Cold air intake box

Magroo

New member
Since its summertime I've been focusing on heat management since I'm not really happy with my intake temps. Before I had the air filter sitting right on the the turbo, directly behind the radiator, which is probably the worst place for it.

I decided I needed a cold air intake box just to help get some fresh air in to the system. Last week I moved my battery to the trunk to make room for it.

So after some trial and error with cardboard to get an idea of what I needed, I ordered a sheet of 1/8th inch ABS plastic. ABS seemed like a good solution since it doesnt start to become malleable until about 325*F. If your engine bay gets that hot you have other problems to worry about.

So this is what I came up with. Things may change depending on how this works out. I dont think I am going to keep the pipe insulation. I'll probably build a top for it.
 

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Magroo

New member
It bolts in 3 places and practically snaps in to place when I put it in. I used an smd rework ststion to get the bends in it. I also added some extra reinforcement so could bolt the relay box to it since the battery isn't there anymore.
 

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Magroo

New member
Side notes.

If anyone else does something like this, save your cutoff scrap and soak it in acetone. It will make an ABS paste that works better than any glue or epoxy.

Dont forget about the hood vent as rain will get through it. Its one of the reasons I left that back area open.

I'm probably going to insulate the pipe going to the turbo, and cold side intercooler pipe since its still right next to the radiator

Yes my engine bay is a little bit of a mess still since I went side feed and COP. Working on cleaning that up.
 

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hoys

Member
Looks great! Reminds me of the TTE intake.

Side note, what does your battery relocation look like? Any major issues with it?
 
CMS-GT4":63fjwma1 said:
I am curious what your intake temps are after. Keep us posted.
And what they were before that caused you to take this step!

While you may reduce friction loss with a "cold air intake" (and that is dependent upon filter pressure drops to a large extent, not the ducting), it is unlikely the the intake air temp will be lower than the original factory version (which takes in air not being heated up within the engine compartment).
 

Magroo

New member
I'm not really running a conventional setup. Last year I bought a KO Street brawler kit from someone on the forums for a price too good to pass up. The kit wasn't really designed for an ST185 even tho it does fit barely, as it was designed with an MR2 in mind where the only thing to contend with is the Firewall.

A couple months after installing it I blew the head gasket cause it didn't like 20lbs of boost on the stock 26 year old long block. At that time I figured since I had to do a head gasket I would do all the other upgrades I had been saving for years. Side feed intake, Rebuilt wiring harness for the MSPNP2, 850cc injectors, Supra TT fuel pump, 89 celica GTS fuel rail, front mount intercooler, 264 BC cams, 1zz/1nz COP (I keep switching back and forth), GM 3 bar map sensor, GM Intake Air Temp sensor, Wiseco pistons, Maf Delete, EGR delete, Evap Delete, Cruise control delete.

Anyways with the KO Street Brawler kit and FMIC setup it was too crowded to run the stock air box so for the time being I just slapped an air filter directly on the turbo, which is fine for any other time of the year, but summertime my intake temps just under normal driving were in the 130-140 range. Running 18lbs of boost at those temps is not a good thing. I turned my EBC off just for safety sake and have been running on the 10lb wastegate spring. If I can get back to stock intake temps I'd be happy with that.

I haven't had time to test it, and its 90+ here today and don't feel like going outside. Once the weather cools down a bit I'll get some testing in.


*edit Just wanted to add I'll post battery relocation later. I bought a 2 gauge welding wire kit off ebay and a battery box from walmart. I had to remove the drivers seat and rear seat to run it through the middle of the car, then out of the hole that used to hold the cruise control cable setup. I didn't even have to drill a hole since it was perfect size for a half inch grommet and 2 gauge wire.
 

Magroo

New member
Just a quick update. My intake temps are down about 15*f on average. At idle stuck in traffic im seeing around 135*, Cruising At 40mph I'm in the 115-125*F range now. WOT I'm seeing temps drop to around 100*F @ 18lbs so I guess its doing something. I'm guessing because the air is moving so fast it doesnt have time to pick up and heat from the piping. All of this "testing " was done on 84-86* days.

I didnt like my ghetto pipe insulation so I built a top for it out of the rest of the abs sheet I had.

I'm still going to wrap the intake and cold side intercooler pipe to see if I can further reduce it.

On a somewhat related side note. Ebay radiator fans are meh. I spent $75 on a 10" Spal and it moves so much more air.
 

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