Bst Value Cold Air Intake?

[monk]

I was told that the best single step to help increase the horsies and performance of my turbo is to install a HP cold air intake. What are your experiences? Can a non mechanic type do this? What are the best VALUES( cost vs. performance etc.)out, there and where does one get them? Downs sides if any? Are there differant PT Turbos? Does this make any differance? Mine is the 2004 2.4 High Output.

[fritz_t_coyote]

Originally Posted by monk

I was told that the best single step to help increase the horsies and performance of my turbo is to install a HP cold air intake. What are your experiences? Can a non mechanic type do this? What are the best VALUES( cost vs. performance etc.)out, there and where does one get them? Downs sides if any? Are there differant PT Turbos? Does this make any differance? Mine is the 2004 2.4 High Output.

The most important advice is to beware the 'just a pipe and a cone filter' el-cheapo's (available on EBAY and wherever the lessons 'Caveat Emptor' and 'You get what you pay for' are taught). These turn out to be HOT AIR Intakes, sucking in hot underhood air and giving reductions in HP, Torque and fuel economy. But they do make a way cool Woosh sound.

The best bang for the buck is to use the existing air intake system, with 2 changes:
1- install a high-flowing K&N drop-in replacement air filter element (really easy to do),
and
2- while in the airbox (the plastic box where the air filter lives) remove the plastic restrictor tube (a white? plastic 'elbow pipe' that restricts airflow to reduce the wooshing noise). You do NOT want to remove the connection to the hole in the inner fender which allows the airbox to draw air from outside.

This will give you better COLD airflow, and a bit of interesting intake sound, and all you have to buy is the air filter.
(I recommend the K&N drop-in as it will last you for YEARS with proper care, and I have been using them for decades on everything: econoboxes, SUVs, pickups, vans and Motorcycles.)

[quicksilverdon]

To add to what Fritz said - in the top half of the intake, by the hose out, there's a white, plastic "donut" - about the size of a small donut. Pry it out and leave it out.

[distortedlife]

Originally Posted by quicksilverdon

To add to what Fritz said - in the top half of the intake, by the hose out, there's a white, plastic "donut" - about the size of a small donut. Pry it out and leave it out.

By "prying" out you mean forcing out with a pair of pliers?

Will this damage anything?

[monk]

Why does taking out the white donutty thing help? I do not see how it is getting any colder denser air? What is the purpose of the white donut? I am NO MECHANIC, but it seems to me the best way to get coder denser air into the Turb is to have the air intake pipe/tub/channel funneled from right behind the grill where the incoming o/side air is comining in? No?

[Silvereagle]

Stay away from the Air Force One model. it looks good but the rubber grommet in the upper end rots away in about four months and no one has the replacement part.

[ryeguy666]

Does using the factory box (with the mods) work better than the K&N FIPK Gen II? Just wondering I bought one and the useing the factory box would be way cheaper.

[Mean Green]

fritz and Don are correct. Do the K&N drop in filter and airbox mods. An open air intake will suck hot air and cost you torque. The only time you need to go to an open air intake is when you go with a big turbo.

[Hooligan]

Originally Posted by Silvereagle

Stay away from the Air Force One model. it looks good but the rubber grommet in the upper end rots away in about four months and no one has the replacement part.

Contact Air Force One, they will send replacement grommets.

[batlin]

Originally Posted by monk

Why does taking out the white donutty thing help? I do not see how it is getting any colder denser air? What is the purpose of the white donut? I am NO MECHANIC, but it seems to me the best way to get coder denser air into the Turb is to have the air intake pipe/tub/channel funneled from right behind the grill where the incoming o/side air is comining in? No?

You are right that you would get a lot of cold air, but you would most likely get water too... NOT good for your engine! Water induction can cause serious damage, if not engine failure if enough is sucked up. I had the K&N cold air intake on my SRT4 and I was always worried about puddles since it was so close to the ground in front of the tire.

My favorite intake so fair is the AirRaid system. It is under $200, maybe 150-ish and it attaches to the bottom half of the stock are box. Installation will take maybe 15 minutes and can be reversed if needed in about the same amount of time. You get some nice turbo spool noise, and a definite increase in throttle response.