Did I make a mistake?Help!!!!

[turbomangt]

I read many discussions about the air silencers, after I felt the majority of poeple here said to remove both boxes, I did just that. Last night at our Cruiser Club meeting, a mechanic and Turbo owner said I should of only removed the small silencer, NOT the large one. He went on saying the small one does restrict and quiet the turbo, but the large one helps cool down the engine, like a cold intake. By removing it I allow heat to build up inside the engine. all comments welcome PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![:I]Gary

[Brad Vandrasik]

With the lower silencer (the big black one with the 90 degree bend) in place, the cooler air from the fender opening is more directly routed to the air box, therefore the intake air temp should be a little cooler. However, because this is not a tight seal (I have about 1/2 - 3/4 inch gap between the fender hole and the intake) plenty of hot under-hood air still gets in.

Note that I said this cools the intake air, it makes very little or no difference to engine cooling overall! Thats what the radiator and fans are for.

Here's what I did on my lower silencer / intake snorkle:
1. Pulled it out
2. Took off the two piece "clam shell" that holds it in the air box
3. Used a hack saw to cut off the part that extends into the air box beyond the clam shell
4. Re-assembled and re-installed.
This way, I get the benefit of directing air from the fender hole in, but have removed MOST of the silencer.

[8D]

[GLH_TC 16V]

I did the same thing with the lower silencer but I covered up the holes inside. I also made a hole in the bottom of the air box and attached a plastic shower drain which I am going to connect a dryer hose to and extend to the underside of the car to get fresh air. I've got pics if anyone is interested.

[Brad Vandrasik]

Sounds cool, please post pics!

[turbomangt]

Guys, so is it your opinion that I should not leave the large one out? If I follow your wisdom, please post instructions for a dummy, as I'm not handy with regard to mechanical stuff. But I can sure clean an engine,, just can't take anything apart. gary

[Brad Vandrasik]

Gary,

It is my OPINION that you should leave enough of it in place to direct the cooler air into the air box. But don't worry, you are not causing any harm by leaving all of it out. At worst, you MAY be slightly decreasing performance with it all out.

If you want to duplicate my setup, here's how (I assume you still have this out of the car):
The lower silencer is three parts: the main tube which has a 90 degree bend in it on the end that points down towards the fender hole, and 2 short pieces that are a bit larger in diameter. These 2 pieces (which I referred to as the "clam shell") simply snap together around the main tube. Use a screwdriver to gently pry open the tabs that hold them together and remove these two pieces. You will see a raised ridge on the main tube and corresponding valleys on the clam shell halves that hold the pieces in the proper position when they are assembled. Cut off the long end (the part that extends into the air box) of the main tube just behind this ridge (so that you DO NOT remove the ridge). Then, you can do like GLH_TC 16V did and wrap tape (duct tape or black electrical tape should work) around the tube to cover the small holes that are remaining. Snap the clam shell halves back over the tube. Remove the air box and reinstall your new, improved, free-flowing lower silencer. Come to the realization that you just wasted about 15 minutes on a mod that MAY provide an infinitesimal increase in HP. But hey, working on cars is FUN!

Brad

[Punch]

so are you saying removing the silencers does nothing?

would an airaid type set-up be better?

punch

[don668]

I was told by a mechanic at my dealer to take them off. The opening in the fender hole is close enough to the opening in the air box to get the benefit of the cooler air, and the opening in the airbox is larger without the silencer.

Don

[3BarBoost]

Short answer, they merely quiet the car down. You want louder, take them out. No performance delta.

[SteelBlueGT]

I think my modded box was about as good as the airraid unit and mine did not have the little air scoop elbow attached as I broke it getting the silencer out. Either way taking two silencers out and adding a flat K&N filter did maybe a liitle better performance and a little nicer noise. Nothing like what my K&N Typhoon system does though! [^]