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Auto Enthusiast Day in Anaheim, California brought out a handful of muscle cars including this first generation Mustang

When you hear the term air intake, you might think of a bolt-on direct intake that comes in a box with little assembly required. This is true in several cases, but for certain applications, bolt-on specific parts are not available for their custom setup.

Auto Enthusiast Day in Anaheim, California brought out several different types of cars and trucks including imports, off road, and muscle cars. Though there could have been more muscle cars at this year’s event, most of those that did attend were equipped with Spectre Performance custom air intake setups.

The Mustang surprised many with an LSX swap featuring a custom Spectre air intake setup

Often times, these muscle cars are far from their original state, many featuring late-model engines, suspension upgrades, custom body work, and other modifications. These custom modifications make it difficult for manufactures to design make/ model specific bolt-on direct air intakes for these applications. A solution was found when Spectre Performance released their custom air intake component line, allowing people to design their own custom air intake around their specific application.

: The PCHRODS C10R returned for its second year at Auto Enthusiast Day as one of the only pro-touring trucks throughout the entire show

The first car we spotted with a Spectre custom air intake setup was a first gen Mustang. Several people took a quick glance at the Mustang as it looked average on the outside, but for those paying close attention to what laid under the hood, they were in for a shocking surprise. The rise of LS swaps in Mustangs has grown over the past couple years. This Mustang was equipped with an LSX motor, far from the original 289 small block that came with the car from the factory.

There are several benefits when using the Spectre components including proper fitment and the ability for customization. The Mustang did not have tons of room under the hood so a 90-degree angle was needed to clear both the accessory drive and the radiator. The large Spectre cone air filter was used to get as much air as possible into the motor. The filter was positioned away from the motor and radiator (without further extreme modifications) allowing cooler air into the air intake for optimal results.

The C10R was sporting its new 383 storker motor along with a modified Spectre air intake that had to be redesigned to accommodate the throttle body angle

Beside the Mustang sat the infamous PCHRODS C10R, sporting its new 383ci stroker motor. In addition to the motor, the team at PCHRODS upgraded the Holley intake with an MSD Atomic Airforce Intake, forcing them to redesign their Spectre Performance air intake. Though the design was similar, a different angle tube was needed to accommodate the throttle body angle.

A 1970 Nova sat in the Currie booth drawing a lot of attention throughout the one-day show with some unique custom modifications

Two red cone filters still sat below the core support in front of the engine. PCHRODS did not want to deviate too far from their original intake design. The original design allowed for the coolest possible air to enter the intake for optimal performance. The tube, which was positioned directly down off the throttle body, sat between the two fans so hot air did not directly blow onto the tube. Though the engine bay of the 1972 C10 is quite large, the trucks modifications restricted the location of the air intake setup if they wanted to keep cooler air temps and overall performance in mind.

Within the Currie Enterprises booth, a 1970 Nova with eye-catching modifications was on display, attracting crowds of people around the car. The Nova, which had a single turbo big block, utilized Spectre Performance air intake components to adapt to their custom application.

A crowd gathered around the Nova to see the single turbo big block under the hood in addition to several Spectre Performance air intake components that were used to adapt to their custom application

The single inlet plenum provided just enough clearance to close the hood while the Spectre Performance air filter fit directly off the turbo. The plenum, which was a four-inch outlet, was reduced to a three-inch setup accommodating the turbo. A Spectre four-to-three-inch reduction coupler was used to adapt the two different sizes. It is common to see a three-inch setup when using a turbo application, but the big block setup allowed for a plenum to be used, which made things a little trickier.

In each of the three vehicles, air intake setups could have been possible without the Spectre Performance air intake components, but having these components made life a lot easier. As we continue to finish out the show season, we will be looking for more Spectre air intake setups to feature on our website. Visit our dealer search tool to find a local dealer that can help you build an intake system for your project or daily driver.

The deception begins as the car is purchased and trailered home surreptitiously

Tony King had been waiting for years to get his hands on a 1955 Chevy Bel Air coupe, just like the one he had driven in high school. According to his son, Tim, his dad was one of those guys who’d walk around a car show, see a 1955, and say “I used to own one of those. I never should have sold it.”

After two heart surgeries and his retirement after 35 years in the construction industry, Tony figured it was time to hook up with his old girlfriend, and started looking for a ’55 Bel Air coupe. Unfortunately, as the Bel Air two-door moved up from enthusiast’s car to collector’s car to iconic All-American status, prices rose accordingly and out of Tony’s budget.

After hour upon hour of scouring Craigslist and eBay Tony spotted a 1955 that met all his criteria: the car was about 90% complete and the current owner had done all the hard work of installing an LS1 small block and a 4L60E automatic. The only downside was the car was a four-door model and not the coupe he’d lusted after for so long. Offsetting his disappointment was the fact that the four door was selling for about half what a two door would. So Tony could both afford to purchase the car and travel around the country with his wife in their motorhome.

The completed project, in all its four-door glory

With his father and mother out on an extended road trip, Tim drove the hour from his home to check out the ‘55 and on the way hatched a fiendish plot. He called his dad after viewing the car, which was exactly as advertised, but told Tony instead that the car needed a lot more work than had been indicated, and they should take a pass. Tim bought the car and quietly towed it home, letting only his mother in on the secret. Tim’s plan was to enlist his brother and his best friend to finish the car in 30 days. While it was 90% complete, as the seller stated, anyone who has restored a car knows 10% is still a great deal of work. To complicate matters, work and other commitments pulled Tim away so he had only 12 days to work on the car. Needless to say there were plenty of late nights spent on the car.

One of the several items the car needed was a full wiring harness. In addition, there was no practical way to connect the LS1 to the original gauges. Tim has Dakota Digital gauges in three of his cars, and Tony had always admired them. So of course Tim ordered a VHX gauge set specific to the Chevy’s cluster – which is comprised largely of analog gauges, to fit the theme of the car, somewhat contrary to the company’s name. Another electrical upgrade was an Optima battery, mounted in the trunk. Tim chose Optima because it didn’t require a battery box, plus the LS1 needs more than a few amps to crank it over, and the air bag suspension needs juice to raise or lower ride height. Further plans are afoot to add more electrical components like air conditioning and a stereo to make the Bel Air a true daily driver for Tony. A powerful, reliable battery was key.

The custom Spectre cold air intake kit installed. Anyone can call Spectre and get the same personalized service from one of Spectre’s knowledgeable customer service members

One task the previous owner had left Tim was getting air into the engine. Tim called the folks at Spectre Performance and was told “no problem” and asked to call back with a few dimensions. Tim provided Spectre with the information requested and an order was placed. When the box arrived, Tim found everything he’d need to install a high flow conical Spectre Performance air filter in the car, including elbows, tubes, fittings, braces, and adapters for the MAF and IAT sensor were all in the box. According to Tim all he had to do was trim the pipe to the correct length and he had the entire intake system installed in the car in about 15 minutes.

While Tim was thankful for the quality and amount of work done by the previous owner, he came across one odd item. The linkage for the gas pedal wasn’t straight and didn’t travel in the correct arc. A call to Lokar solved the problem, as Tim was able to order a linkage from Lokar that was both straight and swung in the proper arc. Problem solved.

The day had arrived when Tony was to return home. The boys cleaned out the garage and positioned the ’55 front and center. When the motorhome rolled up, Tim hit the button on the garage door opener and the ’55 was revealed. Tony swung around and asked his wife if she’d been complicate in this plan. Then after walking around, climbing in, and crawling under the car for an hour, Tony suggested to Tim they take a ride. Not wanting to break his new toy on the first day, Tony took it easy on the throttle, but Tim admits that the car is fast, faster than he’d expected. So excited was Tony that he kept waking up several times that first night and checking the garage to make certain the car was still there (or perhaps to make certain it wasn’t a dream).

If you go back to the headline, the “Half the Price” reflects the savings in purchasing a four door. “Twice the Fun, on the other hand, refers to Tim’s sheer pleasure in completing and giving this car to his father, and to Tony’s joy in finally owning a ’55 again, which he now drives every day.

The Spectre air intake system comes complete with filter, heat shield, and polished aluminum intake coupler, as well as all the necessary hardware for a quick and simple installation.

It's hard to believe but the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine has been in production since 2003, which is a longer run than even the first generation of Hemi engines in the 1950s. But then, why change what's not broken? The 5.7-liter "Eagle" engine is based loosely on the all-conquering Hemi race engine of the 1960s. Updates were suggested by some of the same engineers who worked on the second generation "Elephant" Hemi. While not a pure Hemi like it predecessors, the 5.7-liter engine is pretty close. The exact alterations that make it superior to earlier Hemi engines are what provide the performance gains, specifically the squish area within the combustion chamber and the accommodation for two spark plugs. In fact, the combustion chamber somewhat resembles that of the 500 CID "Hemi" top fuel race motor.

There's no doubt you mean business when you lift the hood of your 5.7-liter Hemi Grand Cherokee or Durango with a Spectre intake system installed.

And if there's one thing known about Hemi engines, it's how well they respond to upgrades, particularly ones that feed the engine more air, like the Spectre 9021B intake system.

Designed from the beginning to feature a Multiple Displacement System (MDS), the system shuts down four cylinders of the 5.7-liter Hemi when driving at cruising speeds in order to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. Both the 2011-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2011 - 2014 Dodge Durango feature the MDS function.

For Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango owners who are seeking both more horsepower and torque from their Hemi MDS, whether using eight cylinders or four, we have a solution. For less than the cost of an upgraded electronic control unit or high performance exhaust system, a Spectre air intake system can increase both in your Hemi-powered SUV.

And while you'll need an expert to recalibrate your engine's ECU if you add a high-performance module, there's no need to do so with an air intake system. Instead, the Spectre 9021B air intake system for Hemi-powered Cherokees and Durangos brings performance increases that can be achieved by a DIY installation that takes around 90 minutes with simple hand tools and with no need to re-calibrate engine electronics.

The Spectre 9021B air intake system moves the air intake away from the hot engine and protects it with a heat shield so only cold, fresh, outside air can reach the air filter. Cooler air is denser, carrying additional oxygen prompting your ECU to add more fuel, increasing horsepower. You've probably noticed the effect when driving your vehicle on a cool morning.

The system utilizes a seven-inch, non-woven, synthetic filter media to help protect your engine from harmful dirt, dust, and debris. The kit comes with the reusable free-flowing air filter, velocity stack, mandrel-bent polished aluminum intake coupler, and a black powder coated heat shield to help prevent hot engine air from entering the intake inlet.

While the Spectre 9021B cold air intake system for Hemi-powered Cherokees and Durangos comes with a blue filter, however Spectre Performance also offers 9021K, which comes with a black filter, and 9021 which comes with a red filter. All three versions offer the same outstanding airflow and filtration capabilities, they're available in different colors to meet customers' preferences.

Spectre air intake systems come complete with all the necessary clamps, screws, and bolts for the look of an OE installation. OEM brackets and hardware are used so that no holes need to be drilled, making for a quick and easy installation. The kit also accommodates all factory emissions and vacuum lines.

The 9021B, 9021K, and 9021 fit the following vehicles:
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L V8
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L V8
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L V8
2014 Dodge Durango 5.7L V8
2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L V8
2013 Dodge Durango 5.7L V8
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L V8
2012 Dodge Durango 5.7L V8
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L V8
2011 Dodge Durango 5.7L V8

Not legal for sale or use on any pollution controlled motor vehicle in California or states adopting California emission procedures. See spectreperformance.com for CARB status on each part for a specific vehicle.

Spectre held an exclusive launch event for fifth gen Camaros to launch their new line of underhood caps and covers.

The latest news from Spectre Performance is their line of underhood caps and covers. Currently available for the fifth generation Camaro, the line is aimed at helping to break up the sea pf black plastic under the hood of modern day muscle cars. To get word out to the public about this, Spectre held a special launch event at their headquarters in Riverside, California.

Even an engine bay this nice could use some help with caps and covers from Spectre.

The event was targeted at introducing the media, industry partners, and select enthusiasts to this new line of engine accessories. There were several fifth gen Camaros on hand for install demonstrations, and some lucky fans even got to take a kit home for their vehicles.

The overall response was a positive one. "I think this is a really good idea," said one attendee. "The problem is there isn't a whole lot you can do to spruce up the engine without dropping some serious coin." He isn't wrong. A supercharger for a 2010-2015 Camaro is quite an investment. You could also do a simpler install of an intake system, say like a 9908 Spectre intake for the fifth gen. But that doesn't address the ugly brake reservoir or radiator cap, for instance.

The fuse box cover was a popular one at the event. Being able to add some flash to a normally forgotten piece is something that a lot of people are interested in.

A very unique piece offered is the oil dipstick cover. That ugly yellow handle can be an eyesore under the hood of even the cleanest Camaros.

Thanks to parts like 42724S, which is the radiator cap cover in silver or 42727K, which is the fuse box cover in black, you can add some flair to some of those forgotten pieces. Or you can spend tens of thousands of dollars relocating them to your trunk for an equally clean look - your choice. The pieces come in two different styles and four different colors for a total of 8 options to really make your engine bay pop. And Spectre hasn't forgot about Ford and Mopar owners, check back for more info on this line available for the Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger and Charger, and Chrysler 300C.

Some lucky attendees got the chance to win the whole cap cover set, 42729K, to install on their car.

For more information on this brand new line of products, visit the Spectre Engine Dress Up Cover page and see the difference you can make with a little time and at a fraction of the cost of other upgrades. You can also use the search by vehicle tool to see what we make for your vehicle.

Here is a list of all the caps and covers currently available for 2010-2015 Chevrolet Camaros:

Modern Design

Circular Design

Universal Pieces

The Spectre 9003K intake kit can boost 6.4L Hemi power by an estimated 21 HP.

Of the first generation of Hemi engines, that ran from 1951 through 1958, the engine selected by enthusiasts and professional racers alike was the Chrysler FirePower 392 CID V8. In its most highly tuned form, it was available from the factory with an output of 380 horsepower, which was an enormous amount of power for 1958. And when you see photos of old “slingshot” dragsters, they were running the iron-block 392 V8 until the 426 came along.

Spectre air intake 9003K offers an amazing gain in performance with simple installation that can be done in around 90 minutes.

With the development of the new 6.4 liter Hemi, which works out to 392 CID, Chrysler embraced the heritage of that early performance motor. And while the modern 6.4 liter Hemi produces prodigious horsepower, it can be substantially increased quickly and inexpensively by a Spectre 9003K air intake system.

The production version of the new 6.4 liter Hemi was launched in the 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 with variable camshaft timing as well as MDS in cars with automatic transmissions. The new 6.4 liter Hemi, codenamed "Apache," is based on the third-generation 5.7 liter Hemi.  2015 power output is rated at 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque.

Amazingly, the 9003K Spectre intake can raise power by as much as an estimated 21 horsepower @ 5962 rpm and torque by 22.6 lb-ft of torque, at 4226 rpm, as achieved on a chassis dyno test of a 2012 Dodge Charger SRT utilizing SAE protocols.

So where does all that power come from? The Spectre 9003K cold air intake system moves the air intake away from the hot engine and protects it with a heat shield so cooler, fresh, outside air can reach the air filter. Cooler air is denser, carrying additional oxygen, prompting your 6.4 liter Hemi ECU to add more fuel, thus increasing horsepower.

The air intake system utilizes a seven-inch, non-woven synthetic filter media to help protect your engine from harmful dirt, dust, and debris. The system comes with the reusable pre-oiled cone filters manufactured using high quality materials including washable synthetic media, urethane, and steel mesh. Also included is the mandrel-bent, polished aluminum intake tube, and black powder coated heat shield to help prevent hot engine air from entering the intake inlet.

Spectre air intake systems come complete with all needed clamps, screws, and bolts for the look of an OE installation. OEM brackets and hardware are used so that no holes need to be drilled, making for a quick and easy installation. The kit also accommodates all factory emissions and vacuum lines.

The 360-degree conical Spectre air filter features non-woven synthetic filter media and is washable and reusable. Further, the synthetic media is less restrictive than traditional paper elements, and assures excellent filtration.

Along with 9003K, which comes with a black filter, Spectre Performance offers 9003B, which comes with a blue filter, and 9003 which comes with a red filter. All three versions offer the same airflow and filtration properties, they just come in different colors based on preference.

Not legal for sale or use on any pollution controlled motor vehicle in California or states adopting California emission procedures. See knfilters.com for CARB status on each part for a specific vehicle.

Applications:

2015 DODGE CHARGER 6.4L V8
2015 DODGE CHALLENGER 6.4L V8
2015 CHRYSLER 300 6.4L V8
2014 DODGE CHARGER 6.4L V8
2014 DODGE CHALLENGER 6.4L V8
2014 CHRYSLER 300 6.4L V8
2013 DODGE CHARGER 6.4L V8
2013 DODGE CHALLENGER 6.4L V8
2013 CHRYSLER 300 6.4L V8
2012 DODGE CHARGER 6.4L V8
2012 DODGE CHALLENGER 6.4L V8
2012 CHRYSLER 300 6.4L V8
2011 DODGE CHALLENGER 6.4L V8