Custom intake, What style? Discuss?

[Sugardaddy2885]

So I have already purchased a few parts to start working on a custom intake for my 1.4T. I've been reading too much about which style intake I should start working on. I figured I'd ask the great people of this forum to give their opinions on what the best type is. I'm experienced with fiberglassing and welding so please throw any crazy out opcorn:

I keep reading about people wanting an enclosed box that draws outside air but is it really necessary? Should I incorporate some form of scoop to help drawl air in? Relocate the filter somewhere else? Or draw air from the intake side of the engine? Too many questions and I want to try all lol Please inform me with your knowledge! Post pictures of ideas if needed!

 

[Sugardaddy2885]

I love the look of the GMPP intake that I had on my Cobalt

Then I started to think HEY why not make my own.. but sold the car shortly after.

 

[BoG233]

Metal is the best stuff to make a intake out of . Metal is a none porous material . Aluminum is like wait and scuffs off heat well . A box (encloser ) is is best but you need to channel your cool air to the box . Putting the filter in the box all but guaranties cooler air As long as you get the air from a cool clean air sours . Such as the front of the car or inside the car depending on how rough you are going to play . Like dessert running or mud and off road . Street fighting from the front of the car for a slight ram air affect . Now the pipe you run to the intake if metal will get hot no matter what you do but if you insulate the out side with heat tape or rap that will minimize heat gain . Bends make for turbulence if you can make the turbulence work for you make it spin in one direction or swirl . depending on the engine and the location of the M.A.S. that to need to be accommodated .

I hope this info helps and good luck

 

[Sugardaddy2885]

I'm just wondering what is going too far. I already see the intake selection for these cars and they're all pretty basic. Is that the best route to go? or was it more of the cheaper easy route? I'm debating if any of the extra intake cooling options will actually make a difference on this car.

 

[Danny5]

The ideal situation is to get smooth pipe from the turbo, and into the fender well. Once in the fender well, terminate with a cone style airfilter.

The problem with changing the flow characteristics after the stock airbox is increased air flow and a possible lean condition. Unless you have a tune, I don't recommend modification after the airbox.

If you can somehow manage to tune out the lean condition, then smoothing the pipe into the fender well area is going to be your best bet. It requires that you enlarge the opening into the fender well. 3" pipe would be best.

If you are able to ram air the intake like wingman and I did in this thread:
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/t1236/
then you can do an enclosed cone filter like this:

I think you really have to consider the computer side of it. People are throwing codes on the stock tune with just a short ram intake. In the Camaro forum, nobody has success with the pipeline style intake (cold air into fenderwell) unless they tune.

 

[Sugardaddy2885]

Danny that is why I liked the GMPP intake for the Cobalt. Have a shroud that surrounds the intake but not completely enclosing it then taking advantage of a ram air effect to help feed in some cooler air. But I'm also doing this just for something to do so even if going overboard doesn't add extra power but looks cool then I wouldn't mind that either

 

[BNRacing]

Not to discourage you, and I hope it runs great with it, but it will most likely run like crap. Companies spend thousands of dollars and countless hours on R&D to make these parts. There's a reason they charge so much.

Tune or not, some stuff just doesn't work when you DIY. Ask doreo how his intake turned out... we couldn't even fix that thing with the tune.

 

[Sugardaddy2885]

BNRacing there is no way that I will disagree with you on that lol This is just something for me to mess around with to keep me busy and for some intake experience. I've welded up 3 exhausts on my Tiburon GT till I found the sound I liked but the biggest thing I got from it was better exhaust welding skills. So hopefully I learn something from this other than I fail

 

[BNRacing]

Yeah I mean I hope it does run good, it will be a cheap option for people. But I'm expecting it to have trouble idling and probably under part throttle run like crap. Plus throw a code for trims being all out of whack

 

[BNRacing]

Like you said, worst case you learned something

 

[wingman]

I love the look of the GMPP intake that I had on my Cobalt

Then I started to think HEY why not make my own.. but sold the car shortly after.

Bad ass, until I read it I thought this was for the Sonic on first glance.

The ideal situation is to get smooth pipe from the turbo, and into the fender well. Once in the fender well, terminate with a cone style airfilter.

The problem with changing the flow characteristics after the stock airbox is increased air flow and a possible lean condition. Unless you have a tune, I don't recommend modification after the airbox.

If you can somehow manage to tune out the lean condition, then smoothing the pipe into the fender well area is going to be your best bet. It requires that you enlarge the opening into the fender well. 3" pipe would be best.

If you are able to ram air the intake like wingman and I did in this thread:
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/t1236/
then you can do an enclosed cone filter like this:

I have yet to have a problem with a setup like this. However the last vehicle I did it on was an 05 colorado. But it performed as well as the AEM brute force, both of which required no tune or threw CEL's.

I think you really have to consider the computer side of it. People are throwing codes on the stock tune with just a short ram intake. In the Camaro forum, nobody has success with the pipeline style intake (cold air into fenderwell) unless they tune.

Not to discourage you, and I hope it runs great with it, but it will most likely run like crap. Companies spend thousands of dollars and countless hours on R&D to make these parts. There's a reason they charge so much.

Tune or not, some stuff just doesn't work when you DIY. Ask doreo how his intake turned out... we couldn't even fix that thing with the tune.

I disagree to an extent, just because so much time is spent on r&d, doesnt mean they get it right. I am in no way saying I am better than these pro's, but what I do works, CEL free! And out of 3 homemades, this being the 4th, so far I am batting 1k. Just as you say some DIY's dont work, there are the legit intakes that work just as good or bad. Ours (Danny5 and I) arent really a mod for power (although that would be nice) but rerouting for colder air. In the past I have found power gains. So far, not much sound in my case due to smaller plumbing than Danny5, but definitely a better pull in 3rd and its not running like crap!

 

[BNRacing]

Bad ass, until I read it I thought this was for the Sonic on first glance.





I disagree to an extent, just because so much time is spent on r&d, doesnt mean they get it right. I am in no way saying I am better than these pro's, but what I do works, CEL free! And out of 3 homemades, this being the 4th, so far I am batting 1k. Just as you say some DIY's dont work, there are the legit intakes that work just as good or bad. Ours (Danny5 and I) arent really a mod for power (although that would be nice) but rerouting for colder air. In the past I have found power gains. So far, not much sound in my case due to smaller plumbing than Danny5, but definitely a better pull in 3rd and its not running like crap!

Danny5 didn't modify anything past the stock air box, did you? If you didn't either, that's why it's running fine. You didn't change the velocity or direction of the flow, only the temperature. Which is a great idea and should work fine, even without a tune.

 

[Ferdie]

AEM cold air intakes are verry good for honda's

Because the are light weight and have a double wand!
that makes the air verry cold and the engine heat will not effect to it!

 

[keto06]

You didn't change the velocity or direction of the flow, only the temperature. Which is a great idea and should work fine, even without a tune.

Well said sir. Nothing like lowering IATs!

 

[Danny5]

You know what area you *could* modify and get away with?

The intercooler piping! I am so not impressed with the piping used to plumb our FMIC, and I think cleaning this up would net you a nice gain, and zero codes.

Just my dumb idea

 

[BoG233]

You know what area you *could* modify and get away with?

The intercooler piping! I am so not impressed with the piping used to plumb our FMIC, and I think cleaning this up would net you a nice gain, and zero codes.

Just my dumb idea

Call me dumbmerer but what is FMIC

 

[Sugardaddy2885]

Call me dumbmerer but what is FMIC

Its Front Mount Intercooler

 

[keto06]

You know what area you *could* modify and get away with?

The intercooler piping! I am so not impressed with the piping used to plumb our FMIC, and I think cleaning this up would net you a nice gain, and zero codes.

Just my GENIUS idea

Fixed. :banana:

 

[wingman]

Danny5 didn't modify anything past the stock air box, did you? If you didn't either, that's why it's running fine. You didn't change the velocity or direction of the flow, only the temperature. Which is a great idea and should work fine, even without a tune.

No, same as Danny5. I do need to do something with the accordion charge pipe though. A smooth pipe should give a better sound. Just need to source out the parts. I wonder if that will require a tune.

 

[BNRacing]

Most likely. There is a chance that it won't, but at that point you would be modifying the flow so you will probably need to correct for it