Hang in there with me as I get these thoughts on this thread. Whether the CAI is from CGS or whoever, I think there may be a way to make it work effectly on the SS. Here it goes:
When you open the hood on the SS, or any HHR for that matter, you will notice that there is an opening right below the front engine compartment brace, which goes across the top of the radiator and condenser. Now I am just thinking out loud here, but what if we do have an open element in the engine compartment and have a way to enclose that element and have the air fed through the opening I mentioned above. I think the 3rd Gen IROC-Z's had some type of "flat wide" air inlet duct that sat on top of the engine compartment on those F-Bodies. If we could figure out how to use one of those or find something that will fit in that said opening, we would then be drawing "cold air" from the front of the vehicle, (if you look through the top of the grill on the SS, you will notice that there is nothing in the way to stop air flow), this way we could almost achieve a "ram air" effect, providing that the open air element is enclosed in the engine compartment. This would be needed to be done on the driver's side, as the dip stick on the passenger side would be covered if done there. And the electrical connection on top of the condenser, could surely be repositioned under the brace to allow for the proposed air duct to fit in the opening. Think about it, no stock air box, an enclosed "open type element" feeding into the engine from the wide air duct that sits on top of the condenser-radiator, on the driver's side.
Opinions and thoughts welcomed...

 

Home Depot

4" S&D drain pipe x 2' $1.82
4"x4" rubber coupling (quantity 2) $8.64
1 roll duct tape $3.68
50' bailing wire $3.28

Building a homemade "cold" air "intake" on the cheap $priceless

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Take some pics. We wanna see

 

good thinking. i was just wondering a couple days ago as i was reading in this thread if there was indeed a gap up there. for anyone interested in the 3rd gen ducting he is talking about, see here.that is actually more the Camaro RS setup, as it's TBI, the TPI setup would also sort of work, but those were more for routing air up from behind the grill on a Camaro, as seen here, except that was him being clever and adapting the TPI setup to a TBI motor. there is a third style, and may actually be an idea, if anyone wants to find a clever way to make the box around this filter setup

 

Be careful about Ram Air from the front, as it can become Ram Rain in bad weather if not done right.

 

I haven't got the intake done yet, but I've just finished the exhaust. Waddaya think?

 

Oh man, I love the Riceosaurus Rex!

 

great response and links, of course would have to figure out how to make something like that, work for us in the SS.
I think we can do it.........yes along those lines of the 3rd gen ducting, but it would have to be more streamline in approach for function and appearance. I was even thinking of removing the stock air box, keep the filter in the same location, but enclosed, and running a "tube" , ducting of somer sort to the said opening to connect to the proposed air duct. Also the air temp sensor now could be placed outside of the engine compartment, in the actual proposed air duct, for a more "cooler" air reading, therefore allowing the ECM to allow more timing. Did this on my 97 C5 way back when, used the ZR1 temp sensor, on a new air box system, worked great....

I would think that if we had the front of the air duct, slightly downwards, it would eliminate the possibility of rain and any water from washing the vehicle from entering the engine.

let's get it done for the SS, you could sell a ton of those, and I am first in line......

 

You don't want to cheat _too much_ in this area. Lying to the computer isn't going to benefit you when you're pinging holes in the tops of the pistons

 

not knowing much about turbo engines, did not even give thought about how that would effect the turbo....
never had any trouble with the LS1, but then again that was an NA engine as we know. would there be a difference since we have the turbo, would it cause it to ping, even with using 93 in the tank?????????
I don't recall that mod using that air temp sensor making such a drastic change.
have no clue, so any insight is a learning experience...