Air box test

[v8Toilet]

Just out of curiosity I wanted to see what this air box modification would do if I had the guts to cut a whole in my air box. I don't really want to cut anything on my Tundra so what I did was unclip the top section. I then taped the filter to the top section and placed it in a position so that the engine could get more air other than just from the small air tube on the bottom of the air box.

I test drove the truck and I didn't feel any difference in power. The only difference I felt was it made more noise, a lot more noise. It sounded like a huge four-barrel carburetor with the secondary’s opening up.

Some of you guys have claimed that the air box modification makes a huge difference. What I did was similar to cutting a bigger hole in the filter box. Maybe what you guys are feeling is physiological horsepower because of the roaring sound from the intake under hard acceleration.

[DevinSixtySeven]

it doesn't really seem to make a difference at low rpms, but there will be a noticeable pull around 3500 rpm to the top of the power band. this is most noticeable under full acceleration up to about 90mph or so...try it on open road. i have a k&n, a hole in the airbox, denso iridium plugs and a spacer (which may or may not actually do anything), and i have noticed that the midrange pull is much stronger than a stock tundra (i actually went to the dealer and test drove a couple new tundras as well as a worn-in dealer tundra with trd headers and exhaust), and a bit less so than a tundra with trd headers and exhaust. it does make a difference, but you wont usually notice unless you have a reason to be running at 3500rpm--this makes a huge difference coming over vail pass and the eisenhower tunnel in heavy traffic with camping gear, a cap, and a passenger, but you probably will not feel a difference driving around town at 1500-2000 rpm with the engine shifting at 3000 rpm. most of the airflow-related mods only affect high-rpm power, and may even adversely affect low-end power, in other words they increase high end hp but not low end torque, which is what you feel when you are accelerating.

-sean

[red's tundra]

This is what I have noticed. have the deck plate mod with a TRD air filter. It does seem to make a difference for a little bit, but then the ecu seems to adjust to this and it goes back to where it was. Then when I put the plate back on it seems to gain some power, but then after a little bit, it goes back. I pulled my Flowmaster exhaust off this weekend and tried to see what the differences would be with the stock exhaust. With the deckplate off, I didn't notice an power gains as opposed to it being on. It was about the same.

BTW: After going back to the stock exhaust, I noticed I got some of my mid range power back. No change in the low end and a little decrease in top end, but that's all right. I have never dynoed this truck before so my observations could just be pschycological. I just thought I'd share them with y'all....

Chris

[Mr. Ving]

I was thinking about an air box mod and first took out the pipe/tube that goes into the fender. The pipe/tube was easily re-attached. What I noticed most was a hesitation just under 2000 rpms the it would go. I didn't like it so I switched it back. I am going for more of a sleeper approach with a drop in filter and headers with the stock exhaust. I also have TRD shocks on a 2wd sr5, hellwig sway bar, bosch +4's, synthetic fluids, etc. But, it looks and sounds stock.

[AZ TUNDRA]

I don't know how to attach files but if you email me I can attach pics of my mod back to you. I used an aluminum grill from Home Depot. Works well and not real visible.

[red's tundra]

After this thread, I decided to take the deckplate off and test it one more time on my commute home. I actually noticed no gain and a slight loss in both low and top end...needless to say, I put the deckplate right back on when I got home. From my experience, the airbox mod will not do any good if you are running the stock exhaust. Others observations may be different....I am in California so I am lucky enought to have a 3rd cat Anyone else try some variables in their air box test????

Chris

[v8Toilet]

What is the deck plate mod?

[red's tundra]

Originally posted by v8Toilet
What is teh deck plate mod?

Here is a pick:



The deckplate basically allows you to open and close the hole in your air box.

Here is the actual deckplate:

[nhparrot]

red's tundra,
That would make a great entry as a How-to for the June How-to of the month. Whay not write something up?

[Toy4ever]

I will tell you that I noticed a big difference with the air box mod. The only thing you have to do is eliminate hot air coming off the engine. That will cause you to lose hp and torque. I created a fiberglass enclosure that encompasses the air box and the space to the front of the truck. I then put an air scoop in the bottom slot of the bumper to force air up around the right side headlight. I pulled the headlight and trimmed out sheet metal all the way around the small hole that is currently their. I think cleaned up the edges and now I have a bout a 6 inch hole in the front sheet metal. Between the scoop, the hole, the enclosure, and the deckplate cut away, I have noticed a throatier sound and the truck has more of a throttle response..... This is just my experince. I am also running bosch +4 plugs and a k & n drop in filter.....

[Toy4ever]

I have a temp guage in the box that tells me what intake temp I am getting through the air box. It usually is equal to ambient temperature. If you don't have the enclosure, you will take in much hotter air which causes loss of power.....

[DevinSixtySeven]

actually i was going to do the same thing myself, but haven't gotten around to it...i was going to run a 4.5" dia. tube from the hole to a hole in the front of the air box. i was thinking flexible aluminum dryer vent tube might work...

[v8Toilet]

Does your intake system make a lot more noise than the stock setup? I like the noise for a while but after about 10-miles it wears on me and I don’t like it anymore.

[KLS]

Originally posted by DeepStealth
actually i was going to do the same thing myself, but haven't gotten around to it...i was going to run a 4.5" dia. tube from the hole to a hole in the front of the air box. i was thinking flexible aluminum dryer vent tube might work...

There's a lot of resistance to flow in any kind of corrugated tubing.

Ken

[DevinSixtySeven]

not that sort of flexible tubing...this stuff is aluminum, nearly smooth...not the huge ripples like in the usual stuff. this is rigid but moldable.

it makes more noise, it can be annoying given a resonant tone just below the power band, but opening the pipes should get rid of that.

-sean