Shortest True Cold Air Intake

[fergulus]

I don't have access to my car (in a different country), which means that I do not have the ability to sit there and fabricate my dream. I have seen the several tech articles on making cold air intakes for the 2g. I am not really pleased with any of the setups; they usually add length to the intake pipe.

My vision is quite literally a straight 3in pipe from my turbo inlet through that partition about a foot over and into the front bumper where the SMIC used to be. I would of course grab a larger air filter to compensate for the loss in airflow, due to the water resistant cover that I would put on (K&N and major filter companies sell them).

My question to the fellow 2g owners is how I could ensure the pipe will not jar loose. I also cannot remember if that partition is metal or plastic. If metal, then it would be a simple fact of cutting a larger hole and lining with some cut rubber hose. If its plastic though, how would you propose securing that pipe? Wire hangers? A custom bracket?

Please give me your thoughts on the subject, and if someone is motivated enough, take a few pictures of that partition and the surrounding areas.

Edit: I am running GM MAF, so no need to mess with anything but piping and an air filter.

 

[knochgoon24]

Are you planing on running SD, MAFT, or MAS?

 

[fergulus]

My bad, I completely forgot to mention I am not running the stock MAS. I updated the 1st post.

 

[awdrst]

If you want it to look professional don't use wire hangers. I would just weld on a nice bracket with a rubber insulator between the chassis and the bracket. I'm sure there is a factory bolt hole you can even use so you don't have to drill a new one. Aluminum flat stock is cheap so that's what I would make my bracket out of.

 

[JMiller]

I had the exact same idea, i was thinking of making a bracket that utilizes the SMIC bracket holes to hold it in place and also put some type of ramp/scoop from the inner part of the bumper up to the filter to direct the air to the filter and also help with water splashing up from underneath.

 

[ILLiCliPSE]

If you look in my gallery theres an engine bay pic of how I did mine...IDK if you can see it too well. Just a 4inch 90* coming off the mass, going down right where the stock smic would be. No bracket or anything needed.

 

[JMiller]

Your intake looks great, but i think a straight 4in or 3in pipe going straight into the SMIC area would look very good and be different. Also i don't think making a bracket for it will be hard at all. P.S The way I'm talking about doing the intake is for blowthrough set ups only.

 

[fergulus]

Yes, I am going to be attempting to have a straight pipe going into the SMIC area. I don't have a MAS anymore, and I am trying NOT To have that 90* bend. I don't think it adds to the look of the engine, plus wouldnt it hurt your spool up?

I am mainly trying to see what parts are underneath that area, to see what all has to be relocated. Could someone post up a few pictures of the SMIC area (without the SMIC of course). That would be really helpful.

 

[97gst_spyder]

As long as the 90* bend is 4in or so in diameter, you should be fine. Anything is better than the stock air box and snorkel.

When I installed a 3in K&N filter to my stock maf, it was a night and day difference in spoolup.

 

[JMiller]

Once you remove the SMIC there is nothing in that area, but depending on how you route your intercooler piping you might have an issue.

 

[nek]

Once you remove the SMIC there is nothing in that area, but depending on how you route your intercooler piping you might have an issue.

Agreed. Only things that need considered are coolant reservoir and fmic pipes. Short route would almost definitely hit but a longer route may work. If one was to do a slight, less dramatice angle to raise the intake piping a small amount it might clear the short route as well. I really cant see it being to hard to a determined individual.

 

[fergulus]

I have long route piping, and the coolant overflow isn't going to be in the way.

When I get back from Iraq I will be taking a 3.5" hole saw to that sidewall. Can anyone confirm whether it is metal or plastic for me?

 

[JMiller]

The plastic part can be removed but you still might have to cut a half circle in the bottom of the metal part due to the location of the turbo inlet and diameter of the pipe. When it stops raining I'll try to get a pic for you.

 

[fergulus]

Outstanding, thanks!

 

[aero_sallee]

Keep in mind the stock MAS doesn't like water. Its not as bad as the hotwire style sensors, but it still doesn't like water. I had mine in that location and water splashing up and driving in heavy rain would make it read very low and timing (and AFR's) go through the roof for a few seconds here and there when it got enough water through the filter. Note not nearly enough or deep enough water to worry about hydrolock. So if you do it, be careful when driving in those conditions.

 

[Staytuned]

He is using a GM Maf as he stated. No stock maf to worry about.

 

[Bluefire16]

These are all good ideas but you have to keep in mind water. It all depends if this car is a daily, or not. I no i would never do this to my car, because if you put an intake right where the stock side mount was, and drive in the rain, that thing is going to be soaked. You need to keep that in consideration.

 

[aero_sallee]

He is using a GM Maf as he stated. No stock maf to worry about.

Ahh I read that in the later post and missed the NOT in there. The GM MAF is actually worse about water than the stock MAF. Since it uses heated wires, a bit of water and the calculations go out the window.

 

[JMiller]

In the first post he said he was going to be using a water resistant cover with a big filter.

 

[99dsmGST]

I'm doing something similar to my setup. I live in AZ so no worries about rain here. Apart from last week, the most rain we have ever got since 1993.

 

[Bluefire16]

I would like to see this "water resistant cover"

 

[97Boosted]

def. going to be a complicated fab. but could you make a bottom skid-plate type thing under the intake running from in front of it (bumper area), to create a slpash-guard type deal? just an idea

 

[JMiller]

The plastic piece you'll have to remove is in the red area(Pics borrowed from DSMUnknown's SMIC post)

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The area in the top part of the red circle is metal and might have to be trimmed or cut in that same half circle shape.

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[99dsmGST]

def. going to be a complicated fab. but could you make a bottom skid-plate type thing under the intake running from in front of it (bumper area), to create a slpash-guard type deal? just an idea

A skid plate would be neat, that could avoid the filter from sucking water from the bottom.

 

[fergulus]

Thanks alot for finding that picture. My plan is to take the measurement and drill and 3.5" hole through that plastic piece. and line it with a grommet (###### rubber hose). My inlet pipe is 3". As for the filter/water controversy, here is my plan.

K&N has a very long filter, in the neighborhood of 8in long. Something like the link below, I should think.

RX-3990-1 - K&N Universal Air Filters, Universal X-Stream Clamp-on

I am not sure about that specific model, but they also sell a water resistant cover to go over their filters. The link is also below.

K&N Air Filter Wraps

As the filter wrap restricts airflow, I will erase that restriction by adding length to the air filter to compensate. Because of that wrap, I should not need to have a shielding agaist water. My talon is the most reliable, but when I trade my other car in I will be tracking the Talon. I will be moving to Colorado Springs with luck, so I don't plan on driving near water puddles.