cowl induction really isn't intended to give the engine any more air or create horsepower; cowl induction hoods typically are good for clearance and they also let some of the heat exit out the over the cowl. A lot of people use Cowls for looks, which is certainly not a bad choice. That being said, RAM Air should create more horsepower, my guess would be 10-15 hp, but that's just a guess. I think the ram air hoods look better and that's what i'll prob. go w/ on my car when the time comes. Basically, when it comes down to it, choose the hood design you like best, not for horsepower...the ram air kits are additional, by the way (what is it, like $150-200?).
Ram air might give you a few horses, but i would say 10 MAX. Choose the hood by which you like the look of, or if you need clearance from a big motor or intake then go with something that is raised.
The stormin normal IS a ram air hood, but its raised 2.5" - so its like a 2.5" cowl with ram air scoops.
What you want is a typical CAI kit with a March Ram Air kit that has piping leading down to underneath the bumper that scavenges outside air and has the ram effect at higher speeds, PLUS the cowl hood of your choice. Like stated above, the cowl is just for clearance and to expell under hood heat. The hood/CAI box ram air hoods are cool but are actually more complicated than they need to be.
BTW, this whole "make more hp' thing about ram air really only has an effect at around 50+mph, since it takes the speed of the car to force air into the intake, and that goes along with the Cervinis style ram air as well, not to mention ram air Camaros and TAs. Generally, the faster you go, the more air that's inducted through the ram air.
The ram air is probably only good for a couple of hp while it is still clean. The ram air that goes under the bumper gets really dirty and can also suck up water which is not very good. The cowl if you had a carbed car would actually help force more air into the engine compartment because the nose of the hood and the cowl are the two areas on a car that have the most air pressure at speed. The shaker ram air are not that efficient because the nose of the car breaks the air stream forcing the air over the ram air... but they look bad ass. They will get cold air which is very helpfull no matter what. The cowl for an efi car is really good at expelling hot air from the engine compartment and giving engine clearance. The cowl in my opinion looks better on the 5.0s than the ram airs. The ram air is more liability and more trouble and may make a couple more hp more while it is clean but that doesn't last long.
Kevin
Cowl "induction" is really a missleading phrase, as there isnt really any "induction" being made. If anything some air may suck in through the back of the cowl, but if you've got an open grill it's more than likely going to exit that opening, which aids in UNDER HOOD HEAT EXIT, so there is ZERO hp gain.
Ram Air "induction", being the only real "induction" in this comparison, only improves hp by 10hp max unless you're driving 160mph, which isnt likely. The ONLY purpose of ram air is that it's more efficient at scavenging cold air than a typical fender CAI kit.
10hp is hardly enough gain to 1) notice and 2) be the decision making aspect of your purchase. As stated above, get what you like looks wise before you get caught up in what's going to give more hp, because you're not even going to notice that the increase is there. Besides, like i said above, you can get a Cowl hood and a March ram air kit and use them at the same time for cheaper than a Stormin Norman hood, and you dont have to worry about lining up that stupid fender box thing with the hood, and it looks cleaner too.
Storman Norman hood with ram air works great, it keeps your air filter cleaner then an open element or fender mounted cai. I've had it since November and it looks brand new. Only thing for $150, it should come with a replacement intake tube from throttle body to maf.
O.K guys...few misconceptions here that I feel like I must clear up...I have both the Cervinis cowl and the stormin normin hood...when my car was stock I put the stormin normin hood on along with the ram air kit and the car felt better in the higher RPM's...not sure how much HP the kit added...,however, since than I have removed the air box and I am using a conical filer but the ram air opening are right below the filter so fresh ais is getting there...cowl induction will do nothing unless you have the filler sticking out by the vent of the cowl...There are many people that think that Ram Air is just a myth...A stock air box with the air silencer romoved will work about the same...A cold air intake will only creat turbulante air when it enters the intake...by now means will it keep the air "cool" as it is advertised...Pretty much a hood is a style of fashion rather than performance...
ok guys cool, thanx alot for the opinions, ive always liked the looks of cowl induction, so ill prolly go with that, especially if the hp gains are minimal.
there are no hp gains from a cowl hood. did you just skip down to the bottom and make a post without reading anything? cowl hoods have 2 vents in the back and that's it. ram air hoods have 2 vents in the middle of the hood and 2 vents in the rear.
Get the Cowl Induction. They just look soooo much better. I know not many people share the same opinion as me but the Storman Norman hoods look terrible!
True there are no performance gains on many injected motors w/cowl hoods, but its a proven fact that a cowl setup on a carb car make some extra power. And the origional "Cowl Induction: was from Chevy on the Chevelle's and there was "Induction" going on, when driving the windshield creats a vortex up next to the cowl, they used this to their advantage and had the cars get frest air from this pocket. Car craft did a test once on an 85 notch between a cevini's cown and a ram air setup, and they made more power from the cowl openend up.
And the origional "Cowl Induction: was from Chevy on the Chevelle's and there was "Induction" going on, when driving the windshield creats a vortex up next to the cowl, they used this to their advantage and had the cars get frest air from this pocket.
marketing ploy. i dont think they wasted time creating the correct angle between the cowl and the windshield to create a "vortex." and on the carbs they're air filter is open element sitting right ontop of the engine so it's closer to the cowl opening. i can see where the carbs might make more hp with cowls cuz the opening is practically right there.
ya i still think id wanna go with the cowl induction, gains or not. Mabye thats just me, i just think it looks so much more mean. Thanx alot for the replies guys.