Absolutely

Although with the Series 1 cars, from a tube diameter standpoint, 3" is hard to out-flow for quite awhile.

I probably should have upgraded to a FWI last year instead of this year.

IMO:

#1 FWI
#2 CAI (properly designed)
#3 Gutted airbox and drop-in filter
#4 Stock airbox with drop in filter
#5 Improperly designed CAI which actually turns into a HAI.

I do fell that #1 is dependent on mods for the 92/93 SSEi'* and the L27'* though. For those, a good CAI or PORTED airbox may suffice for quite some time.

On top of cool air and laminar flow, velocity is important too correct? I would have to think a FWI would be much better in this regard.

Not if you aren't flowing enough to develop velocity. Stock L36'*, L27'* and most S1 L67'* may not improve anything with a 3.5" FWI for that reason.

When do you think a L36 is outflowing a 3" CAI. For instance at my mod level would i see a difference at the track between my intake now and a 3.5" FWI?

I don't really know what that magic level is. But the NA'* are more critical for laminar flow and velocity than the L67'*. Back in the day, ADTR found that the results were better if the intake pipe wasn't TOO big. None of us were flowing as much back then, and Hector found the 3" pipe to be ideal for mildly modded L36'*. Keep in mind very few had cams or rockers back then.

yea, i may just leave it the way it is until i get the HV3 and finish my exhaust. Then test both at the track.

INTENSE or ZZP may be better suited to ask that question. In basic terms, you don't want that 'swirling milling around' effect in your intake. You want to develop the velocity of the charge as soon as possible.

I think I seriously short-changed myself in July at the track with my old 3" ADTR. My Gen3 throttle plate is 3.25", and I was flowing (or trying to) like a madman with a 2" pulley. It didn't occur to me until later that I was choking it off. In your case, the L36 throttle plate is only 2.5" in diameter. That'* your most restricted point. So you want an intake a little larger than that because of the length.

My Gen3 throttle plate is actually 2.8" in diameter, but I'm pulling air through there like crazy. The odd thing I discovered back in June is that the 94/95 L67 throttle plate is actually slightly larger than the S2 L67 throttle plate. The small end is the L27 and 92/93 L67 with a throttle plate of 2.27"

Here'* some more info on the various dimensions:
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...ic.php?t=55971

The bottom line on a FWI or CAI is that it'* not necessarily 'bigger is better'. You want at least enough flow to satisfy the engine'* demand for air, you want it clean and cool, but you also want velocity. Particularly in an L27 or L36.

Provided you could afford it, you could find out which diameter is better by testing both with a scan tool.
You could log the maf values and rpm at WOT, plot them, and see which has a more useable area.
$$ is the problem though...

Do it at a meet where there'* a 3" CAI and a 3.5" FWI to play with.