valuable above certain speeds (because of air flow dynamics and vehicle design). CAI alone, may be valuable below these determined speeds.

I'm providing this information without bias and based on readings of electronic equipment loaned or borrowed by me and/or provided by some friends. Some minimal tests were conducted on my vehicle some were performed on other vehicles in the same configuration. I'm only providing the basics, at this time, and if this research and trial works favorably I will share all the info, data, and doc.'s, with no hitches (probably in the Dungeon, however), for other members to use.

Oh, and cooler air, in the air/fuel mixture (not to be confused with engine temperature), WILL provide increased performance.

I am open for suggestions from ANYONE....more, the better...kind of like a Cray Supercomputer. Let's Crunch..

i raced ls1 powered fbodys for years, what ch is saying is facts. although on a 2.4l car i dont think it will make a difference. If you could get a smooth tube to work it would recieve better airflow but its a 150 horse engine it wont pick up that much of a gain. with the ram air fbodys we smoothed out the factory intake air hose/box so it was a smooth straight shot into the intake. the ribbed style tubeing will disrupt the airflow into the engine. (mike from socal should be able to confirm this) dynos have proved this time and time again.

that nascar tubeing that was reffered to is to cool the brakes and driver, neither will gain from a smooth airflow they just need air from the outside, look at prostock intakes smooth and aerodynamic

I agree 100% with every one of Snoopys above statements. :smile:

What I have learned from personal trial an error and from "friends"...
What better education can one get other than that way!
*Warning* your personal experience may differ!
...and if it does, lets share the data!

I take CH's side on this. Just because of common sense. Smooth would be better that "rippled", if you think about wind turbulance.

Also, he's not saying rippled will not work, just that smooth is better for a COLD AIR RAM INTAKE SYSTEM. All Formula 1 cars and all the "top end" vehicles I have seen use custom smooth tubing...because of efficientcy


finally some common sense:thumb:

another thing to consider here is the less connections you make (meaning keeping the number of seperate pieces to a minimum) the better the airflow.

think of it as a airplane fuselage, the less drag = improved airflow

It's rippled plastic though. :roll: All of those little ripples screw up the air flow. ;) Why do you think the tubing on a CAI is smooth? :confused: A mandrel bent tube would be 1000% times better for air flow. :thumb: You are going to have to seal off the filter completely in order to make it work right and be a true ram air system. ;) Otherwise any air you are forcing in through the tip is going to be negated by the air being sucked in through the filter itself. :lol:

I principle what CH is saying is correct WRT rippled pipe. It is the same as with a dryer vent or anything that requires maximum smooth air flow. The more bends or other "obstructions", the greater the impact on airfow. That said this tends to apply to long runs. The longer the distance the air must travel the more essential a smooth straight pipe would be. For the short distance going from the "ram" point to the filter, I doubt there would be an appreciable air flow difference, particularly enough to affect performance appreciably.

i raced ls1 powered fbodys for years, what ch is saying is facts. although on a 2.4l car i dont think it will make a difference. If you could get a smooth tube to work it would recieve better airflow but its a 150 horse engine it wont pick up that much of a gain. with the ram air fbodys we smoothed out the factory intake air hose/box so it was a smooth straight shot into the intake. the ribbed style tubeing will disrupt the airflow into the engine. (mike from socal should be able to confirm this) dynos have proved this time and time again.

that nascar tubeing that was reffered to is to cool the brakes and driver, neither will gain from a smooth airflow they just need air from the outside, look at prostock intakes smooth and aerodynamic

I know what you are saying Crowbar.
If this was such a high perfomance motor I would probally get the CGS.
I'm not using the plastic pipe stuff. I have steel flex pipe to use from the fog light holes to the filter box. It dose have a smooth inside and should work good. I can paint it to.

And as for what CH said about my panties ridding up. Maybe you should get your head out of your _____ CH.....

For everyone else. I'll post pix when it's done and let you know how it works.

Back to Lee's Original Post :lol:

Let us know your progress.

Hold on a second. I never said that I had the guts to do it. I was hoping somebody else would so I could see how it looked and worked;)

Actually, watching the tuners on NOPI tv, I have seen some funky ram air devices on the front of their cars. It would be interesting on the HHR.

Yup
I hear ya Lee.
Ya should go buy a used LS and try it.:lol: :nuts:

How about adding this Airaid-Cold-Air-Intake (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Airaid-Cold-Air-Intake-06-Chevy-HHR-2-2L-2-4L-New_W0QQitemZ130019046225QQihZ003QQcategoryZ38634Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) with a scoop on the hood? :D

Has anyone put a scoop on the hood yet? If so post some photos... :p:

A shaker hood scoop. now thats where its at.

Has anyone put a scoop on the hood yet? If so post some photos... :p:

Mine is coming any day now. I'll post pics.

caint wait to see them CH

Have been away from this forum for awhile. Came back to check on performance mods. Remembered why I had not been here. This has been one of the most juvenile exchanges I have seen in a number of weeks.
Grow up people, and stay civil in word and deed.
Also, spell check is your friend.

Go ahead, flame me now.

:confused:

Have been away from this forum for awhile. Came back to check on performance mods. Remembered why I had not been here. This has been one of the most juvenile exchanges I have seen in a number of weeks.
Grow up people, and stay civil in word and deed.
Also, spell check is your friend.

Go ahead, flame me now.

I'm not going to flame...but, why are you saying "juvenile"? That really is not understandable !!!

On this thread, members have expressed some opinions and some have "needled"... but that is some of the fun with this site. Comments are usually supported with reasoning or just given a "tongue in cheek" answer.

I'm sorry, but I don't recognize any "uncivil" words or deeds. Can you explain...maybe create a different topic thread regardings your feelings....so we don't hi-jack this thread....or you can just PM me, with your response, because I find this interesting.

Maybe other members, also, can enlighten me.

As far as the comment regarding the spell check.....I agree to a certain point. It is problematic to understand a members point if the statement is bunched together with no punctuation and, seriously, misspelled words. But, some members write their responses quickly and post, rapidly, to position their statements intent.

For me, I do not use the spell checker because when attempting to downlaod it, my anti-spyware indicates it places certain types of "cookies"....my security systems are set VERY high, for very specific reasons...so, I have refused it.

If I misspell words or use the wrong context and/or punctuation, I certainly apologize.

I guess it is because I came in at the end, after having read all the posts in one sitting. The back and forth 'needling' seemed a bit like "Oh yeah?" "yeah" or 'did too' , 'did not'. Perhaps that is because I tried to digest them all at once. Just a quick scroll back through the posts, numbers 25, 29, and 47 I guess might be the ones that gave me a bad taste. Anyway, I agee the free exchange of ideas is the way to improve us all. Only by putting an idea out there and seeing if a fresh set of eyes has an educated opinion or experience in the subject can we make our HHRs better and more our own.

If I offended anyone, I am most humble in my apology.

Now back to the original topic! How about a scoop like the 'fresh air vent' they used to have right in front of the windshield? That would serve the mechnical purpose and look accurate to the late 40's period, too.
Just my $.02

O'k...Inchworm...I agree and THANKS,

And to the thread topic...

You mentioned to use the intake at the bottom of the windshield and that is ONE of the areas I am exploring. But, I have a concern.... what about water ingestion, snow (for those in others areas of the country), leaves, birds, etc.? If the "tubing or ducting" is short on none existent, how is this prevented?

For that matter, IF CH cut his hood and channeled air flow down thru his scoop, how would water ingestion be prevented????

or go to this link which started it all

http://chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2206&page=3&highlight=hosehttp://chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2206&page=3&highlight=hose

or go to this link which started it all

http://chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2206&page=3&highlight=hosehttp://chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2206&page=3&highlight=hose

"I did not route my hose to the fender...
I believe not much cool air is in there..
I'm getting my air from the front of the vehicle.."

Same air - same temp. Where does one find this elusive "cool air?"

Pulling from the front of the vehicle you are mostly getting 140-degree exhaust fumes from other cars on the highway - but not "cool air." And certainly not fresh air! :lol:

The search continues for "cool air." :D

FYI - NASCAR race cars do not use cold air intake tubes so there really can be no conversation about whether NASCAR thinks smooth or ribbed is better. They just suck cold air in at the base of the windshield.. You know, the old fashioned way.

http://www.chicagolandspeedway.com/images/photo/full_CLS061601732.jpg

[Pulling from the front of the vehicle you are mostly getting 140-degree exhaust fumes from other cars on the highway - but not "cool air." And certainly not fresh air! :lol:

The search continues for "cool air." :D[/quote]

But, Mike......

wouldn't 140 degree air be better than 195 degree air from the engine compartment????? Hmmmm, thats a difference of 55 degrees. I'm sure there is an engineering principal in regard to "so many degrees reduction equals so many HP".

I don't know sh*t about NASCAR other than really fast and left turn. :thumb:

http://www.neowin.net/forum/fun/thread_wont_die.jpg

I don't know sh*t about NASCAR other than really fast and left turn. :thumb:

Not always, take a look at Watkins Glen.

See, that proves I don't know sh*t about NASCAR. :red: :lol:

I will make people angry with this, but I must speak my mind. I believe there is beauty in function. Scoops were originally used on race cars, then high performance street cars, in order to get cold air or fast moving air to parts that needed it (ie brakes, radiators, engine intake). In the beginning, when factories put on scoops they were functional. With emmission laws or for whatever reason, some cars had plates that prevented the scoop from working but was easy to remove (Trans Am). Others were just to make the car look like a race car, like the 340 Dodge Dart. Chevy even painted a scoop on some of their Camaros.

A non functional scoop actually detracts from performance by increasing wind resistance. I don't see the point. It is easy enough to cut a whole through the hood and make it work, and this would be GREAT for cooling off the engine compartment. If anybody has ever tried to work on their engine after driving, you can not lean against anything. There is a rubber seal around the compartment, so GM is intentionaly trying to either keep the temperature high for some reason, or prevent air turbulance.

Personally, I would love to replace the hood with a nice, light, fiberglass one with a molded in scoop. Less weight in front, better air flow for the engine, etc. Molding scoops to metal hoods frequently results in cracks since they have different expansion/contraction rates and temperatures. And the hood flexs when it is opened and closed.

OK, Being an oldschool mechanic, I'll say this about CAI. really Cold vs. Hot in general. Back in the 50's and 60's, all cars had a 180 degree thermostat. Back then it was correct to be cool. Then as the emissions thing came about, it was decided that warmer underhood temperatures were needed to get the fuel and air mixture right to burn properly and get the gas mileage that they are getting today, and to reduce emissions, so the normal thermostat now is 195 degrees. As far as NASCAR, they warm their cars up before they go racing, if you ever watch. why do you think that is? Also, if you are after tons of HP, then Cold is best, guess that's why dragsters run stone cold engines, but today it will take your computer controlled miser a little while to adjust to the air temp, it does have a barometric and temperature sensor that constantly adjusts the Airfuel mixture to the engine. If I start my car of the morning and try to drive away immediately, it will stumble. The computer remembers the last settings until new ones are received. All this about scoops and fresh air is great, and probably the best thing would be to not have any thing between the outside air and the intake, but we can't do that. Personally, I wouldn't cut on my new or old car to make anything different about it unless I was doing a totally modified street vehicle for a hobby or experiments. By the way, don't put a 180 degree themostat in your HHR unless you can change the computer. That will give a cooler under the hood temperatures, and cause the engine to run rich( Less gas mileage).
As for the thread, no, no hole in my Bumper, Hood or anywhere else. The looks of my HHR was one of the reasons I bought mine, gonna keep it that way. BTW, the reason I bought mine was for the gas mileage, keeping my foot out of the throttle has helped my gas mileage the most.:thumb:

I am not an engineer, nor do I play one on TV , so take this with a large grain of salt; Regarding the 40's era 'fresh air' scoop in front of the windshield. The ductwork can have a screen on the entry at the 'scoop' for leaves, gum wrappers and small birds. In the 40's the scoop itself could be opened or closed from the inside. Inside the duct, as it makes the 180 degree turn [smoothly] to get the air back up front to the engine, there could be a slightly lower area, or 'sump' to collect the rain that strikes the rear of the scoop as it enters. I am not talking something as radical as a 'P' trap like under your kitchen sink, but just a slightly lower area [1/4, 1/2 inch??].
As for snow, hmmm, thats got me stumped. I guess if it is snowing, the ambient air is cool enough? Keep the vent/scoop closed at that time.

C'mon, somebody else refine this or educate us on why it isn't the way to go, please?

I'm not sure how helpful this information will be as regards this discussion, but here is some info I found at WIKIPEDIA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_air_intake). It also has information on other types of intakes as well. I will continue to search if more info is needed.

That link is in post #33 Deb. ;)

Well...that's what I get for not reading thru the whole thead more carefully. :red: