tornado and mpg

[ALANSD]

For what it's worth....the sceptical me, bought a "Tornado" air management device for my 454, a few months back. I was getting 6.5 - 7 mpg average at the time. I tried this only after hearing a lot of good comments on it, although some auto mechanics are more sceptical than I am. The unit mounts over your carb in the air cleaner, and makes incoming air swirl strongly as it enter the intake.
Well, after this a=was added, and a new set of park plugs, cap, etc. I got about 9mpg on my 2000 mile jaunt these past 2+ weeks. I can't say whether it was the Tornado alone, but I did notice considerably better "take off" on acceleration right after I installed it, and before the plugs were put in.

[Mr Jody Hudson]

I agree, I don't see how they should work any better than a regular low restriction, cool air, intake system. But they do seem to work very well indeed.

I see you are already familiar with the value of low restriction exhaust too and hot sparks to the plugs. The only other thing that you might try, based on my old hot-rodding days, is to gap the plugs much wider -- out to .5 perhaps!!!! I used to gap mine till they touched the upcoming piston! The HOT spark and big gap in the plugs would give me a lot more power and better mileage. I was also doing low restriction intake with cool air and open exhaust as you are. However I used MUCH larger, exhaust pipes. I used a pair of 4" eliptical pipes, with double crossovers. The combination gave me a quiet enough exhaust to eliminate the mufflers and get the backpressure way down.

[BobbyW]

Another device that performs the same function is the Airaid Throttle body riser/spacer. This spacer creates a Vortex in the intake as the Tornado, but cost more. I have one on my Chevy CK1500 350 along with the Airaid/ K&N filter assembly.

From the Airaid WebSite:

"The Poweraid TBS concept was developed to enhance mid-range power, torque and fuel efficiency. The unique dyno-proven "Helix Bore" causes a spinning action of the incoming air charge as it passes through the throttle body. This extremely beneficial air-charge carries all the way into the combustion chamber, producing a super-atomized mixture and resulting in tremendous gains in mid-range power and overall efficiency."

I also have Gibson Headers, Borla CatBack Stainless Steel Exhaust, HyperTech Performance Chip and Accel Racing wires. The truck has a "real nice" purr to it.

-BobbyWright

[ALANSD]

Go Bobby!! Go Bobby!!. Would like to have the headers and such on my Airstream!!