I have read a few different threads about removing the lid on the air box. i have a new superchips programmer so i thought i'd share my opinion. it was 41 degrees outside. with out the lid and diving around for a while the intake temp reached well over 100 degrees when i was stopped at a red light. i think the highest i saw was 128 degrees. once i got moving it dropped down to 80 or 70 at 30+mph. the lowest i saw was at 68 and that was at 45MPH. so i stop home and put the lid back on and go for another cruise. at first it was still pretty warm but after i drove for about 6-7 minutes the temp was down to 56 degrees at 35MPH. thats 12 degrees lower than without the lid. this wasn't too significant in my opinion. but after driving around for another 10 minutes or so i finally sat at a red light for a minute. the temperature got up to 78 and then the light turned green. that was the highest it went through my whole trip. the biggest difference is when your sitting still or taking off. i thought i would pass this along to any one who was considering removing it for the sound(which is what i did)

 

While I was in the process of modding my CAI, I ran with the lid on and off, and could'nt tell any difference in torque.
On a SS, the turbo builds a lot of heat, so underhood temps are real high[just do a good romp, open hood and touch the charge pipe, among other things].
In modding my CAI, I made a plastic cover for the airbox top, that is open, a little bigger than the filter. I have a real big hood scoop ramming air, through the cutout in the hood, feeding a huge amount of outside air, against the filter. This way the filter is getting cool outside air, and forcing a lot of the hot air out of engine compartment. Anyone using a so called CAI, that mounts inside the engine compartment, is definately losing H.P. Lots of hot air under there.
Not sure how much my setup helps, but it sure does'nt hurt. Seems to run better, and still have the louder sound.
With my setup, I can convert back to the stock lid on, in a few mins, if it rains. "Moon"

 

I liked the idea of a hood scoop but it rains or snows like half the year here. so i would be changing the lid at least a couple times a week if not everyday. a guy i work with has a VW Golf MKIV i think? its a VW hatch with a turbo gas engine. we were comparing cars one day after work and i noticed how his intercooler was set up.... the air in his car is filtered first and then sent through his turbo and then the intercooler last right before enters the manifold/engine. it seems like a smarter setup to get cooler air into the combustion chamber. though it may only be a few degrees

 

I picked up the K&N replacement filter for mine and was wondering how to get more air into the box. I wish I would have seen the kit with the new intake tube as well before I ordered just the filter though.

 

I just put my K&N back in, it was boosting 24, now its boosting 27 The stock box is getting lots in there.