1968 Ford Torino GT Spectre Performance Cold Air Induction Performance Enhancer

We were intrigued by the wide selection of air intake boxes available at Spectre for a custom or low-profile installation. For our low-profile mock up we selected one made to fit the low hood clearance found on a Mustang.

Likewise a wide variety of custom junction fittings are offered. Using these smooth-flowing connectors ensures a free flowing induction system as well as a wild look.

This rack shows all of the various angled connection fittings available for system fabrication as well as the different styles of air filter elements available. Spectre has literally hundreds of part numbers in tubing, filter housings, fittings, filters, and more to make a one-off induction setup no matter the classic Ford, engine compartment configuration, engine size, or induction type.

Here we see how the various straight and curved pieces can be configured to almost any desired shape. Styrofoam plugs are used to help mock up the connections until they can be welded. These build-it-yourself kits can be welded locally, or you can mark the tubing orientation and send everything back to Spectre to be welded and polished and returned to you.

When the design calls for a direct connection to the core support and a filter element at the end isn't desired or can't be fitted, this inline cone filter can be used. It's sized to fit inside the 4-inch tubing and yet still flows more than 450 cfm.

Here we try on a Spectre low-profile enclosure. Although our Torino has plenty of hood clearance we still liked the look of this enclosure and wanted to mock up a system similar to one that might be used on a Mustang or a Torino with a larger engine.

Using the Styrofoam plugs to mock up the connections, the passenger side inlet is configured. For this scenario the battery would be relocated to the trunk.

Before this straight section going to the core support is installed an inline filter is placed into the tube. A pair of these will flow more than 900 cfm, more than enough capacity for most street engines.

With the inline filter in place, the final section for the righthand side is installed. To prevent sagging and get an accurate mock up, tape was used over the section joints. The end flange would be attached directly to the core support over a 4-inch hole cut into the support.

Likewise, a similar duct is constructed on the driver side, leading directly to the core support. On this side there is no battery and plenty of space to locate a new inlet. The net effect would be a ram air system exposed directly to the vehicle slipstream and completely hidden from view.

Here's our solid tube system mocked up. Spectre offers a service where you can use a selection of its ducting components to create your own custom system. Simply mark the connections, A to A and B to B for example, and send it in to the company. Spectre will weld all of the connections and then polish the complete system. Of course, the cost varies with the components used and the complexity of the system.

Here's a view of a similar Spectre cold-air system installed on a '68 Mustang. Here, the low-profile airbox is really needed because of the limited hood clearance available on Mustangs. This low-profile cleaner should work on big-block-equipped cars as well. Cone filters were installed onto the inlet ends and isolated from engine heat by fabricated steel enclosures with rubber edging designed to seal the area from engine heat. Custom enclosures like this are easily made with some 0.040-inch aluminum sheet and can be designed to work with hoodscoops, headlight openings, and so forth.

Since hood clearance isn't an issue on our Torino we decided to also mock up a system using Spectre's 120-degree dual snorkel enclosure. Instead of the flexible black ducting, we wanted to see what such an arrangement using the steel tubing might look like on our engine. Here the enclosure is in place and the Styrofoam plugs added to allow for experimental connections.

Just like with the low-profile system, the ducting connections were created to fit and then locked into the correct orientation using tape. Because we're using the enclosure that has the filter element in it, we don't have to be concerned with a filter either at the ends or inline.

On the passenger side the same procedure holds true. As we have mentioned, this type of system often requires relocating the battery to the trunk, which is a good idea for weight transfer and to clean up the engine compartment's overall look.

The completed mock up in place on our Torino's small-block certainly has a nice show worthy look to it and it'll make some additional power to boot. Once the welding is completed we'd have a solid cold air system that fit the same way every time. Because of the air inlet location being directly exposed to the slipstream, we suspect that this arrangement would make even more power than the isolated filters inside their own individual airboxes because cold air is, in effect, being force fed to the engine. Judging from the results on the chassis dyno and after looking at these different cold air system alternatives, we think that the Spectre systems offer a great bang for the buck across the board when it comes to improving horsepower. Spectre offers application specific kits for GM vehicles, but as yet no complete kit is offered for classic Mustangs or other classic Ford, but these kits are coming.