How Ram Air Put the Muscle in Muscle Cars

"Money Hustard" (moneyhustard)
10/03/2014 at 19:31 • Filed to: Ram Air, Classic Cars, Muscle Cars

Ram air is bad ass. You know it is. It's so bad ass, many models (like the Super Bee below) have been made with fake ram air scoops. Why? Because ram air is bad ass, we've been over this, keep up.

If you're a ram air enthusiast !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! detailing its use in muscle cars from the 50's, 60's and 70's. It's part of 4 part series Heacock is releasing this weekend on what "put the muscle in muscle cars."

It's going to be article after 2000+ word article on the stuff that made muscle cars go fast. Decided to publish the ram air article first because let's face it, nothing is more muscle car than ram air. I've posted some of the numerous photos form this article below, but I recommend giving it a look, you might even learn a thing or two, I know I did.

Making more power 40 years ago also wasn't rocket science like it is now; engineers then simply added more cubes, more compression, more cam, and more carburetor. There wasn't much else to it, though a few other notable tricks did come into play to help lasso every possible pony. You see, an internal combustion engines is more or less an air pump: it draws atmosphere in, injects it with fuel, ignites it, and blows it out. The easier you can make this pump work – that is breathe in, breathe out – the higher your power potential.

You mustn't forget about cowl induction, because that too is negative behind (that's what bad ass is in cowl-terms)

This what I like about Collector Car Magazine, they never forget to include an American Motors cars in there.

Give it a look-see below:

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How about it, what's everybody's favorite ram air setup?

DISCUSSION (29)

Kanaric > Money Hustard
10/03/2014 at 19:39

Kinja'd!!!

Money Hustard > Kanaric
10/03/2014 at 20:00

It's functional, at least.

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > Money Hustard
10/03/2014 at 20:02

When I think of the 'muscle' in muscle cars, I think of one thing...

Placement.

DISplacement to be precise...

Kinja'd!!!

Money Hustard > Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
10/03/2014 at 20:06

THE MAX WEDGE! I'm guessing that's a '64?

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > Money Hustard
10/03/2014 at 20:16

I believe so. :)

Kinja'd!!!

humblehare > Money Hustard
10/03/2014 at 20:17

^yup - mmmmmmmm sexy headers on that bad boy

DoYouEvenShift > Money Hustard
10/03/2014 at 20:21

Kinja'd!!!

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Money Hustard
10/03/2014 at 20:23

Ooooohh LAWDY. That Mustang has tickled my pickle

PS9 > Money Hustard
10/03/2014 at 20:35

Kinja'd!!!

It USED to be badass, but...there's no getting around how lame 90s era ram air was. I mean...look at this shit...two scoops are needed for that puny V6 that made less horsepower than a K20? AND YOU DON'T EVEN CUT THE HOLES OUT SO THEY DON'T EVEN WORK??? Man...riced from the factory...

Money Hustard > PS9
10/03/2014 at 21:01

Kinja'd!!!

If this isn't bad ass, I don't know what is, though.

Money Hustard > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
10/03/2014 at 21:02

Right tho??? Ram air rarely looks that damn clean on a car.

Money Hustard > Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
10/03/2014 at 21:03

There's so much stupid-awesome in that car, it's ridiculous.

PS9 > Money Hustard
10/03/2014 at 21:03

Those were absolutely terrible cars.

Can't wait to get my hands on one.

Money Hustard > DoYouEvenShift
10/03/2014 at 21:04

Yeah, I can't stand I never owned one of these. One day, I swear...

Money Hustard > PS9
10/03/2014 at 21:07

That is EXACTLY how I feel about them.

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > humblehare
10/03/2014 at 21:17

i think they had to be that way to clear the wheel wells haha

"Yeah she's a bit wide, but so what you wanna fight about it?!"

Jedidiah > Money Hustard
10/03/2014 at 23:13

Kinja'd!!!

Critics complained about the 442 having restrained styling compared to it's GM stablemates.

So in 1970, they decided to give customers the option to put massive hood scoops on it.

This is the best.

Kanaric > Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
10/04/2014 at 00:44

What an amazing looking engine.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Money Hustard
10/04/2014 at 01:09

Fords Shaker. This one happens to reside on a brown wagon based on the 70-71 Torino.

Much want.

Factory rally steelies, shaker, hide aways AND wood grain on brown? Yes please.

Kinja'd!!!

Money Hustard > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts
10/04/2014 at 01:16

Kinja'd!!!

12 wants and a bag of desire.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Money Hustard
10/04/2014 at 01:37

I am much agreeing. I'd trade the GT convertible for that brown goodness. Also, if it doesn't have a big block already, it needs one. And a Toploader.