Camaro Z28 Intake - Super Chevy Magazine

It's one of the oldest horsepower tricks in the book: A low-restriction, free-breathing intake system makes power. The late-model Z28 is designed to meet performance parameters that have little to do with how much power is put to the rear wheels. Noise and fuel economy are two of these performance benchmarks. For those of us who'd gladly trade a little more intake noise (heck, we like the noise in the first place) for quicker throttle response and a lower e.t., SLP Performance Parts offers several components that, when used in combination, can add at least 20 rear-wheel horsepower to your Z, whether it's box-stock or has a stroker 382 like our cover and feature car has.

Replacing the stock intake parts on our LS1 test vehicle are SLP's bigger-volume airbox, low-restriction, reusable air filter, and 85mm mass air meter. The Delphi-supplied mass air meter is specially calibrated by SLP to work on the F-car version of the LS1.

Replacing the stock intake parts on our LS1 test vehicle are SLP's bigger-volume airbox, l

"That's a pretty conservative figure, we think," says Brian Reese, SLP's chief engineer. "Any LS1 car with these parts will make 20 more horses at the wheels. Depending on the exhaust system and any other tuning tweaks, you'll probably see more." Better still, they're parts that are so easy to install they almost redefine the term "bolt-on." Although the parts we'll install in this story are available separately, we suggest getting them all as a complete package. They work best together, and that starts with the less restrictive air cleaner box.

Unlike the stock box, which is designed as much to silence incoming air noise as it is to funnel the air, SLP's box has none of its muffling, restrictive baffles or chambers. It's just a simple, effective housing that covers SLP's low-restriction, reusable air filter. Backing that up is SLP's cold air scoop, which slips between the core support and the radiator. This stainless steel funnel directs air from beneath the front bumper directly into the bottom of the airbox. Because of the Camaro's bottom-breathing radiator rake, the scoop doesn't block any air to the radiator. It's a neat, simple, and effective piece.

We topped off the air intake upgrade with a new, larger-diameter mass air meter. SLP uses an 85mm (stock is 75mm) OE mass air meter for 6.0L truck engines, which is manufactured by General Motors supplier Delphi and recalibrated by SLP for the F-car (without the calibration, the engine wouldn't make any more power). SLP also supplies the necessary adaptor bellows and wire harness to plug the air meter into the Camaro.

Now that the engine breathes better, we need to make sure the air can get out better. We saw some interesting options at the SLP shop and we've included photos of them. The install of all the intake parts takes about an hour, maybe a little longer if you have fight to stretch and fit the stock bellows over the end of the mass air meter. Even those with limited wrenching talent will find these parts a breeze to install, easily accomplished in a garage or driveway.

Removing the stock airbox is very simple, although a couple of sensors must be removed first, including the air temperature sensor. The rubber grommet holding the sensor needs to come out, too. They will be reused.
Removing the stock airbox is very simple, although a couple of sensors must be removed fir
Before installing the SLP airbox, it's necessary to reinstall the air temperature sensor and its grommet. The airbox is pre-drilled for the swap, which takes the guesswork out of where to install them.
Before installing the SLP airbox, it's necessary to reinstall the air temperature sensor a
We found it easier to attach the mass air meter to the airbox during the installation, rather than trying to finagle the meter onto the airbox after it was installed. This is because the accordion bellows is a tight fit over the ends of the air meter, and there's not as much "wiggle" room under the hood.
We found it easier to attach the mass air meter to the airbox during the installation, rat

With the mass air meter attached to the airbox, the assembly was simply lowered into place and hose-clamped. A new, flexible bellows is shown here and is expected to be available when you read this. It is much straighter than the stock, accordion-style bellows, which smoothes out the airflow. The large, single rib in the middle of it, however, allows the engine to flex on its mounts without popping off the intake system.
With the mass air meter attached to the airbox, the assembly was simply lowered into place
Another reason you can't simply swap in a 6.0L air meter and close the hood is an incompatible electrical connection. With its recalibrated mass air meter, SLP supplies a connector that matches the new air meter's five-pin connector to the stock engine's three-pin harness.
Another reason you can't simply swap in a 6.0L air meter and close the hood is an incompat
Another item we slipped into the system was this $24.95 air temperature module, which plugs into the air temperature sensor wiring. It enhances performance by "tricking" the computer into thinking the engine is running a little colder than it really is. In turn, the computer advances spark timing, thereby boosting performance. The engine's knock sensors ensure the timing isn't adjusted too much.
Another item we slipped into the system was this $24.95 air temperature module, which plug

After first dropping the scoop in place, a couple of holes are drilled into the core support to secure the scoop. (Hey, did we tell you this was easy stuff, or what?) If your car is an SS, the scoop will complement its ram-air induction. If your car is a standard Z28, SLP supplies a sealant strip to seal the airbox and scoop for a dedicated ram-air effect.
After first dropping the scoop in place, a couple of holes are drilled into the core suppo
One hour and 20 hp later, our LS1 intake project is complete. The new airbox looks pretty cool under the hood, and the extra intake noise is more like music to the ears.
One hour and 20 hp later, our LS1 intake project is complete. The new airbox looks pretty
SLP's stainless steel cold air scoop drops down in front of the radiator. Because the Camaro's radiator draws air from beneath the car, the scoop doesn't impede flow to the radiator and there's at least 2.5-3 inches of space at its closest point to the radiator.
SLP's stainless steel cold air scoop drops down in front of the radiator. Because the Cama

This is SLP's traditional, stainless steel exhaust system that's been bolted to many an SS over the years. The large-diameter, mandrel-bent tubing leads to a low-restriction, but good sounding, muffler and a pair of single-side outlets. The SLP folks call this arrangement "TOL," for "two out on the left."
This is SLP's traditional, stainless steel exhaust system that's been bolted to many an SS
If you know your Fourth-Generation Camaros, then you'll notice that there's just a pipe where there's usually a muffler in this photo. It's designed that way. It's SLP's "Loud Mouth" exhaust system, which dumps the muffler for, well, nothing. Actually, there's an expansion chamber upstream, which helps quell backfires and pops when you get off the throttle, but basically, there's no noise muffling going on here. Your car will sound like Kurt Johnson's Pro Stock Cavalier with this system...And your neighbors will hate you for it!
If you know your Fourth-Generation Camaros, then you'll notice that there's just a pipe wh
Here's SLP's stainless Y-pipe (right) next to a stock Camaro's Y-pipe. SLP's is stainless, larger in diameter, and doesn't have the pinched, flattened section. It's a good idea to dump the stock Y-pipe if you upgrade the rest of the exhaust system.
Here's SLP's stainless Y-pipe (right) next to a stock Camaro's Y-pipe. SLP's is stainless,