Airbox mod

[dwill3015]

THE AIRBOX MOD:

Tools:
3" holesaw
Small Drill bit
Phillips screwdriver
Dremel cut tool

Material:
4 SS screws
.025 sheet of aluminum (cut out of 8"x 18" sheet)
Shop vac filter.

1. Remove Airbox from Vehicle
2. Locate the side of the filter box facing the headlight assembly. In the lower left corner, remove the 3 center ribs on the outside of the box with Dremel.
3. Drill a 3" hole into airbox between the two remaining ribs.
4. Cut a piece out of the shop vac filter to fit area where the hole is and between the two ribs you didn't cut out.
5. Cut the Aluminum sheet to the same size as the shop vac filter and drill a 3" hole in the middle. Try to match the hole location in airbox.
6. Drill 4 pilot holes and attach to airbox using SS screws.

Recommendations:
1. Use material that won't rust.
2. Alternate material-Corragated metal (if you can find it)
3. Reason I chose shop vac filter? If it can keep water out of a shop vac motor, it will keep the bugs and water out of my K&N filter.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/dwill3015/airbox1.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/dwill3015/airbox2.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/dwill3015/airbox3.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/dwill3015/airbox4.jpg

[ibmoses]

Thanks for the write up.

I can hear my engine moan now when I gouge on it. It seems like it has more power but that may just be the noise...

Now if I could figure out how to make a cold air scoop with a hose that would direct air into the hole in the air box...

I saw the SS scoop and hose Volant makes. Perhaps someone has some ideas...


Bert

[MWright936]

Great mod Darcy! Looks very clean. Thanks for the write up!

[04sierracrewcab]

Great mod Darcy! Looks very clean. Thanks for the write up!
Agreed!
And I put this write up on the myspace too!

myspace.com/gmtruckclub (http://www.myspace.com/gmtruckclub)

[bzboardco]

I was wondering if you were to somehow get this to mount to the mod and run it to the grille would it help more?
:yipi:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a335/bzboardco/50ramair.jpg

[tlperry68]

Nice work.

[ibmoses]

I was wondering if you were to somehow get this to mount to the mod and run it to the grille would it help more?
:yipi:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a335/bzboardco/50ramair.jpg


That looks like it would almost work with one of the vent slots between the bumper and the grille surround. Where did you find it?
I was trying to figure out how to rig up a scoop/tube from the opening where the tow hook is located.

Bert

[oOcornflakeOo]

GangsteR :glasses::sign0011:

[bzboardco]

This is where that kit is from scroll to the bottom of the page http://www.marchperf.com/pg32.html

[tbplus10]

Great mod Darcy.
In the Toyota world they've been doing an Airbox mod for years that might work well in conjunction with this.
They use a Marine "Deck Plate" and mount it over a corresponding size hole cut in the box (Deck plates can be purchased in sizes from 2" to 10"). This allows you to close up the hole during wet conditions where you may get to much water in (water crossings, bad rain storms, etc).
You can seal the edges of the deck plate with "Sensor Safe Silicone RTV" if you want a real leak free install.
A couple notes tho:
If you use RTV allow 24 hrs to cure and fumes filter out before starting the engine.
Only use sensor safe RTV, other types of RTV have a habit of screwing up the intake sensors when used and causing a CEL.
Deck plates can be bought from local Marine supply stores, Walmart, and places like Marine 1 or West Marine on the net.
I prefer plastic Deck Plates but metal ones are available also, they just cost more.

[chevyrulz]

seems to me the warmer air might not make up for the increased CFM, i'll stick with stock config until i can afford an FIPK. thanks for the write up though

[Marcus]

how well does this mod work? Does it make a huge difference?

[bob13]

Very clean install, looks good.

[bob13]

Schedule 80 PVC for electrical conduit comes in a lot of prebent shapes that would probably be easy to mod-up for cool air intake and it doesnt weigh THAT much. Cheap material too.

[cascott325]

i really do not advise the use of pvc under the hood. some say that it doesnt get that hot under there to melt the pvc, but it doesnt have to be that hot for it to melt. i remember a parade float the local FFA chapter built that looked like a tractor, and for the stack, they had a piece of pvc attached to a fog machine. the fog machine got hot enough to melt 2 feet of the pvc in open air in the middle of december. what do you think that its gonna do under the hood of your vehicle in the middle of july? chlorine gas is deadly, and taking this risk is realy not worth it to me. just my 2 cents worth

[jediracer]

What do you think about using ABS pipe? I was told this works get for fabricating your own intake. I have never used ABS so I'm not that familiar with the material.

[cascott325]

dunno what abs is or what it stands for

[miller57]

DO A SEARCH ON E-BAY FOR 3" Intake Duct Mounting PlatE
THEN CLICK ON AIR INTAKE PARTS 3" THERE ARE HOSES AND PARTS FOR INTAKES
AFTER THAT SEARCH BRAKE DUCT 3" YOU WILL FIND INLET COUPLINGS TO MOUNT SOMEWHERE TO GET COOL AIR TO YOUR AIR BOX
THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS IS IN THE WINTER WHEN YOU DON'T WONT COLD AIR GOING TO YOUR AIR BOX, YOU CAN DISCONNECT THE HOSE AND GET WARMER AIR FROM YOUR ENGINE COMPARTMENT

[jediracer]

Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene

Here is a site about the pipe.
http://www.ppfahome.org/abs/index.html (http://www.ppfahome.org/abs/index.html)

I found several sites that have instructions on how to create custom intakes using ABS. Below is an example.

http://www.rcmeperformance.com/modifications/custom-cold-air-intake/ (http://www.rcmeperformance.com/modifications/custom-cold-air-intake/)

I do not have a much of a background customizing vehicles. I was wanting opinions on using ABS to replace the accordion hose from my air box to my engine. Then I was thinking of adding a 2" line from my air box going forward to get more air from the grill area into the air box.

My thinking was by adding more air flow to the air box and having a smooth pipe direct the air to the engine, this would help with MPG and possibly HP.

All opinions welcome! :rules:

[VectraGT]

Just purchased an AEM Brute Force CAI for my '09 Silverado (5.3 Flex). Anyone know of specific instructions for install? Looks like it would be a fairly easy job. Also, do you I also have to buy a new MAF sensor? Thanks for the help guys.

[larryleeUSN]

i actually did this same thing to my air box. me and my buddy just started hacking away at it. it does help. the only thing i didnt do is put a screen in there. i just left it wide open. i had a few issues with off roading but that was my fault for not thinking ahead and placing in a filter/screen. i would recomend this mod if you dont want the sound or even if you just dont want a CAI. or if your truck is under warrenty. i dont know what the dealer would say to a hacked up airbox.

[BAMES]

Looks like a cool and effective mod, cheap too. I think I may do it. Definitely use a screen of some sort!

[shurshot]

Grreat Ideas! Thanks All!!

[jerseymike68]

Great sources here

[Silverbullit]

What does this do??