DIY Homemade RAM AIR INTAKE - Toyota Tundra Forums : Tundra Solutions Forum

USAFTUNDRA · #1 (**permalink**) 02-28-2009, 07:55 PM

I was going to do a write-up with lots of pics, but I figured a video would be more fun.

I have no idea if it improves anything.

I'll let you know after I have time to play.

Enjoy.

Edit:
I need to thank HighwayLizard for all his help on this project and through him HiVolt. Again I have no idea if this will help anything but it was fun to work out and will be fun to experiment on.

Here are some pics of the installation.

UPDATE 3-7-09
Click Here to see an update on the original idea and new A-Team Video

UPDATE 3-8-09

Valve on and off runs

UPDATE 3-20-09
Version #3 with smooth hose, no valve and collecter under bumper

tundrainorange · #2 (**permalink**) 02-28-2009, 08:17 PM

I'll give you an A+ just for the A-team video.

I would try something like that, but having fiberglass fenders, Basicly leaves a 4" square hole going right to the intake

Tundradrenalin · #3 (**permalink**) 02-28-2009, 08:17 PM

If nothing else, that was fun to watch.

Rep points added.

USAFTUNDRA · #4 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 08:02 AM

Hey glad you liked the video. I went ahead and put some pics. Been thinking about this ever since I got the truck and saw HiVolt's elbow mod. I'll be doing some data collection over the next few weeks.

Brandon1 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 10:48 AM

Maybe I dont know much about this subject, but that does not look like it would work at all. All those twists/turns and stuff like that. The inside of that sump pump hose is probably ridged like the outside creating turbulence as well. Looks like the factory intake had a more direct route to the airbox.

I'd love to see some data...

USAFTUNDRA · #6 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon1

Maybe I dont know much about this subject, but that does not look like it would work at all. All those twists/turns and stuff like that. The inside of that sump pump hose is probably ridged like the outside creating turbulence as well. Looks like the factory intake had a more direct route to the airbox.

I'd love to see some data...

You bring up some good points and they are ideas we through around. Part of my approach was to do this without cutting the truck. So I had to take the path that was provided. In some testing already we have seen that the ridges in the hose causes little resistance for this type of application. Also I have not gotten rid of the stock intake. It's excellent and pretty hard to improve on in the 4.0 engine. This is a supplement to it and is really designed to produce effects at Highway speed. I'll definitely keep you all up on the data that comes in, but I'm not making any claims until I have hard numbers to show.

The good news, is with the ball valve I can instantly revert to stock to do data comparison.

GORILLA · #7 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 11:37 AM

hi, i see like this :
better to have tried than never to have tried at all.

i have been thinking of doing something like this.
i have the VOLANT CAI and it has a approx. a 3" hole toward's the front of the front bumper.

now using pvc pipe and curve's and route it down straight to the lower bumper like you did. the difference is pvc pipe which has no ridge's to hold up the air. and at the bumper, i was thinking of making a approx. 2" high by 14" wide intake that will allow the air in and than it will go into the pvc tube & than attach it somehow to the hole in the volant cai box.

i think if you had a way instead of 4 intake hole's it was a rectangle box like i want, it would allow for more consistant air flow.

but it is a great idea that you came up with, especially for the 1st time, you can alway's try again, if this doesn't work well. i look at it like this you attempted it!
the thought, time & energy you put into it, was great. it can only help other's expand on your idea.
like i was thinking, although you have a 4.0 v6, it still has merit, on how i want to do mine.
good luck, hope it work's out.
gorilla

UnSub · #8 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 11:53 AM

I am picturing a rain down pour and the O.P. having to open the hood and turn the valve to keep from sucking in rain water. A couple times of doing that and the valve will be replaced with an electric valve and this new improved version will be called the XL model. lol

GORILLA · #9 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 12:29 PM

hi , unsub good point.
that shouldn't be so hard to do.
just remove the tube off the volant opening.
problem solved in the rain.
i would assume usaftundra can do something of the same.
question: what is the best paint for plastic & high heat?
gorilla

USAFTUNDRA · #10 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GORILLA

hi , unsub good point.
that shouldn't be so hard to do.
just remove the tube off the volant opening.
problem solved in the rain.
i would assume usaftundra can do something of the same.
question: what is the best paint for plastic & high heat?
gorilla

painting pvc is never a good idea. really hard to get it to stick. high heat paint doesn't stick.

Volant makes a scoop for your application. You ought to look into that. It's a great ram air system, it looks like.

Eddie · #11 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 01:41 PM

Does the stock intake connect to the passenger fender like on V8s?

USAFTUNDRA · #12 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddie

Does the stock intake connect to the passenger fender like on V8s?

Yes. The stock intake snorkel goes from the air box which sits atop the engine and goes to the left fender. It has an air tight seal and the scoop faces backward against the wheel well to keep dirt and other things from getting sucked in. It's a very good stock CAI system.

Eddie · #13 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USAFTUNDRA

Yes. The stock intake snorkel goes from the air box which sits atop the engine and goes to the left fender. It has an air tight seal and the scoop faces backward against the wheel well to keep dirt and other things from getting sucked in. It's a very good stock CAI system.

I see. You should compare intake air temps and MAF voltage with and w/o the ram air open to see if it makes a difference. Is it any louder?

Love the A-Team soundtrack,I pity da fool who don't like it!

USAFTUNDRA · #14 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddie

I see. You should compare intake air temps and MAF voltage with and w/o the ram air open to see if it makes a difference. Is it any louder?

Love the A-Team soundtrack,I pity da fool who don't like it!

Glad you liked the A-TEAM. I figured I could at least offer some humor for folks that don't like the tinkering threads.

Intake noise is richer sounding under throttle but not louder. Just deeper all around for intake and exhaust. WOT is screaming on the 4.0 anyway so it's hard to tell if it's any different.

So far I spent most of the weekend making and installing the system and ugh... making the a-team video

so I have not had much time to really put it through the paces. I plan in the near future doing several runs, valve open and then valve closed, from 0-60 and looking at the engine HPR, RPM, 0-60 time reading on the scangauge.

Also I have a 20 hr trip planned next month and I'll be able to see what it does on the Hwy. I have a good base line of what it does already so I'll be able to see if there is any MPG improvement over time and at cruising speed. This should also give the ECU time to learn the new system.

Big_Al1 · #15 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 06:56 PM

With all the turns it has to take I highly doubt it will ingest water.I've been running my setup for 15k miles or so through downpours at 80mph running through puddles and everything else.Never got water in my intake.Now I wouldn't go drive through water that is higher than the front bumper that would just be dumb but for every other situation I wouldn't worry.Enjoy.Oh by the way nice job.