Cutting the air snorkel

[ibmiked]

I often see pictures of early cars where the owner has cut back the factory airbox snorkel to create a larger air intake opening. While this seems logical, I'm wondering if the advantage has ever been quantified.

Additionally, I notice that most owners delete the pre-heat hose when using the full snorkel. What (if any) advantage does that have? Is it a mod that would be most effective done seasonally? For example, factory snorkel/pre-heat hose in colder times and then switch to cut snorkel w/o pre-heat in warmer times?

I'm interested in hearing opinion and speculation.

Thanks,
Mike

[blucille]

Just a guess, but I'm thinking you get more sound, not much more HP.

[hoffman912]

Just a guess, but I'm thinking you get more sound, not much more HP.

+1. porsche did it right the 1st time. very few 'improvements' actually work. case in point dino tests show that K&N air cleaners perform worse than stock porsche air horn w/ paper filters on 912s, and the cars with stock air cleaners did better hp wise. this blew a lot of peoples minds. i went back to stock air cleaners immediately.. also saved my hearing some


anyways, the engineers put a lot of thought and design into everything.. the size, length and angle of the air horn.. how it flows and what gives maximum performance. they didnt just throw something on to put it on. cutting it would most likey work against the design and engineering put into the air cleaner as it was.

[MountainRoads]

Agreed, and confirmed by a couple of mechanics who have a lot of experience building these engines. I asked the very same question and was told that people do them hoping for a performance bump and for the looks of said hoped-for bump. The results end up being purely cosmetic, if not detrimental.

- MR

[gulf908]

Mike,

The only reason I cut the air snorkel was to be able to add oil without spilling oil everywhere.
Previously I had to remove the snorkel to add oil cleanly.
The loss of the pre heat hose is of minimal consequence here in our CAL type climate.

HTH,
Dennis.

[Longballa]

I believe that Porsche did it with the SCRS. There's an aftermarket open kit available (no mesh just filter showing). For my ST I think I'm going to cut out just where the snorkel is and cover just that area with some metal mesh material. When it's on the dyno I'll see if it makes any difference. I like the look better.