Intake Resonator replaced (pics inside)

[Skarbro]

UPDATED: Version 2 of this mod can be found in this post below.

Inspired by this post, I modified my stock intake. Works well! Do you guys think I've positioned it too close to the fender vents? Here are the pics...

I used a 3" coupler, a 3" 90 degree bend and a 3" 45 degree bend.




It's positioned near the vents in the fender well.


Picture from the outside.


Shot from above. It points toward the fender.


I also removed the after-filter intake resonator and capped it off.


Shot of the stock resonators

[m_a_t_r_i_x]

pardon the ignorance and my laziness in searching about this....but what does this mod do to your car? im not diggin having a pvc pipe inside the engine bay, looks weird and ugly...

[FLIPDADY]

It's not all about how the system looks but the function. Skarbro has a K&N drop-in filter and looks like he wanted a direct air flow into it. I too have a set up like this minus the pvc pipe which is a great idea.(off to Home Depot tomorrow)

So that's what you were doing under your car today.

[KenYork]

I don't know about having the opening towards the fender vents. Lots of water thrown around there when wet. Probably best to have the pipe opening close to where the resonator opening was.



btw.. looks good.

[Skarbro]

pardon the ignorance and my laziness in searching about this....but what does this mod do to your car? im not diggin having a pvc pipe inside the engine bay, looks weird and ugly...

Well yes it looks ugly, but you can't see it at all in the engine bay with everything back together (the battery air intake covers up everything.) Besides I could give a rat's ass what it looks like. What does it do? Eliminates the restrictive stock resonators and makes the airflow way more efficient.

So that's what you were doing under your car today.

Heh.. I was wondering if you noticed the car up on ramps.

I don't know about having the opening towards the fender vents. Lots of water thrown around there when wet. Probably best to have the pipe opening close to where the resonator opening was.

Thanks for the input. I was wondering the same thing. I highly doubt water will make it up to the filter though - although it is certainly possible that drops will - and if I drive through wet mud, then that's possible as well. However, don't aftermarket CAI's essentially put the filter in the same spot? The nice thing about this install is that I can change it if I want very easily. I welcome more input.

[FLIPDADY]

I thought you were doing another oil change. lol

Maybe put a screen door mesh at the pipe opening? I've seen it done on some DIY ram air set-ups.

[sp3GT]

It might be just a bit too close to the vent, I installed my Fujita 2 days ago and the filter is not that close.
I kinda did this before I got my fujita except mine wasn't as great as yours, but the sound it produces is kinda similar to an aftermarket CAI.

[majic]

how's the butt dyno?

[cwp_sedan]

Holy crap that's a big resonator. Did it make a difference at all with the resonator removed? Sound/performace any better? I'm not expecting much but ya never know. I would maybe rotate you PVC tubing to point down so that it wouldn't be as direct access to the vents, or just make it a little shorter.

Overall looks good!

[Skarbro]

I thought you were doing another oil change. lol

LOL I did change the oil as well.

It might be just a bit too close to the vent, I installed my Fujita 2 days ago and the filter is not that close.
I kinda did this before I got my fujita except mine wasn't as great as yours, but the sound it produces is kinda similar to an aftermarket CAI.

Yeah I'm going to go and adjust it again so that it isn't pointing directly at the vent. Maybe I'll leave it in relatively the same spot, but pointed away from it.

how's the butt dyno?

Heh... Well I only took it for a spin around the block. It feels like its pulling better with no loss of low end torque. I still have to reset the ECU though. I'll be doing that today.

Holy crap that's a big resonator. Did it make a difference at all with the resonator removed? Sound/performace any better? I'm not expecting much but ya never know. I would maybe rotate you PVC tubing to point down so that it wouldn't be as direct access to the vents, or just make it a little shorter.

It pulls a little better according to the butt-dyno. The sound - I'm not really sure because my car already growls because of the Street Unit mount. I have to take it on the highway. And yeah you and I have the same idea. I'm going to point it in a different direction. It shouldn't impede the airflow too much by doing that.

[MazdaTree]

The sound - I'm not really sure because my car already growls because of the Street Unit mount.

It adds a growl?

are you sure the growl isn't from your resonator being removed?

[sp3GT]

The growl should be from the resonator when I had mine removed, it sounded like I had an intake.

[3GFX]

I'm impressed, for relatively little money you've got an efficient airbox. Its still a little restrictive but so much better than stock. Very clean job to Skarbro. I know you the motor mounts will increase noise, but I'm sure if you listen closely, you can hear the intake sucking air in with a tap of the gas. I think it would sounds good, deep.

I think it's a little close to the fender, but in all honesty you should drill a hole or something at the elbow so that if water by chance gets in, it could just drain right out.

[Skarbro]

Version 2!

I changed it around to make it safer. I also reset the ECU this time. The thing pulls great! I'm very satisfied. Total cost ~$20. Pics...

I used a second 45 bend.






I drilled a hole for drainage this time. (3GFX - honestly I did it before seeing your post! )


Now it points in a safer direction - away from the fender vents




Shot from above


And a shot of my engine. Except for the hood props, everything looks bone stock.

[-RJ3-]

NiceWork Skarbro,

I'm gonna get shot for this question... What if you put a cone at the end of your pipe and remove the K&N, does it act the same, as a CAI?

I need to clean my CAI myself.

[Skarbro]

NiceWork Skarbro,

I'm gonna get shot for this question... What if you put a cone at the end of your pipe and remove the K&N, does it act the same, as a CAI?

I need to clean my CAI myself.

Well technically it is a CAI. But to answer your question - I don't think it would make a difference at all since the air still has to go through the stock airbox, which is the only real thing left that is restrictive. I would have to eliminate the stock airbox to get any further improvement.

[garboui]

i did the same thing to mine last summer. after taking off the resonator and driving around to HD with the open airbox it was nice and loud and growly but was groany on the highway. at HD i picked up the rubber coupler and one 90deg elbow and about 8" of pipe.

the open pipe sits right in front of the vents. i have had no problem with water or snow even in storms; never had a cel from it. because theres no filter there water cant be trapped and accumulated.

one interesting thing that happened was that as soon as i added the elbow and the pipe it went down to being almost as quiet as stock again. the butt duno approves though, esp for highway acceleration.

[azn_outlaw]

Nice sleeper style intake......

to introduce or maximize more air flow....shall I suggest a BpI flow stack..

oh hold on a minute just like this...

*NOTE* Teaser Pic...(I have more pics of it on my car but stay tuned)



Great idea and excellent job with the intake...

[KenYork]

I also removed the after-filter intake resonator and capped it off.

Is that a 1 1/2" or 2" cap?

[Skarbro]

1 1/2" cap.

[KenYork]

thanks

[Wild Weasel]

I seem to have missed this thread.

So now that it's been a couple days, do you still think it's the mount that's giving you the noise or do you think it's a little louder under the hood now?

[Skarbro]

I guess it's a little louder. But 80-90% of the noise is because of the mount.

[majic]

I guess it's a little louder. But 80-90% of the noise is because of the mount.

HTF does a mount make noise??!?!!

[vblanche]

nice...I'd like to do the same but I have no tool here (just one screw driver LOL)...and what do you need except pvc parts? where would I have to bring my car to do similar installation?

anyone interested to set up this great CAI on my car? LOL

thanks

PS: is the process reversible?