100% on the cooler air.
After I plugged all the above wires back in I went on a parts run. Nothing like a deadline to get stuff out back together.

This is an early VN commodore Buick V6. They still have the thermostat on the back of the engine and bodged together steam pipe modified fwd to rwd exhaust manifolds.

This one was pulled to go in an ldv van. But having pulled the engine with a fork hoist the guy forgot about the bump going into the shed....




Yup it fell right off the forks. It was promptly dumped at the back of the shed, and a whole Vs commodore bought for $200.

Smashed a rocker cover, the belt tensioner and the tail housing on the trans. That could all be replaced fairly easily but I don't want any of that.
I'm just after the steel sump so I can put one back on my current engine when I swap the modified one onto the the ecotec.
This also has a steel flexplate cover which I may keep as the ecotec has a thin plastic one.
There's also the engine loom and body loom from a layer car and ECU which can go in my spares incase I need to extend some wires.
Should be able to pass on the engine and box to someone, or part it out