Would you rather suck air through a straw stuck in the sand, or wide open? In it's original form, the engine is trying to get fresh air from behind the passenger headlight. Not efficient at all, regardless of the filter used, or what "cold air kit" is in there. It isn't about "ram air" or making power. It IS about removing restrictions to the engines ability to easily suck air, and that it's cooler, denser air. Pulling air around headlights, body panels, framework, etc, all breaks down and thins the air charge. K&N's, removing air silencers, that stuff helps, but nothing is as efficient as the Stormin Norman hood except perhaps the March kit, but it's arguable whether or not you want to be sucking the crap off the pavement through two feet of convoluted hose or pulling it out of the air three feet up through six inches of smoothed air passage- which should theoretically be cleaner and has been proven to be at least 25% cooler- all good things. My engine ran noticeably smoother and rev'd quicker and easier with the Cervinins kit. When someone asks what the holes are for and are they just for looks- no, that's where the air goes in. I do know this- Stormin Norman Gray removed anything that wasn't necessary off his car, and was one of the first to be spending over $100 grand to build. He was disdainful of parts that didn't work, and this is his signature hood. As far as I'm concerned, anyone who thinks it's a waist of money can try telling him that... and then see if they can catch him. Yes, there are other things to spend $600 on that will build more power, but that's irrelevant- especially if you already have every other $600 part- and it doesn't negate the fact that it is functional even if it doesn't put up huge numbers on the dyno... neither does a gear swap.
) ram air hood but with the kit it's like $600 does anybody know of a nice looking functional hood thats not to expensieve ? 
