has anyone tried one of these things from TV?

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Slant Six... out of the ordinary - just like me!

To answer a question, with a question. How can this setup mix air and fuel better, when these vehecles are fuel injected, and do not have fuel in the intake tract?
Charrlie_S

I don't know exactly how they would help an injected vehicle. My only concern would be for a carb set up. I've seen them on tv alot and wondered if one might be appliccable for a multicarb setup.

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Slant Six... out of the ordinary - just like me!

This thread started an interesting debate on usenet last week. The arguement came down to "If they work so well, why aren't they installed standard in all vehicles by the manufacturer...or why hasn't big oil bought it out...."


There are a fair amount of websites written by mechanics and gearheads that talk about these devices and other Snake Oil treatments (molecular fuel aligner, fuel saver, platinum catalyser).

-D.Idiot

Short and sweet, the "tornado" causes a turbulent air flow to the intake, K&N "smooths out" the air-flow...I think just about everyone has dealt with K&N, it's a great product. The "tornado" does the opposite of the K&N, so why should it do any good???

-Don

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Forget the flowmasters...here come the good ol' GLASSPACKS!!!

I actually saw one of these in person and I think it is a big hoax, especially when you take into account that the air filter smoothes the air back out. You would get better mileage and performance with a good tune up as opposed to one of these.

Reed

I'm also skeptical of the Tornado, no matter what their ads say. However, the argument that "It can't be worthwhile because the factory doesn't use it" isn't very convincing, either. It took a long time for disk brakes and cold air induction to make their way to common cars, and I think we all agree that they are worthwhile.
By the way, the Tornado reminds me of what we in Texas used to call an "Oklahoma Supercharger" (No offense intended now, Sooners, that's just what we called it then!) : a piece of wire mesh sandwiched between two carb/manifold gaskets, supposedly to give the mix some turbulence on its way to the head. The only real function seemed to be catching the air cleaner nut I occasionally dropped down the carb of my old Chevy ...
Be glad we have people who try to come up with improvements, and people who will test what they come up with and then let us know.

I bet the only benefit you'd see is the same benefit as any carb spacer, that of a slightly larger plenum and possible insulation of the carb.

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It is easier to REACT,
than it is to THINK!

Middy.

Now this idea I heard a long time ago. I was actually going through some of my older magazines awhile back and that was another idea clawing at the back of my brain.

I was thinking that since I was making my own intake, that I should check if there was any stock in this tornado idea. I plan on three carbs, but not three tornados! Whether or not the air is smoothed out depends upon what side the tornado is on - before or after the filter. I'm sure they "twist" the air, but I'm wondering if the concept is worth bothering with since I don't know anyone who forked out the $$$ to try one of those.

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Slant Six... out of the ordinary - just like me!

The Tornado is the gimic of the week. In the 60s, JC Whitney had a device in their catalog similar to this. Consisted of a carb spacer plate with mini propellers in each throttle bore. Just like any of the classic con games, same premise in a different wrapper.

Cecil

I suggest one should consider this............Do you want an additional item, (made in China) in your intake system that may, or may not, wear out and allow small pieces to drop off, only to be pulled into the engine by the incoming airstream?

Roger

true - didn't think of it that way....

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Slant Six... out of the ordinary - just like me!

Fill tires to 40-42 pounds ... good grease in wheel bearings ... change air filter ... throw junk out of trunk ... keep dead weight out of car (too many passengers = bad mileage!) ... I used to get 25-27 mpg on the road, in my '70 Swinger. Oh, and no accelerator stomping - slow & easy saves the gas (but what fun is THAT?)

One note about the Tornado on a carbureted car is that it looks like a restriction in your air cleaner will behave a lot like driving around with the choke stuck on. Not good for mileage, and probably not for performance either.

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"Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer
'66 Dart - turbocharged 225
My blog - Mad Scientist Matt's Lair

Suppose it does spin the incoming air - will that air keep spinning past the choke plate, throttle plates, the twists and turns and divisions in the intake manifold, and then past the intake valves?

Nah.

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It's a Slant thing. Even I don't understand.

1974 Duster, EFI /6 soon to be turbo...

Get that Monkay! Get that nasty thing!!