Built a new cold air box, observations (and pics!)
04-06-06, 06:37 PM
#1
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Built a new cold air box, observations (and pics!)
Before today I had my intake running down into the fenderwall using metal tubing with a cheap-o cone filter at the end. I crafted a piece of sheet metal to cover the filter but had to lose my brake duct (which was jacked up anyways.)
Since then I've added a strut bar which interfered with the tubing and despite all my best efforts I couldn't get it re-plumbed while keeping the AFM level, which was causing a lumpy idle. I didn't want to splooge on new tubing so I decided to come up with a different solution.
I grabbed some more sheet metal from Home Depot then built the airbox, sealed it with some foil tape and mounted teh AFM to it. Everything is nice and solid and the AFM is now level (but slightly cocked to one side to clear the fender.) I also put in a better filter and a little tube running down in the fender area. It also has foam trim on the top that's not in the pic that seals it against the hood.
My idle is MUCH better and after an hour of thrashing on it I noticed no performance difference between the air box or the fenderwell location. This is probably because the metal tubing used to get pretty heat soaked before and now that I'm using the stock tube it's balancing out better. The box also causes the intake sound to reverberate a bit and sounds more throaty and crisp then before.
Having tried both methods I'd definatly recommend the air box method.
Oh yeah, I detailed my engine a bit too since it's been in storage over the winter.
Since then I've added a strut bar which interfered with the tubing and despite all my best efforts I couldn't get it re-plumbed while keeping the AFM level, which was causing a lumpy idle. I didn't want to splooge on new tubing so I decided to come up with a different solution.
I grabbed some more sheet metal from Home Depot then built the airbox, sealed it with some foil tape and mounted teh AFM to it. Everything is nice and solid and the AFM is now level (but slightly cocked to one side to clear the fender.) I also put in a better filter and a little tube running down in the fender area. It also has foam trim on the top that's not in the pic that seals it against the hood.
My idle is MUCH better and after an hour of thrashing on it I noticed no performance difference between the air box or the fenderwell location. This is probably because the metal tubing used to get pretty heat soaked before and now that I'm using the stock tube it's balancing out better. The box also causes the intake sound to reverberate a bit and sounds more throaty and crisp then before.
Having tried both methods I'd definatly recommend the air box method.
Oh yeah, I detailed my engine a bit too since it's been in storage over the winter.
04-06-06, 07:00 PM
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southern style
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yeah man looks like it will work good. i was expecting to see the stock air box with holes drilled in it to "produce more powah"... LOL, but yeah looks good, get some of that auto door edge moulding you find at parts stores and put that around the top edge of that box to really clean it up and get rid of that sharp edge.
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04-06-06, 08:26 PM
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vRoOm~~Pop-pOp
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hey do u have a template for the box u made. im about to do one too and yeah i wanna make sure its gonna fit nice n stay in place. nice box by the way....and that engine bay is clean lol u inspired me to get some lube and clean up 88 gtu's engine bay too lol i think our cars almost look alike too...red s4 hahah anyways congrats to the nice box and a clean 7
04-06-06, 10:06 PM
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That looks very good. I see you bolted up the sheet metal in the same place I did near the radiator. I also enlarged the hole where the washer fluid bottle was and relocated the bottle to out in front of the radiator. Did you relocate your bottle or trash it?
I also made a lid. Another thing I've seen is to add some flexible rubber stripping (like around a garage door on the sides) to help seal up against the hood.
I also made a lid. Another thing I've seen is to add some flexible rubber stripping (like around a garage door on the sides) to help seal up against the hood.
04-06-06, 10:28 PM
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Cool, glad you guys like it. I didn't have a template so I just took some beer cases and used the cardboard to make a mock-up that I transfered to the sheet metal and cut it out with a tinsnips. I also do have some big chunks of foam weather stripping that go around teh edges to completely seal the box but left them off while I was cleaning a few things up.
I've been meaning to relocate the washer fluid resevoir as well, but haven't finished fabricating it. I basically took the cold start assist bottle and attached the washer fluid pump. I just have to seal it up and run the wires.
I didn't have a template so I just took some beer cases and used the cardboard to make a mock-up that I transfered to the sheet metal and cut it out with a tinsnips. I also do have some big chunks of foam weather stripping that go around teh edges to completely seal the box but left them off while I was cleaning a few things up.I've been meaning to relocate the washer fluid resevoir as well, but haven't finished fabricating it. I basically took the cold start assist bottle and attached the washer fluid pump. I just have to seal it up and run the wires.
04-06-06, 10:43 PM
#13
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
I like your mod. I was thinking of routing it down the fender, but this might change my mind. My only reservation is the room issue. I do like how running it down through the car frees up some space. Then again, I'm using the stock airbox... I guess anything would free up space.
When you say you recommend this over running it all the way down, is that only because of your strut bar, or just in general?
When you say you recommend this over running it all the way down, is that only because of your strut bar, or just in general?
04-06-06, 11:49 PM
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Originally Posted by DerangedHermit
I like your mod. I was thinking of routing it down the fender, but this might change my mind. My only reservation is the room issue. I do like how running it down through the car frees up some space. Then again, I'm using the stock airbox... I guess anything would free up space.
When you say you recommend this over running it all the way down, is that only because of your strut bar, or just in general?
When you say you recommend this over running it all the way down, is that only because of your strut bar, or just in general?
As for the cleaning, I took everything out of the bay except the long block, brake components, clutch stuff and the electrical and scrubbed it down with degreaser. I then painted all the metal lines and brackets that were corroded and used a dremel with a carbon steel brush to clean up the bare metal like the block and accessories.
Cleaning is basically all I did this winter since it was in storage and I could do it in my heated basement once I brought the parts down there.
04-07-06, 03:48 AM
#20
well, looks like i'll have to jump on the band wagon as far as engine cleanup goes, as i'm doing a full color change on my car i'll be forced to remove everything from the bay, might as well restore the finish on everything right? Good work, are you going to duct fresh air from the brake duct?
- Jared
- Jared
04-07-06, 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by staticguitar313
well, looks like i'll have to jump on the band wagon as far as engine cleanup goes, as i'm doing a full color change on my car i'll be forced to remove everything from the bay, might as well restore the finish on everything right? Good work, are you going to duct fresh air from the brake duct?
- Jared
- Jared
I just need to hit uop the u-pull and find another brake duct then I'm going to use the old CAI tubing and run it to the top.
04-07-06, 10:09 AM
#22
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2 days of scrubbing with purple power and mine still isnt that clean. Nice mod by the way, where is the pipe going o that is welded to the bottom right now. I may have missed that somewhere.
04-07-06, 10:11 AM
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Interesting work and very clean engine bay...Thumbs up.
Serious question: What are the benefits of having the air filter blocked off from the rest of the engine bay?
Looks like you used aluminum, while it has a great heat disbursment, it looks thin enough where it will always absorb engine bay heat and transfer it into the boxed off area. Maybe I am looking to far into this!
Serious question: What are the benefits of having the air filter blocked off from the rest of the engine bay?
Looks like you used aluminum, while it has a great heat disbursment, it looks thin enough where it will always absorb engine bay heat and transfer it into the boxed off area. Maybe I am looking to far into this!
04-07-06, 10:18 AM
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The pipe will be used to attach another little pipe that runs to the brake duct.
Having the intake air seperated helps quite a bit. I originally had the filter just sitting in the bay sucking in engine air and the car would beging to bog a bit after 15 minutes of running hard. After seperating it from the bay that cleared up and definatly helps.
The metal does transfer heat still, but it's not nearly as much as it was sucking in before. That box is also sealed so the theory is that the air doesn't dwell too long in there and fresh cold air is being pulled in from the inlet in the bottom.
Having the intake air seperated helps quite a bit. I originally had the filter just sitting in the bay sucking in engine air and the car would beging to bog a bit after 15 minutes of running hard. After seperating it from the bay that cleared up and definatly helps.
The metal does transfer heat still, but it's not nearly as much as it was sucking in before. That box is also sealed so the theory is that the air doesn't dwell too long in there and fresh cold air is being pulled in from the inlet in the bottom.