Another vote for opening up stock grill for more air

[Nomad]

I cut out the horizontal plastic panel on the stock grill area. This allows clean air from the front of the vehicle to flow up and into the stock front air snorkle.
I installed a K&N flat panel filter in the stock location.
There is possibly a little more noise from the intake while driving, not 100% sure.

There seemed to be a little more power, a smoother acceleration through the powerband.

Very slight but worth it. It just made sense to open up the area to bring air in.
I'd like to use a piece of aluminum plate to create a bit more of a scoop but that may not even be really necessary. I'll see if it improves the MPG as well.

 

[hyperboarder]

A buddy of mine told me he dynoed 5 more hp at the wheels just by doing this. It works sort of like a ram air hood.

 

[Robot Romeo]

i've thought about doing this, but i heard that you collect a lot more junk and bugs on your filter. is that ture?

 

[GreyMan]

Pics Please!!!!!!! (thumb)

 

[Nomad]

No camera but I thought there were some floating around the forum.

If you look at your stock intake ube it pulls air from the front of the engine bay right behind the grill. Right in front of it is a flat "tray" of plastic on the top front grill. I cut out the tray's bottom. Now air coming in the front grill can go up and into the air snorkle.

As far as sucking in more junk. Big deal, that's what the filter is for. Change it or clean it regularly and you're good. It pulls air from the same place as stock but just more efficiently.

 

[altspace]

After removing all of the stock intake system, I could never go back to using it. Even just for the fact that appearance wise it's so bulky and in the way. I did however experiment with the stock intake by just removing the top plenum so that "colder" air could go in. Not sure about gains and did not care, but it sure sounded great.

 

[RedAstina]

hey there, first post here, tho ive been a long time non-member and lurker on this site. I just happened to upload some pics of the grille cutout i did for my car. I think its roughly what Nomad meant.

Ive had zero probs with and water getting in and ive driven in alot of rain, it does get the odd bug thru but the k&n is easy to tap them out of or clean. U can also seal up four or so holes on the bottom of the plastic snorkel with tape aswell...seals the whole intake up better, probably makes no diff tho... (thumb)

 

[Nomad]

Wifey doesn't like a lot of noise. I want to keep the hemholtz resonator as well as just spend less since she's driving it most.
The K&N panel, grill mod, and MP3 Racing Beat muffler are just enough extra "noise" to make it fun while keeping it really tame for the street.

 

[bazooka joe]

After removing all of the stock intake system, I could never go back to using it. Even just for the fact that appearance wise it's so bulky and in the way. I did however experiment with the stock intake by just removing the top plenum so that "colder" air could go in. Not sure about gains and did not care, but it sure sounded great.

so it's not stock after all......? what else haven't you told us (turbo kit????)(thumb)

 

[Johnnybass]

my "snorkel", above the grill, is a lot thinner and streches out over the entire grill area (mostly)...anyone elses like that?

 

[Nomad]

Mine looks exactly like that. But in a "better" black car.

What do you mean your intake takes up more space?

And how did you get that stupid K&N sticker to adhere? Mine just kept coming off and wouldn't stick at all to the plastic or to the metal. Oh well. Stickers suck.
They must have changed the adhesive they use.

 

[altspace]

Yea Joe....I wish that was the case. You've seen my engine bay pics. I save the power add ons for my Stealth Twin Turbo.

 

[WetsuitxNinja]

I did this awhile back after seeing a post on it...felt similar gains and noticed what you did as well. Then I got an RV hose from wal mart, and stuck that into the opening where a CAI would go, and got rid of the snorkel and hooked the hose up to the opening that faces up that comes off the airbox.... 5 dollar CAI and getting water in there wasnt much of a worry due to the stock airbox's drip box (not sure if thats what its called or not) looks like a long box with a hole at the bottom... more noise that way too

 

[GreyMan]

I did this awhile back after seeing a post on it...felt similar gains and noticed what you did as well. Then I got an RV hose from wal mart, and stuck that into the opening where a CAI would go, and got rid of the snorkel and hooked the hose up to the opening that faces up that comes off the airbox.... 5 dollar CAI and getting water in there wasnt much of a worry due to the stock airbox's drip box (not sure if thats what its called or not) looks like a long box with a hole at the bottom... more noise that way too

Pics?

 

[Pro5Monkey]

A buddy of mine told me he dynoed 5 more hp at the wheels just by doing this. It works sort of like a ram air hood.

WOW, 5 hp! And, there's zero "ram air" effect with the car just sitting on a dyno. I'm sure it helps, but I'm sceptical about 5 hp. (boom07)

 

[hyperboarder]

WOW, 5 hp! And, there's zero "ram air" effect with the car just sitting on a dyno. I'm sure it helps, but I'm sceptical about 5 hp. (boom07)

I didn't dyno it, and I'm skeptical as well, but hey, it's a direct path for cold air to the filter, and 5hp is about all you can hope for, even from a CAI. Plus, when you're mostly stock, you'll take what you can get.

 

[Pro5Monkey]

Plus, when you're mostly stock, you'll take what you can get.

YES! You are correct Sir. I'll take any increase I can get.

 

[Robot Romeo]

hey there, first post here, tho ive been a long time non-member and lurker on this site. I just happened to upload some pics of the grille cutout i did for my car. I think its roughly what Nomad meant.

Ive had zero probs with and water getting in and ive driven in alot of rain, it does get the odd bug thru but the k&n is easy to tap them out of or clean. U can also seal up four or so holes on the bottom of the plastic snorkel with tape aswell...seals the whole intake up better, probably makes no diff tho... (thumb)

very nice cutting. (thumb)

 

[ProFiver]

stick some mesh in front of the intake of the snorkel and keep the bigger things like leaves, beetles, toilet paper, etc out of the filter panel.

 

[p5power]

stick some mesh in front of the intake of the snorkel and keep the bigger things like leaves, beetles, toilet paper, etc out of the filter panel.

toilet paper, huh?