Cutting out the plastic webbing at cold air inlet

[ATestBishop]

Was looking close at the area under the front cowl plastic cover(radiator support shield) that feeds intake air up to the air box and saw plastic webbing(baffling ?)crossing the flow path, I understand it's there for some structural support but was considering trimming it out to get a more open flow path, any thoughts on if it could help flow potentially by opening that rectangle up? Bottom of photo shows the diagonal webbing plastic strips

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[ShadowDragon24]

Its part of the upper rad support, and its to help keep larger crap getting to filter.

 

[ATestBishop]

Well whatever structural support and filtering the fins might do would seem to be minimal, of course any detriment to flow would be as minimal or less as well. I may think about cleanly removing the fins and installing a coated wire screen in the rectangle surround/frame

 

[ATestBishop]

Is interesting that the closest grille cells to it at very top of grille are blocked off dummy cells

 

[yoopercharged]

You're not gonna get any appreciable gain from doing this and are just compromising the radiator support structure. This seems silly to me.

 

[ATestBishop]

I can see the silly aspect certainly but based on the thickness of web fins, the number and orientation of the webbing, along with examining the surrounding structure I can't see it weakening the piece as a whole, except if there was major blunt force at the forward face, but even then there would be damage either way

 

[yoopercharged]

What is your goal in getting more air flow?

 

[ATestBishop]

Running a ported TB and IM so thought it couldn't hurt potentially, and maybe get some more spirited mechanical sounds outside the engine bay? Probably really just to do it though

 

[ATestBishop]

Here is a diagram of the part, Front Upper Radiator Shutter Assembly- certainly not an inexpensive piece of plastic

 

[stuartmunto]

You won’t gain anything from doing this. The amount of increased air you’re talking is insignificant and also you’re running the stock airbox. Even with more air coming in the stock airbox can’t do anything with it.

also without a custom tune, more air won’t equal more power (even with an aftermarket CIA)

another also: you have two turbos. Your engine is getting enough forced induction from the turbos, it doesn’t need any extra air

 

[ATestBishop]

I did remove #3 as it was a seemingly useless support for a small portion of the cover and clipped in with a 2 loose plastic tabs.

 

[ATestBishop]

Oh sorry I didn't mention that was simply a example/sample photo above, not my truck /setup

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