Thread: making a cheap cold air intake ?

i was thinking of making a cheap cold air with THE STOCK AIR BOX as the box . has anyone done this before ? i just recently got my car back and i am going to be checking into doing this this weekend or at least seeing if i can do this . i was thinking gutting whatever is inside the box maybe cutting the fenderwall(driver side) and front(by the headlight) of the box partially out and sticking a k&n or anyother filter in there . maybe add a little heat resistant material inside or wrap the box and intake tube or something like that . does anyone have any info that might help ?

i live in california so i have to be able to pass a visual smog inspection everytime my smog comes up . (smog laws in this state suck!)

You can just gut the airbox and add a K&N panel filter. Not sure if your air box is like the 99GTP or the Impalas. The opening is behind the headlight and you can cut away all of that up to the edge of the seal. Then carefully gut the inside noting where not to cut in the recesses that would open up to post filter air. I also cut a hole in the side and routed a duct into the fenderwell for additional air. I had this gutted airbox installed on my Impala then my son's 99 GTP.

how was it compared with your wizaired and aem ?

what about possibly leaving the lid off with a cone filter and some sort of shield around the filter like injen makes and cutting the holes in the box ???? does that sound possible ? i havent even gotten into my engine since buying the car besides the spark plugs . i am gonna try to figure out some of these things this weekend hopefully . i am just looking to spend as little money as possible with out taking the whole box out because of cali smog laws and still getting some decent power out of it . plus this way i dont need to worry about anything else : coolant bottle relocate or anything else like that .

Originally Posted by bayareagtp

how was it compared with your wizaired and aem ?

Just changing form one to the other when mildly modded I did notice much of a difference. It's been a while since I had the gutted box in though.

On a CAI you have to seal it off from the underhood temps, otherwise you might as well just run an open cone = fliter on the throttlebody.

Only shielding and drilling the box will let under hood temps into your intake. Have you ever had the radiator fans kick on while you are under the hood? Nearly 200* hot air blowing all around under there and being pulled in to your intake.

fwiw I had an Ingen intake on an 03 SER and the duting put the filter in the fenderwell where it could get the coolest air possible.

If you gut the airbox right, there would be no signs that any modding had taken place.

Aem dry flow, ftw. I love their filters. so use the aem filter, if you can find them, and end up making your own intake.

Nice to see someone be that creative. I do have a question. The ductwork looks a lot smaller than the diameter of the TB. Is that actually what I'm seeing? If so that may be the reason for the loss in mpg. The reduced diameter of ducting and the bends are an area that could be improved. The rest looks very good for a DIY.

that does look very nice nvs you should make a write up for your air box and summit it .

Originally Posted by nvsridez

imo the "wizaired" is the best setup for air delivery....the cost of the box is outragous tho.....check out my homemade "wizaired", tested on my buddies L67.
seems very effective, intake piping and throttle body stay very cool.
mpg has decreased by 2-3, not my car so what do i care lol.....

That is awesome! You should post a how to on that.

This is an example of why this forum was started. I like seeing this kind of innovation. Whether it is a complete success or a flop, at least you are out there trying to come up with something and my hat off to you for it. The community is all the better for your work.

That all said I too would love to see a how to on this. Detailed pics and comments would be particularly good. I hope you have time to put something like that together and send it to be put up on the how to section.

This is a great thing. Yeah, maybe the tubing is a little small, who knows. The important thing is that we now have a new idea, new starting point and we can improve upon it from there. Great work bud.

oops..