Behind the stock airvent on the driver's side, there's that lovely little airflow restrictor plate. Is there an appreciable reason for removal of this, i.e. increased performance, gas mileage, etc. I've got an intake coming that I'm going to strap on, and I'd figured on simply removing the stock air cleaner assembly and sticking the tip of the intake right by that vent, but if it is about the same to removing that restrictor plate, I don't mind doing that either.

------------------
1986 SE V6, stock, auto, fastback. GT Trim and Body panels.

I`m not real familiar with the way the air intake works on the Fiero but that sounds like the water seperator or whatever it`s called. .
Maybe someone with a little more knowledge will chime in.

that is the water seperator
its a bit of a debate whether it is truly a restriction or not. obviously, the redirection does restrict flow, but if it is to a measurable amount has yet to be determined.

You are not in rain soak country ,so you can remove,,the stock fiero air inlet, filter & filter box with large rubber tube has been found to be very efficient,,rodney dickman has the cure at a reasonable price,,do not use long tube with filter on the end..

The air path inside the box is pretty large. It shouldn't restrict the airflow. It's actually larger than the rest of the air flow path. It's just there to act primarily as a water separator and it also silences the intake noise. I removed the diverter on my Formula and I get the intake roar similar to the open filter "cold air intakes" you see for sale everywhere. Not quite as loud, but close. I didn't notice any performance or mileage change.

I think he is referring to the rubber boot that the water sepatartor uses to connect to inlet grill. I took mine out when my CRX intake went in.

That's not a restriction, it just looks that way from the outside. If you remove it you will not get any measurable or detectable power increase, but you will get a substantially louder intake hiss as well as increasing the risk of sucking in a load of water during heavy rain. The water won't get past the filter but it will gum up the filter with the mud made from filter dirt and water, and it will rust the inside of the housing.

JazzMan

Meh, I'll leave it alone then. My V6 is loud enough since I like driving with the windows down ^_^

------------------
1986 SE V6, stock, auto, fastback. GT Trim and Body panels.

quote Originally posted by JazzMan: The water won't get past the filter but it will gum up the filter with the mud made from filter dirt and water, and it will rust the inside of the housing. JazzMan

Yup. Mines even rusting with the separator still intact.

In June 1995 Lee Brown posted Dyno Test results indicating which mods worked and "what you should leave alone"
http://www.fiero.org.text/fireup.txt Link No Longer Works, I'm glad I printed it out

Quote: "In searching for more power , my race crew tested the fiero V6 engine on a dyno without the stock air cleaner and inlet system, and we were surprized to find that this produced no change in power. Apparently the Pontiac engineers did a good job on these parts because they work well, even though they look restrictive."

[This message has been edited by Tinkrr (edited 09-16-2007).]

I though that some of the cars came off the line with plastic flashing still in the mold. My 84 had a almost solid black plastic plate covering the face of the intake directly behind the side scoop intake. I took a razer knife and cut it out. Is that what he is talking about? My 86GT does not have the plastic there, it's a decent sized hole going into the water seperator.

[This message has been edited by timgray (edited 09-16-2007).]

quote Originally posted by timgray: I though that some of the cars came off the line with plastic flashing still in the mold. My 84 had a almost solid black plastic plate covering the face of the intake directly behind the side scoop intake. I took a razer knife and cut it out. Is that what he is talking about? My 86GT does not have the plastic there, it's a decent sized hole going into the water seperator.

Are you talking about inside the water diverter box in the fender well? That "solid black plastic plate" doesn't block the air flow. The air flows up and over it and then back down and out the other side. Doing that causes the water in the air to separate out and the little hole at the bottom of the "plate" is the weep hole to let the water out. A lot of people think that little hole is all that there is for the car to breathe through. That's incorrect. If you were to cut open the diverter box, you'd see it was totally open at the top - you just can't see that looking in the air intake hole.

quote Originally posted by Tinkrr: In June 1995 Lee Brown posted Dyno Test results indicating which mods worked and "what you should leave alone" http://www.fiero.org.text/fireup.txt Link No Longer Works, I'm glad I printed it out

Here's the link:
http://www.fiero.org/text/firedup.txt

------------------
www.FieroDomain.com
Over 120 Fiero Links, Articles, Images, Diagnostics

"If any car is both the parade and the rain, it is the Fiero"

there is small benefit to open air inlet if engine manifolds exh & int are ported a very small increase in mpg this leans out the mixture some thing the fiero does not need unless looking for peak power,lean is not good in a car that 20% of run to hot when allowed to rev over 5000 engine will respond better and needs more air ,do not run hotter plugs unless you have loose rings... there is no benefit to stock engine in removal of items in cold air system ..

[This message has been edited by uhlanstan (edited 09-16-2007).]

quote Originally posted by uhlanstan: there is small benefit to open air inlet if engine manifolds exh & int are ported a very small increase in mpg this leans out the mixture some thing the fiero does not need unless looking for peak power,lean is not good in a car that 20% of run to hot when allowed to rev over 5000 engine will respond better and needs more air ,do not run hotter plugs unless you have loose rings

It's not going to lean out the mixture in an electronically controlled car. The ECM will read the leaner mix and simply readjust and add more fuel as needed.

Thanks for all the input, and it is the water separator. Seems there's an overwhelming agreement that there's no increase in power, so I'll leave it alone.

------------------
1986 SE V6, stock, auto, fastback. GT Trim and Body panels.

quote Originally posted by PineyCreek: Thanks for all the input, and it is the water separator. Seems there's an overwhelming agreement that there's no increase in power, so I'll leave it alone.

You could just temporarily take it out to see how you like it. A lot of people seem to appreciate the sound (which is about the only thing it will do for you)

Mine is still installed on my current Fiero, but I took it off the last one, and I did kinda like the sound of the intake with the window down, especially at wide open throttle, and low to mid RPM.

Kurt