Trouble is, you may be able to reflect some of the excess engine heat away from the bottom plate, but, that still doesn't change the fact that you are drawing air from an amazingly hot engine compartment.

 

i have the spectre kit and would recommend it... performance and aesthetics both get 5 stars. having driven a ram same year and model as mine w/ the K&N...i see no difference except cost.

 

Your still drawing in hot engine bay air with a Cold Air Intake, those little flimsy heat shields do all of nothing. The only CAI that is a true CAI, is the sealed Volant with the adapter tube, Stock Air Box that draws cool air in from the fender well, or the best, which I plan on getting, the Ram Air Box with twin 4 inch ducts running from the front of the truck to the intake.

http://www.rm-indy.com/images/P6230034.jpg

http://www.rm-indy.com/images/Indy_front_close_up.JPG

Reduced Indy's 1/4 mile E/T's by .55 seconds. That is noticeable by a long shot.

 

I was just about to say the volant was the only one that was closed, therefore creating a true cold air intake. It's not open to the engine bay.

 

its because its metal on metal the intake is cooler because it not sitting on the throttle body and is away from the motor, i can feel the low end from it compaired too the 14x3

i did like how the 14x3 was louder maybe if i get a cowl induction i would go cack to the 14x3

 

the spectre box assy. is located at the stock fender well and draws most of it's air from there. i know it's not 100% true cold air intake...but there is a considerable difference in air temp. from just using my hand. but now i feel i should get an IR thermometer and post the readings...lol.
this was not just a placebo effect in performance...

also...i noticed w/ the stock box how hot the whole plastic assy.got at op. temps., i really believe that it was heating the air as it went into the intake. the spectre assy. on the other hand stays just warm to the touch.

 

I would still recommend the Ram Air Box to anyone. It is less than a "Cold Air Intake kit" and it will provide real cold fresh air, and at 80mph, it is practically a mini super charger. It will also yield better fuel economy.

There is no guess work with the Ram Air Box, it has been proven. You get the best of both worlds, you get the high volume of air that a 14x3 provides, and forced cool fresh air. However, if you 4x4 a lot and offroad, throw this all out the window.

 

That's where the cowl induction would come in handy. Use the cool 'hat' design, and plum it so it seals against the hood, so, you get high pressure air from the base of the windshield while cruising, but, are a LOT less likely to suck in something undesirable from lower down, or, from the fender.

 

use a hood like this one

 

a free way to get more air flow is to do the poor mans throttle body mod! then put a spectre on and you will be golden!