Curious about the odd sub roll size/shaped black plastic part inside the air intake horn, attached to the air filter, on my '92 w/302. My guess is that its designed to reduce noise. However, the stupid looking part seems to be falling off & it fills ~80% of the duct. Somehow it seems that there'd be better air flow into the filter & motor w/o this odd piece stuck in it's throat. Thinking about pulling it out to see if anything changes. Anyone been there already?

 

Truck owners have removed them to increase air flow, not sure if it did, but created a howl like the one heard from a 4 barrel carbed engine with the air cleaner lid flipped upside down. I can only guess the noise is created by the increased air flow, I don't see any other explanation, how can it not interrupt the air coming in with an obstruction.

 

it is called a silencer
take it out and you will under stand
like maples said sounds like a 4 bbl.

 

Yes, induction noise reduction was what I suspected. However I pulled the 'silencer' out & did not notice any change in sound yet. Increased noise aside, does anyone have a feel for the possibility of improved performance? I could live w/a bit of extra noise if there was any improvement in power and/or fuel economy.

 

Many say they can tell a difference, but I'm not sure that it's not in their head, they are most likely excited by the sound.

 

you only get the added sound at WOT