Smooth tube question...and week 1 driving impressions

[andymo1972]

My GTS has smooth tube intakes but the material used to build them seems to be too soft. Should I be able to cave them in with very light pressure (with 1 finger)? I would assume they would need to be more rigid than that or they would cave in under any heavy acceleration.

I've had it for a whole week now and my addiction has begun. I am more impressed that I thought I would be. I'm getting used to that big hood and really like seeing it out there now. The power is always there and makes it SO much easier to drive than my Esprit S4 was. I'm getting used to the way it corners...there is more control than I thought there would be...I'll keep sayin that till I spin thru a turn.

Andy
97 red GTS

 

[CAP]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by andymo1972:
I would assume they would need to be more rigid than that or they would cave in under any heavy acceleration.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have questioned this also and agree with you. (But don't know for sure.)

 

[Joseph Houss]

Call Cory at Snake Oyl. He's got some interesting info about the thickness of hoses and their usefullness for our application.

 

[Ron]

<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">I'd <u>guess</u> it would depend on whether the diameter of the tube was sufficient to feed the volume demanded by the engine. If the tubes were the limiting factor, perhaps they'd collapse. Since however the throttle body is the limiting dimension, I doubt you'd see enough negative pressure within the tube to cause collapse.

I've seen dyno runs with the hood up and "soft" smooth tubes and did not notice any dimensional changes.</FONT f>

 

[CAP]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ron:
I'd <u>guess</u> it would depend on whether the diameter of the tube was sufficient to feed the volume demanded by the engine. If the tubes were the limiting factor, perhaps they'd collapse. Since however the throttle body is the limiting dimension, I doubt you'd see enough negative pressure within the tube to cause collapse.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Good point!

 

[Doug Supercharged Vipers]

The question is:
How much CFM can you flow without creating a restriction that will collapse the hoses?

Soft hoses are acceptable under light horsepower applications - No problem. There are hoses available that do have reinforcement with wire wrap inside or transition hoses that have sleeves that prevent collapsing too. But for every "action" there is a "reaction" and the stiff hoses can cause airbox clips to fail and pop off under heavy torque load.

Regards,
Doug

 

[andymo1972]

Doug -

When you say "light horespower applications" I assume you mean a stock or near stock Vipers...can you clarify?

And I'd love to see the world thru the eyes of a man who builds these cars so far beyond their stock form that 450 hp is "light"...hahahaha...must be nice man!! I guess the old saying is true - perception IS reality.

Thanks for the info

Andy

 

[Doug Supercharged Vipers]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by andymo1972:
Doug -

When you say "light horespower applications" I assume you mean a stock or near stock Vipers...can you clarify?

And I'd love to see the world thru the eyes of a man who builds these cars so far beyond their stock form that 450 hp is "light"...hahahaha...must be nice man!! I guess the old saying is true - perception IS reality.

Thanks for the info

Andy

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Your very welcome Andy,

Obviously, normally aspirated higher horsepower engines that require more air volume would not be limited to just smooth tubes. You get to a point where the airbox, throttle bodies and intake manifold become more restrictive than that of the effects of "collapsing smooth tubes."
I would guess another 75 or 100 more horsepower would be fine with a standard smooth tube replacement? A good flow of nonrestrictive dense (cool) air w/o slowing down velocity would be a nice preference.

Regards,
Doug

 

[TOOOFST]

When you buy a TOOFAST NOS system the Aluminum tube bracket assembly keeps the smooth tubes from collapse,how lucky can I get!