Pre-heater setup: should it stay or should it go?

[MattL]

My recently-acquired '76 has the pre-heater snorkel thingamajig. Today I picked up a used Weber 38/38 to clean up and hopefully install to replace the existing 32/36, along with the required manifold modifications. I'm wondering if it would make sense to uninstall the pre-heater at the same time. I don't have plans to drive the car in weather cold enough to warrant it: quite the opposite. Plus, nothing beats the sound of a carb with nothing but an air filter atop it. Thoughts? Advice?

[Chris_B]

I suggest nuking the pre-heater, but keeping the hose and air cleaner assembly. What's not to like about a factory CAI? Except the sound, I guess. ×

[roadhog0]

It's called a summer-winter box (the piece connecting to the snorkel). In my opinion, keep it. I'm no purist, but if it is in the summer position (latched) it will pull cold air from outside the engine bay instead of the 150+ degree engine bay air. Cooler air means denser air which means more performance!

[TobyB]

It all depends on where you live...

 

...the relative humidity plays a large factor in whether you need it or not.

Carbs can ice at 50f with enough water in the air.

 

t

 

[MattL]

Thanks for the feedback. I had thought about the CAI aspect of the snorkel, but figured the added restrictiveness vs an un-housed filter might make it a wash. Of course, that’s informed by gut only: no calculations. I hadn’t known about the possibility of icing up to 50 degrees. I live in NJ: pretty damn humid.