Boreas, you can't compare the GXP to a Cadillac. The GXP already has a better exhaust than the caddy right out of the box. So you can toss that comparison out the window.

ANYthing that flows will benefit from a straighter path. I don't car how well designed an intake is, if you can smooth the walls and take out the turns, it will benefit you at LEAST with regards to throttle response off the line, which is a good place to improve the Northstar'* performance.

These are physical LAWS of flow dynamics. Not pure conjecture. It may not get you much, but that'* not the question here, is it? The topic author is obviously interested, so instead of beating him down, lets take the most objective view of the situation possible.

This is the biggest area of concern here IMO

what could be used instead of what is there.

Remember it needs to flex..

And wouldn't moving the MAF further away from the TB be a better option?

A very short piece of INTENSE tubing would do you good there. Vince, if you're willing to try it, I MIGHT have a piece long enough. But I'd rather see a full-blown FWI installed first. And Scott Cook is the guy to answer that.

I'll close this with another analogy.

Plumb in a sprinkler system in you front yard. One design has 4 turns in it. The other design has only 2. Which will flow better? If you don't have the answer to that, ask an Engineer or someone at Lowe'* or Home Depot. They know.

Thanx everyone for their insight! as I know little about engines and air flow and all that stuff thats why I posed the question. I have emailed Scott at intense to see what his feelings are on the fwi for a gxp being that he owned one but he is out of the office until Tuesday on vaction. My thinking is that it might not be an option because they don't offer offer one, but that may be because there isn't enough demand for them to make. With as little as I know about airflow I think I'm gonna agree with Will here in that more smoother air has to be better right? otherwise why would anyone get a cai or a fwi it seems as though it would have to help. Now I may be wrong but I think its worth at least looking into, now I'm probably not the best person to do test on this as I mentioned I'm not that savvy at this stuff, but if Scott says it may be possible I would be interested in exploring the possibilities.

My sheet metal guy is going to work on making a enclosure tomorrow. I'll do some digging at the shop for some tubing also.

My thoughts are to fab up a sealed box to sit a filter in..

Somewhere in that huge hole lol

Mr Wren, I have not beat anybody down. I was respectfully providing helpful information because this is not the first time that the path for improving the intake on the Northstar has been taken. There is really nothing else that can be done, and what can be done will ether be of little/no benefit or screw up the MAF readings, most often the latter and thus resulting in LOWER performance. I want my Northstar to go fast too, and if improving the intake did that, id be all over it like Oprah at a buffet. So far Venom has provided first-hand experience that modifying the intake is of no benefit. There'* even more first hand experience if you peruse through various Cadillac forums.

The GXP and Cadillac engines are the same, so are the internals and exhaust. If no then why are the torque/HP numbers the same between the two?

Again, I am not beating anybody down or being disrespectful in my advice, im merely trying to provide my own input based on what has already been done before.

correct me if Im wrong but doesn't the caddy have 300 hp or so and Im not sure of the torque and the gxp has 275 hp and 300 tq? that makes it at least a little different even though I'm pretty sure the only difference in the engines is the intake manifold or something like that lol. I just wanna go fast cuz if you ain't first you're last. also if changing the the airbox will mess up maf readings then why do they offer after market maf. and if thats the case then if adding the new maf with a fwi could this possible solve that problem? im just speculating now but who knows

That'* exactly what I was pointing out above. The combination of the FWI and the aftermarket MAF may be the magic you're after.

Very interested and I have actually done a little bit of looking around in my car also before this thread popped up. I saw the same thing going on with the the tubing not aligning maybe creating a little hickup. With little background on performance in any respect I do agree that a straighter more direct path in which is cooler would be a better choice, now you dont have to be a rocket sciencist to get that, its common sense.

Anyways there has to be things we can do to make our cars quicker.
I am getting sick and tired of people saying we can't do it, ect. Plus when people come to me (happened this weekend) and start asking about the GXP because he owns a 98 SE and I tell him he can drive it, then comes back and says he expected more, that kinda gets to me (I have to admit I also expected more) There has to be some way to get that car back up to where it belongs without using Nitrous (no offense John... )

Well lets be realistic here A CAI and a upgraded MAF are not going to make out cars faster. Maybe a little but not in great strides. Will WHere do you stand on moving the MAF closer to the source or cold air?