Air Max Intake System

[one_fast_pt]

Moss motors has this system for the turbo. They claim no modifications are required to install this. I read on the PT DIY Club that someone tried to put this on and it turned out to be a nightmare. Have any of you installed this on the 03 PT Turbo? And does it make a big difference? At the price they are getting for it, it should make a big difference. thanks guys.[^]

[Mean Green]

quote:
Moss motors has this system for the turbo. They claim no modifications are required to install this. I read on the PT DIY Club that someone tried to put this on and it turned out to be a nightmare. Have any of you installed this on the 03 PT Turbo? And does it make a big difference? At the price they are getting for it, it should make a big difference. thanks guys.<img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

Does the phrase "Rip Off" sound familiar? My GT is my second PT as my wife now has my '01 PT. When I first got my '01 mods for it were a lot more ("Rip Off") than they are now. The GT is new and Air Max is, for the time being, the only one out there with an air intake for the GT. Airaid and K&N (and probably others) will have one out there within the next couple of months they say. For myself, I will wait until there is more of a choice and for price comparison. In my opinion the price for the Air Max is a "Rip Off".


'03 Onyx Green GT 5 speed

[Cal Cruzer]

I agree with Mean Green. For the time being I am just going to put a drop-in into the airbox and remover some of the silencer stuff DC put in there.

Inferno Red GT, chrome wheels, chrome AMP fuel door, chrome side spears, PT Cruiser 3rd light diffuser...ain't this car fun?!?!?

[fifilund]

Drop in is the way to go. Engine heat is not being pulled into the intake. Save $300.00+.

[KCsBlueGT]

I think that it is a rip-off. You pay for a ultra low restriction intake system for ... low restriction. This air swirl gimmick would have to have some sort of blades. It would be an additional pressure drop. It might be worse than the original filter.

There is no free ride. If swirling the air could defeat the laws of classical thermodynamics, every section of round ductwork and pipe in the world would have a spiral helix inserted in it.

Karl <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>
2003 PT Cruiser GT
Steel Blue w/AutoStick
Added: Rear Wing

[Dodgerman]

I am glad I read your question as I was thinking about getting one but will pass.Thanks Randy

[KCsBlueGT]

quote:
I am glad I read your question as I was thinking about getting one but will pass.Thanks Randy

Randy,

I am a Mechanical Engineer and design duct systems for a living. I, and others in the business, do all that we can to keep the air as smooth and consistant as possible. That is what limits pressure losses and reduces the power consumed to move the air. I am amazed when I see ads promising such great improvements in power because of swirl.

I think the sales pitch is for more complete atomization of the fuel/air mixture. But I'll bet you a dollar to a doughnut that it will take a super computer to determine the perfect air velocity, direction, temperature, density, % moisture, fuel temp, droplet size, etc to optimize that. $5 worth of stamped sheetmetal blades aren't high tech enough for that.

To be fair, I will say that under an ideal circumstance, maybe the the turbulence caused by blades in the airstream might be worth the pressure drop. I would say if you had an old american muscle car with a big round filter sitting on top of a big carburator then the pressure drop would be almost insugnificant and swirling air directly into the carburator might be just the trick. However, who makes cars this way anymore?

Karl <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>
2003 PT Cruiser GT
Steel Blue w/AutoStick
Added: Rear Wing

[2sb]

For anyone still considering this option. Even if it did work...and it doesn't, think of all the places the effect would be destroyed. The air valve (ex-carb), the turbo, any flexable duct with ripples, the intercooler, the individual intake runners, and anywhere two pieces meet that aren't port-matched. Each place would require a seperate vortex to start it again.

Edited by - 2sb on 03/22/2003 23:13:03

[Ian-PT-GT]

My two cents:

I am no mechanical engineer but I am sure the "Swirl" wont mean anything if is in front of the turbo.... Even if the "swirl" gadget works, the compressor will stir it however it wants and there goes the "Vortex effect"...

What I have been told to do is remove all those rubber connectors from the turbo to the intake thru the intercooler and replace them with metal tubes with as little silicone connectors as possible. This is based on the ballooning effect of the rubber under pressure. When the turbo builds pressure, the hoses will inflate a little, creating an unstable pressure area. This effect should increase with time and with the high temps under the hood softening the rubber, it should definitely happen before you know it.

Ian

[Cal Cruzer]

Get in there and remove the silencers from the airbox. I just did it this weekend and myh car can really breath now. I doubt that that $300 piece of metal will flow a much better than the gutted stock air box. At least on mustangs, dyno runs have proven that adding a K&N and pulling the silencer achived the same power increase as adding a intake like this.

All I can say is that I noticed and immediate improvement from down low throughout the RPM range. This was a great FREE mod. Can't wait to drop the K&N in.

Inferno Red GT, chrome wheels, chrome AMP fuel door, chrome side spears, PT Cruiser 3rd light diffuser...ain't this car fun?!?!?