OK, so as someone who has a basic idea of the mechanics that govern our engine but only just that, basic understanding, I want to know what if any gains could be made with this idea of mine.

The stock intake on the '04 Ralliarts (I don't know about the later models) have the intake extending in a tapered sort of way all the way to the end of the hood. If I am not mistaken, that taper will come off (with bolts or a hacksaw, anyway) right after the the stock intake box. If that taper were replaced with PVC pipe or something of the sort (I am think very tight budget here) and run to the diagonal grid in our grille where it would be inhaling fresh air. The whole assembly would be wrapped in a heat shield of some sort. Top it all off with a high-flow drop-in air filter, alá K&N (which I already have).

I realize that the tubing after the filter is probably of a smaller diameter that most CAIs but it would provide some help, right. This would also be an exceptionally ugly solution but some thing could be done to help that, a little. I am sure that my idea is not that original but I would like a confirmation of the stupidity of my idea.

One more note. Wouldn't this solution also reduce the risk of hydrolock, since the intake is still mounted rather high?

~neum

 

if i'm picturing it the same way you are (its hard at 130am) but i don't think moving the pipe where your are saying will be a great improvement. the k&n filter would be giving you most of the gains you might feel.

if my understanding is correct if you want to to a custom job like this youre best bet is remove the box and retrofit a cone filter onto the end of the elbow pipe coming from the intake manifold (something similar to the rrm short ram) only hard part is you'd have to find a way to mount the sensor now....but i think the plastic box is the restriction.

 

While it may serve a good purpose it will really look ugly and may take more of your time than it's worth. I'm not saying it's a bad idea but you may just want to save up and buy an SRI there is always a used one kicking around on the forum.

 

see the SRI Extension thread

 

haha, i'm actually thinking of installing the SRI back into my car and leaving that weird intake tube that extends to the front bumper... maybe it'll help, maybe not... we'll see

 

I could be wrong here, and someone please correct me if I am but with a long stretch of pipe like that your only able to flow as much air as the most narrow portion of the tubing could accomodate. So your mod would likely see little to no gains.

 

All these posts confirm what I had already assumed. Seems like if it was that good of an idea, someone else would have already done and created a write-up. Oh well, looks like I'm gonna save up for the SRI. Will I see any gain (HP or Torque) with that verus my K&N? No need to waste the money if all it is going to do is make more noise. I have no desire to make my car louder, just faster.

 

no one attack me if i'm wrong but i think the k&n wont make much of a difference. its still in that same box with the same tube restricting air. SRI will see much better results i think mainly b/c its filter is in open air.

 

I think there are gains to be had with the k &n drop in filter vs the stock filter, however I do think there are some greater gains to be had by going with the SRI.

 

more gains with the SRI, minimal gains with the K&N. If you don't believe in the K&N theory then you haven't seen the pingpong ball display at most autoparts stores. The gain in airflow is proven visually to you. No, you won't see any large gains, but every little bit helps.

 

i wasn't saying there werent any gains, but its not much compared to the sri

 

you misunderstood me, I was just clarifying for those who don't know

 

Um... correct me if i'm wrong... but isnt the radiator in the way?

 

thats what I was thinking when I read the first post.

 

actually if you do search there was a member who used the stock plastic air inlet thing and attached it to a heat shield infront of his SRI. im not sure about any significant gains but some cold air from outside hitting the SRI wouldn't hurt.