snortin that cold goodness
So a few months ago I bought a bigass filter w/ velocity stack, some aluminum pipe, and a few 45deg silicone sleeves and made a functional prototype for a long tube CAI.
When I first mocked it up, I went in guns blazing. Soldering guns blazing lol
https://imgur.com/sqTFVCF.jpg
Just making room for the giant ass filter to fit in there...
https://imgur.com/NaSnkvi.jpg
There we go.
https://imgur.com/IkXO1ps.jpg
There were two major roadblocks with the prototype, though.
1. The headlight won't fit back in with the xenon ballast hitting that bigass pipe (you can see on the left where I need another inch or so):
https://imgur.com/xPJFtSG.jpg
2. That bigass filter is going to get wrecked by rocks/bugs/water/Cthulhu/etc:
https://imgur.com/SHXuWH1.jpg
I took it on a test drive sans ballast to see how it worked, but didn't immediately feel any better than stock. Hm. I glued the ambient temp sensor back in place, buttoned everything up with the OE airbox, and tabled the project until I could sort out the issues.
I kept researching intake theory and everything pointed to the long tube being the most beneficial for power through the rev range and [obviously] getting the coldest available air. I continued to casually look for solutions and eventually found someone that was able to relocate the ballast (here) and, after wearing out the amazon return policy, found a pre-filter that fit perfectly on the giant cone (here). The pieces were in place and I jumped back into it last weekend.
HERE. WE. GO.
One of the flaws I suspected with the initial test was that, with the brake duct removed, the hot air coming through the radiator was being pushed right into the intake. So I did what any engineer worth his salt would do: I taped that shit up.
https://imgur.com/ZyASYxe.jpg
https://imgur.com/pFDpnQV.jpg
Then came modifying the brake duct so I could use it to direct flow to both the brakes and intake.
https://imgur.com/fQOT4kh.jpg
^Note that by now I've upgraded my soldering gun plastic cutting station with a powerful fume hood (I worked beside the A/C condenser and let it pull the fumes away and blow them up to the sky).
https://imgur.com/ofZitN4.jpg
https://imgur.com/obtR8p5.jpg
oh yeah dat fitment
https://imgur.com/ptQTvCt.jpg
Fitted up with light on it:
https://imgur.com/67X5if6.jpg
and without:
https://imgur.com/wXPb6wU.jpg
Bumper back on, shining a light into the brake duct:
https://imgur.com/6lPoIPT.jpg
and out in the daylight:
https://imgur.com/JWQmxZy.jpg
stealthy
Next step was making the headlight fit. It took A LOT of work to get the little ballast plug moved around to the back, but I managed and man...it just barely reaches. Not a great solution by any means...
https://imgur.com/7V30W4I.jpg
Then had to cut an inch off the old ballast tray seen here:
https://imgur.com/rfXhoDR.jpg
AND in good reduce/reuse/recycle form, used the pieces that I had cut off to (1) seal up the cutout where the ballast connector used to be:
https://imgur.com/Qh6d3mu.jpg
https://imgur.com/CSYukZs.jpg
and (2) provide a catch for the clip on the ballast connector (it's under a lot of tape):
https://imgur.com/jw5zh3f.jpg
Final shot of the new ballast location:
https://imgur.com/LXnat4E.jpg
^It's not pretty...and I really wasn't sure if it would be functional, but it held up find for my 1k mile trip the next day. I still have some work to do as far as securing the ballast itself and maybe some more waterproofing.
Oh and a final shot from the engine bay. I'll replace the zip ties with hose clamps...maybe...
https://imgur.com/GBJVwVI.jpg
Thoughts after 1k miles:
Sound is awesome. I can only really hear it when I jump on it above 3500rpm with the windows down, but it's a good, clean intake sound. No whistling at any rpm.
Power is definitely improved. My butt dyno is not nearly as sensitive as my NVH...dyno?..but there is definitely a power bump. I'm also reading intake temperatures about 10F lower than the OE airbox in all driving situations, so that's confirmed power right there.
Fuel mileage is also improved, without a doubt. My balls-out trip to Cincy should not have netted anywhere near 30mpg.
Overall I am very happy with the end result. It is exactly what I wanted in an intake because I built it myself.
Planned revisions: hose clamps, a block off plate from the engine bay, and some heat shielding for the HFM