Specter air intake tubes and components make it easy to change the LS engine's air intake (2023)

Matt McKahan of St. Louis, Mo., is an FAA licensed pilot and aircraft mechanic working on a complete restoration of a 1982 Buick Regal G-Body with a GM 6.0L LS engine swap.

Since 1983, Specter Performance has been developing and supplying unique and innovative parts and components to fuel car and truck enthusiasts' obsession with their vehicles. One such innovative product category offered by Specter Performance is the Specter line of cold air intake systems for classic muscle cars with Chevrolet LS engine swaps. It can be difficult to find any type of air intake system, let alone a cold air intake, that will work with a modern Chevy LS engine transplanted into a classic Chevy. For this reason, Specter has developed cold air intake systems specifically for many classic Chevrolet models with an LS engine swap.

When Matt McKahan picked up his second-generation Buick Regal, it looked more like something a grandmother would drive to church than the car Richard Petty drove to victory in the 1981 Daytona 500.

Preconfigured Specter Performance LS cold air intake systems are available for first and second generation Chevrolet Camaros, '64-'72 Chevelle models and '63-'66 Chevrolet Biscayne, Caprice and Impala. These air intake systems come in a few different configurations, depending on the vehicle, engine, and mass airflow sensor configuration being used. In addition, each air intake has a heat shield designed specifically for each vehicle's engine compartment and air filter placement, allowing for factory-like fit and function.

One of the major changes on Matt's Project Hot Rod Regal to-do list was getting the tired 3.8 liter V6 and a 6.0 liter GM LKQ iron block LS engine from a GM truck to install from 2001

While the Specter Performance may have specific cold air intakes for some of the more popular GM vehicles with LS engine swaps, owners of other GM vehicles shouldn't feel left out. Specter Performance offers a variety ofLSx inputs for LS motor swapthat use a plenum to direct the air intake system up and over the engine, which draws air near the hood and firewall into the engine compartment. This is an excellent cold air intake choice for GM cars and trucks equipped with soft tops, louvered soft tops or soft tops. Car owners who need something even more individual can browse the huge range of Specter PerformanceUniversal air intake componentsand build something truly unique to your project with minimal effort.

While Matt is an aircraft mechanic, Specter Performance's large number of universal air intake parts makes it easy to build a custom cold air intake system for modern LS engine swaps.

See Matt McKahan of St. Louis, Missouri, for example. Matt began a complete restoration and build on a 1982 Buick Regal G-Body in early 2012. When Matt picked up his second-generation Buick Regal, it looked more like something a grandmother would take to church, like the car Richard Petty carried to victory. in the 1981 Daytona 500. Although the car was in very good condition for its age, Matt had big plans for the old G-Body and saw the car's transformation thus far outlined in his Hot Rod Regal Project blog. One of the major changes on his to-do list was taking that 3.8-liter V6 and putting in a 6.0-liter GM LKQ iron-block LS engine from a 2001 GM truck. An aircraft mechanic by day, the large number of universal air intake parts available from Specter Performance makes it easy to build a custom cold air intake system for modern LS engine swaps.

Matt relocated the Buick's battery, and as a result, the battery compartment was dead, providing an ideal place to direct its Specter Performance cold air intake into the Regal's inner fender.

When planning the cold air intake system for his replaced 1982 Buick Regal LS, Matt had some very specific considerations that needed to be addressed. Matt knew he wanted to place the air filter outside the engine compartment to get an air source that was closer to ambient temperature. He could have made a 90-degree turn down and placed the filter close to the ground at the front of the car, but since Matt plans to actually drive his Regal, that wouldn't be the most protected spot. Matt had already relocated the Buick's battery, and as such, the original battery compartment was empty and provided an excellent place to direct its Specter Performance cold air intake into the Buick Regal's inner fender, which, luckily, over a front. the factory has splash guards.

The clearances between the radiator and throttle body on the LKQ engine were tight, but Matt took measurements before cutting one of the hoses and mocked his G-body cold air intake.

Matt cut out the battery compartment to allow a 4-inch OD intake tube to run through his cold air intake system. Using 1/8" aluminum plate, Matt created an end plate that also acts as a heat shield and mounting point for the Buick Regal LS engine's cold air intake system. The next step was to trim its intake ducts of Specter Performance air and route them over the engine bay and through the Regal's inner fender. Clearances between the aftermarket aluminum radiator and throttle body on the GM LKQ 6.0L engine were pretty tight. Matt He did all his measurements, and before he cut any hoses, he vaguely mocked his Buick Regal cold air intake system. After Matt was satisfied with his measurements, spacing, and tube placement, he made the final cuts to the tubes. Spectre's air intake.

With a little planning, basic manufacturing knowledge, and Specter Performance parts, Matt used the unused space under the hood for his 1982 Buick Regal LS engine to swap out the cold air intake.

After some cutting, welding and simple fabrication Matt was ready to assemble his Specter Performance Buick Regal G-BodyKaltluftansaugsystem. Matt has detailed the entire process on his blog and the end result is an impressive cold air intake system that looks as good as it works. As Matt stated, "Specter Performance cold air intake parts allow you to create a performance-based, aesthetically superior custom cold air intake!" With a little planning, some basic manufacturing knowledge, and the parts he used from Specter Performance, Matt was able to make the before Utilize the unused space under the tight hood of his 1982 Buick Regal with an LS engine swap. The Hot Rod Regal Project is still a work in progress, but with the time and attention to detail in this build, it wouldn't be surprising to see it at an upcoming Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas, Nevada. .

Matt has detailed the entire process on his Hot Rod Regal blog and the end result is a stunning Specter Performance LS replacement cold air intake that looks as good as it works.

In addition to the raw materials Matt purchased, he used the following Specter Performance Universal Air Intake System components to build the cold air intake system for his 1982 Buick Regal G-Body with an LS engine swap:

97711- EPDM coupling as 4" ID
9704- 4" Worm Wheel Clamps
97991- 4" OD 90 degree tube with 16" bolt
9707- 4" stainless steel collar clamp
97990- 4" OD 90 degree tube with 6" bolt
9775- 4" flexible coupler
91489- 4" aluminum channel mounting plate
9799- 4" OD 90 degree tube with 4" bolt
HPR9617K- 4" ID Flange Air Filter - 6.75" tall, black

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