2010 Chevy Camaro SS - Spectre Intake - Spectre Cold Air Intake

2010 Chevy Camaro SS Spectre Intake Fifth Gen Camaro

In today's fast-paced world, it seems everyone is all about instant gratification. Usually the terms "instant gratification" and "horsepower" don't go together. Until now. Spectre Performance has an intake kit for the fifth-gen Camaro that is simple to install and adds horsepower across the entire RPM range-we saw 10 HP at peak to the back wheels of an automatic-transmission-equipped Camaro SS with the 400-horse L99 engine (dyno tested with the hood down).

Spectre told us it saw gains of 21 HP on a different car that had a few mods in place. It even has an intake for the 3.5L V-6 Camaros that adds 14 HP at some points in the RPM range. The intake kits bolts in with no modifications to the car with simple hand tools and are C.A.R.B. exempt for all the California owners.

An engine is basically a large air pump, firing off a combination of fuel and air. The more air the engine can ingest, the more horsepower it has the potential to make. Also, a free-breathing engine will have a little better throttle response, as the delay of air getting in is reduced. The Spectre intake allows more airflow and, in turn, increases the engine's ability to produce power.

The V-8 and V-6 kits can be had for less than 300 bucks and also provide that nice deep muscle car sound when you hammer the "Go" pedal. The factory intakes have a small muffler/sound suppression chamber built in to quiet the air induction under hard acceleration, which is eliminated with the Spectre intake. So if you have a new Camaro that could use more power and you can find 10 minutes of wrench time, then you should consider the Spectre intake kit.

Here is what you'll find in the box when you order the intake kit from Spectre Performance. The main piece is a length of mandrel-bent aluminum that has been polished up for a cool look. There is also the aluminum heat shield that will keep the area around the filter cool and keep the performance up. Lastly is the hpR conical filter and Velocity stack adapter, which is a high-flow cotton gauze filter that can be cleaned and re-oiled for years of service life. The Velocity stack adapter is inserted into the filter end and has a smooth transition for better airflow.
Here is what you'll find in the box when you order the intake kit from Spectre Performance
The entire factory intake system will be replaced with the Spectre stuff so it all needs to be removed. Before you get elbow-deep in the teardown, make sure to disconnect the battery (better safe than sorry). Disconnect the electrical connector on the mass air flow (MAF) sensor and remove the hard plastic tube that goes from the front of the air box to the back of the intake manifold.
The entire factory intake system will be replaced with the Spectre stuff so it all needs t
You'll need to pop off the engine cover to access the clamp at the throttle body. The oil cap needs to come off to remove the cover; just make sure to re-install the oil cap to prevent anything from getting inside the engine while you are messing around in the engine compartment.
You'll need to pop off the engine cover to access the clamp at the throttle body. The oil

There are two 10mm nuts holding the air box to the fenderwell that need to be removed. One of these will be used later so keep one close at hand. Now you can wiggle the stock intake assembly out of the car and take it to a clean work area, as you'll need to transfer the MAF sensor to the new intake tube.
There are two 10mm nuts holding the air box to the fenderwell that need to be removed. One
The only somewhat special tool Spectre recommends is the T-20 Torx driver to remove the screws holding the MAF in place. Don't worry if you don't have a Torx set in your toolbox, as the screws also have regular head on them so you can use a small socket. Slowly and gently remove the MAF from the intake.
The only somewhat special tool Spectre recommends is the T-20 Torx driver to remove the sc
Now you can feed it right into the polished aluminum tube that has this machined block welded to the side to hold the MAF in the proper position.
Now you can feed it right into the polished aluminum tube that has this machined block wel

There is a length of rubber seal that needs to be affixed around the perimeter and a large round grommet that goes in the hole before the heat shield can be installed on the car. The seal just snaps on; make sure to start at the bottom, which will leave the seam out of sight. The large grommet will slip in the hole by hand. This bracket will mount to one of the factory studs with the stock nut. The heat shield slips under the core support on one side so this single nut will be the only mounting point necessary.
There is a length of rubber seal that needs to be affixed around the perimeter and a large
After one of the silicone couplers is slipped on the throttle body, the tube can be put in place. We would recommend not tightening the hose clamps all the way on the coupler until you have everything installed, just in case you need to make a small adjustment in the placement of the tube.
After one of the silicone couplers is slipped on the throttle body, the tube can be put in
Not shown is the insertion of the Velocity stack adapter into the end of the filter that is held in with a large hose clamp. Once that is in another silicone coupler, more hose clamps are used to hold the filter in its new home. Now all the other hose clamps can be tightened up locking the tube in place.
Not shown is the insertion of the Velocity stack adapter into the end of the filter that i

Make sure to plug in the MAF or you'll be rewarded with a nice bright check engine light for sure.
Make sure to plug in the MAF or you'll be rewarded with a nice bright check engine light f
The hard plastic tube is replaced with a nice looking length of braided hose that hooks to the manifold in the stock location and to this barb sticking out of the tube.
The hard plastic tube is replaced with a nice looking length of braided hose that hooks to
With the re-installation of the engine cover, the job is done. As you can see, the new intake doesn't interfere with anything under the hood and looks pretty dang mean.
With the re-installation of the engine cover, the job is done. As you can see, the new int

Now for what really counts: Does the system make power? If you look at the following dyno results, you can see the kit bumps up the horsepower and torque across the entire rpm range of the SS Camaro. Our test car saw and increase of 10 hp at peak and up to 11 at some points in the rpm range.
Now for what really counts: Does the system make power? If you look at the following dyno

DYNO NUMBERS

RPM HP - TQ (Before) HP - TQ (After)

3,000 155 - 269 157 - 273
3,100 161 - 271 163 - 275
3,200 166 - 272 169 - 276
3,300 172 - 273 175 - 277
3,400 179 - 275 181 - 279
3,500 186 - 278 189 - 283
3,600 195 - 282 198 - 288
3,700 202 - 286 207 - 292
3,800 210 - 290 214 - 295
3,900 217 - 291 221 - 296
4,000 222 - 290 226 - 296
4,100 226 - 289 232 - 296
4,200 233 - 290 239 - 298
4,300 241 - 293 247 - 301
4,400 248 - 295 255 - 303
4,500 255 - 297 263 - 306
4,600 261 - 297 269 - 306
4,700 266 - 296 274 - 305
4,800 270 - 295 280 - 305
4,900 275 - 294 284 - 304
5,000 280 - 293 290 - 303
5,100 285 - 292 294 - 301
5,200 288 - 290 298 - 300
5,300 291 - 288 301 - 298
5,400 293 - 284 304 - 294
5,500 295 - 280 305 - 291
5,600 296 - 277 307 - 287
5,700 297 - 273 307 - 283