Factory Airbox Mod
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: 08-02-08
Location: Alabama
Posts: 3,882
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
going to do this monday..........I am running a open cone setup right now, but its probably not the best of ideas, with all the trouble intakes are giving people, i'm going back stock, I can't find the two push pins to put the snorkel back on right(only found one of them, lol), so looks like Matt's air box mod it is, lol
I also won't have to remove the wheel/fenderwell this time, since the hardware for the snorkel has already been removed, I can just take out the passenger headlight and have all the access I need, much easier than jacking the car up and taking the wheel off, etc...
I also won't have to remove the wheel/fenderwell this time, since the hardware for the snorkel has already been removed, I can just take out the passenger headlight and have all the access I need, much easier than jacking the car up and taking the wheel off, etc...
#28
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: 08-02-08
Location: Alabama
Posts: 3,882
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
well I went ahead and got it out of the way today, haven't taken it for a drive yet, though I will take it easy until the ECM relearns everything
but yeah, the write up makes it simple and taking off the headlight and removing that black bracket underneath the headlight is the way to go for intake work, MUCH easier than removing the wheel/fenderwell... but with that being said, the snorkel was already off the car, so I don't know how hard it would be to remove using this route, may not even be able to, when I removed it, I took off the wheel and the fenderwell
also, I didn't cut the bracket off flush, I did a little bit of trimming until it was close enough without causing a hole, I was able to turn it so that even with part of the bracket on the tubing, it still fit in the small hole leading to the fenderwell, with the way the spacing work, right where that hole is was where the bracket was on the tubing, so it had to be turned just right(with the bracket on the left side toward the passenger fenderwell)... I also had to turn the hose clamps just right to where I could get a nut driver on them through the bracket
Also had to cut one of my couplings to be able to fit the air box in right so that it would connect to the snorkel but all in all, it was easy enough... took me about 45 minutes, and most of that was spent trimming the bracket, test fitting, cutting the coupling, etc.... now I could do one in about 15 minutes
I also need to invest in using silicone couplings, it was a bitch using those big ass 3" couplings from Lowes, lol
but yeah, the write up makes it simple and taking off the headlight and removing that black bracket underneath the headlight is the way to go for intake work, MUCH easier than removing the wheel/fenderwell... but with that being said, the snorkel was already off the car, so I don't know how hard it would be to remove using this route, may not even be able to, when I removed it, I took off the wheel and the fenderwell
also, I didn't cut the bracket off flush, I did a little bit of trimming until it was close enough without causing a hole, I was able to turn it so that even with part of the bracket on the tubing, it still fit in the small hole leading to the fenderwell, with the way the spacing work, right where that hole is was where the bracket was on the tubing, so it had to be turned just right(with the bracket on the left side toward the passenger fenderwell)... I also had to turn the hose clamps just right to where I could get a nut driver on them through the bracket
Also had to cut one of my couplings to be able to fit the air box in right so that it would connect to the snorkel but all in all, it was easy enough... took me about 45 minutes, and most of that was spent trimming the bracket, test fitting, cutting the coupling, etc.... now I could do one in about 15 minutes
I also need to invest in using silicone couplings, it was a bitch using those big ass 3" couplings from Lowes, lol
Last edited by 08inBama; 04-25-2009 at 03:46 PM.
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: 05-30-08
Location: San Clemente, Ca
Posts: 819
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
you can still short ram it and cut off the snorkel and leave just enough on the box to attach the bevel tip to the box with a connector if you wish. this is a great cheap mod overall
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: 08-02-08
Location: Alabama
Posts: 3,882
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
well I finally took it out tonight and well, my great sounding spooling turbo is now gone once again, but if its for the better of the car, I can live with it... the "blowing off" sound is also noticeably quieter and I don't remember how it sounded stock with the drop in K&N so I can't compare "before" and after with this mod.... because I've gotten used to the sound of the open cone/fenderwell setup
But with that being said, after about 30 minutes of driving it.........I actually prefer it like this, see before you could hear the turbo spooling pretty loud and of course the BOV was borderline annoying(I don't really get into that loud BOV ****) and now its a little more discrete, which I think I actually like more
But with that being said, after about 30 minutes of driving it.........I actually prefer it like this, see before you could hear the turbo spooling pretty loud and of course the BOV was borderline annoying(I don't really get into that loud BOV ****) and now its a little more discrete, which I think I actually like more
#32
well I went ahead and got it out of the way today, haven't taken it for a drive yet, though I will take it easy until the ECM relearns everything
but yeah, the write up makes it simple and taking off the headlight and removing that black bracket underneath the headlight is the way to go for intake work, MUCH easier than removing the wheel/fenderwell... but with that being said, the snorkel was already off the car, so I don't know how hard it would be to remove using this route, may not even be able to, when I removed it, I took off the wheel and the fenderwell
also, I didn't cut the bracket off flush, I did a little bit of trimming until it was close enough without causing a hole, I was able to turn it so that even with part of the bracket on the tubing, it still fit in the small hole leading to the fenderwell, with the way the spacing work, right where that hole is was where the bracket was on the tubing, so it had to be turned just right(with the bracket on the left side toward the passenger fenderwell)... I also had to turn the hose clamps just right to where I could get a nut driver on them through the bracket
Also had to cut one of my couplings to be able to fit the air box in right so that it would connect to the snorkel but all in all, it was easy enough... took me about 45 minutes, and most of that was spent trimming the bracket, test fitting, cutting the coupling, etc.... now I could do one in about 15 minutes
I also need to invest in using silicone couplings, it was a bitch using those big ass 3" couplings from Lowes, lol
but yeah, the write up makes it simple and taking off the headlight and removing that black bracket underneath the headlight is the way to go for intake work, MUCH easier than removing the wheel/fenderwell... but with that being said, the snorkel was already off the car, so I don't know how hard it would be to remove using this route, may not even be able to, when I removed it, I took off the wheel and the fenderwell
also, I didn't cut the bracket off flush, I did a little bit of trimming until it was close enough without causing a hole, I was able to turn it so that even with part of the bracket on the tubing, it still fit in the small hole leading to the fenderwell, with the way the spacing work, right where that hole is was where the bracket was on the tubing, so it had to be turned just right(with the bracket on the left side toward the passenger fenderwell)... I also had to turn the hose clamps just right to where I could get a nut driver on them through the bracket
Also had to cut one of my couplings to be able to fit the air box in right so that it would connect to the snorkel but all in all, it was easy enough... took me about 45 minutes, and most of that was spent trimming the bracket, test fitting, cutting the coupling, etc.... now I could do one in about 15 minutes
I also need to invest in using silicone couplings, it was a bitch using those big ass 3" couplings from Lowes, lol
So how about the performance? I never had an aftermarket intake to compare it to. Does it seem pretty similar as far as the breathing/power aspect?
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: 08-02-08
Location: Alabama
Posts: 3,882
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
from what I can tell, I haven't noticed much of a difference, one thing I like with this setup is with the CAI the car sounded HORRIBLE at start up, it'd clear up after idling and all CAIs do that on these cars because of the direct injection... But it sounds MUCH better at startup now, I haven't went WOT with this setup yet, but I don't see there being much of a difference, especially with me being on the stock tune, in fact, it'll probably perform BETTER
#35
from what I can tell, I haven't noticed much of a difference, one thing I like with this setup is with the CAI the car sounded HORRIBLE at start up, it'd clear up after idling and all CAIs do that on these cars because of the direct injection... But it sounds MUCH better at startup now, I haven't went WOT with this setup yet, but I don't see there being much of a difference, especially with me being on the stock tune, in fact, it'll probably perform BETTER
#37
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: 03-22-09
Location: Illinois
Posts: 740
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Side note: Regarding the "flex-section" of intake tubing near turbo-would eliminating that with a "smooth" coupler aid airflow at all? I was thinking it may cause turbulence/pressure drop (or something in that vein). Yes/no,anybody?
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: 08-02-08
Location: Alabama
Posts: 3,882
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
it was a Spectre kit with a MAF adapter and an open cone, had the tubing ran to the fenderwell so it was a true fenderwell setup....used the stock turbo elbow with the stock vaccum line plug(so that wasn't an issue with it like "other" CAIs" are having right now)
it wasn't a vendors kit but it NEVER threw any codes and the car pulled just as hard as it does now, so I don't know of any "ill" effects... but with all the trouble vendors are having with CAIs, I decided to pull it off, was planning on going back stock, saw this and thought, what the hell, i'll try that
right now, until more research is done, i wouldn't recommend a CAI for anyone, direct injection is a whole different animal when it comes to modding, a lot will change in the next year as far as routes people are going modding, mistakes will be made, lessons will be learned
I have a feeling reading up more than one of these bad ass "tunes" are running pig rich, it'll be interesting to see how those come to be in the next few months when plugs start getting burned, etc...
to the guys out there busting their ass developing parts for us and doing research, I tip my hat.... you don't build Rome overnight and every car/platform goes through this
#39
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
Yes, we made a nice gain replacing the stock ducting between the airbox and turbo with an AEM silicone tube.
#40
Senior Member
it was a Spectre kit with a MAF adapter and an open cone, had the tubing ran to the fenderwell so it was a true fenderwell setup....used the stock turbo elbow with the stock vaccum line plug(so that wasn't an issue with it like "other" CAIs" are having right now)
it wasn't a vendors kit but it NEVER threw any codes and the car pulled just as hard as it does now, so I don't know of any "ill" effects... but with all the trouble vendors are having with CAIs, I decided to pull it off, was planning on going back stock, saw this and thought, what the hell, i'll try that
right now, until more research is done, i wouldn't recommend a CAI for anyone, direct injection is a whole different animal when it comes to modding, a lot will change in the next year as far as routes people are going modding, mistakes will be made, lessons will be learned
I have a feeling reading up more than one of these bad ass "tunes" are running pig rich, it'll be interesting to see how those come to be in the next few months when plugs start getting burned, etc...
to the guys out there busting their ass developing parts for us and doing research, I tip my hat.... you don't build Rome overnight and every car/platform goes through this
it wasn't a vendors kit but it NEVER threw any codes and the car pulled just as hard as it does now, so I don't know of any "ill" effects... but with all the trouble vendors are having with CAIs, I decided to pull it off, was planning on going back stock, saw this and thought, what the hell, i'll try that
right now, until more research is done, i wouldn't recommend a CAI for anyone, direct injection is a whole different animal when it comes to modding, a lot will change in the next year as far as routes people are going modding, mistakes will be made, lessons will be learned
I have a feeling reading up more than one of these bad ass "tunes" are running pig rich, it'll be interesting to see how those come to be in the next few months when plugs start getting burned, etc...
to the guys out there busting their ass developing parts for us and doing research, I tip my hat.... you don't build Rome overnight and every car/platform goes through this
#43
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
#45
Senior Member
#47
I'd recommend removing a few pins on that black cover next to the headlight.
The intake snorkel has a bolt or a pin (I don't remember) straight down from the headlight. Then there is a plastic pin way back in there by the engine. It's hard to see and somewhat hard to get to. I used one of those tools for popping off interior trim pins.
#49
I do enjoy that this was practically free, easy to do, effective, and still looks stock.
It'd be interesting to get more opinions on it though, especially in comparison to a short ram.
#50
Senior Member
Join Date: 11-16-08
Location: Viera, Fl
Posts: 645
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I really doubt it. MAYBE in very hot weather because this is pulling in colder air. Probably not too much difference.
I do enjoy that this was practically free, easy to do, effective, and still looks stock.
It'd be interesting to get more opinions on it though, especially in comparison to a short ram.
I do enjoy that this was practically free, easy to do, effective, and still looks stock.
It'd be interesting to get more opinions on it though, especially in comparison to a short ram.