How to gut the Air Box '01

[luckymchl]

Hi, I just bought an '01 4.0, and I put a K & N filter in the air box, could someone explain how to gut the box and what benefits are there from doing this. Thank you

[Randy T.]

I don't know about the gutted airbox. But I don't care for K and N air filters, if you want a good filter go buy a Wix. Look at the K and N, they are about half as thick as a normal filter, less filtered surface area, less air flow, and the oil coating can soak through and cause problems with you MAF and MAP sensors.

[luckymchl]

While I do appreciate your response, the K&N is already in the car. I looked at the Wix filter and I must be missing something. The CFM on the Wix website says 350 while the K&N is 1000+ . I have made at least 12 or more CAI for my cars and friends. Plus dozens of mods over the years. From what I have read, the benefits a CAI has over the gutted box is negligible. 1-3hp, 3-5tq. Not worth the extra money. Kind sucks there is not much for this car. The car is awesome on it's own. Thats not a performance filter and I have always used K&N filters with no oil problems. If a person has that problem, they are over spraying the filter. I just want to gut the box and know it's benefits. Thank you.

Oh, I think I may have figured out a way to to take care of this crushed pipe off the exhaust manifold between the engine and transmission. One more thing, is the madtuner thread and site dead. I emailed him twice and no one responded to my questions here on the site.

[scottyaurorav8]

Yea I made a custom CAI for the aurora. I have a 2001. I actually kinda regret doing it. I should have just kept it stock. I made a custom PCM box to stand my PCM upright, then I had a 4" tube bend around it with a KN filter by behind the headlamp. Im also in the process of developing a heat shield to deflect the heat from the intake tube by the TB area. It will fasten from the preexisting screws that are in place. And that's about it. I just never felt much gains over stock. I think the way to go on this car are cam replacements, tuning, or engine swap to 4.6 and engine tuning.

AS far as gutting the stock air box. There's really no way to do it that would make any sense or benefit. The only thing I did was dremel off the waffle pattern on the area that houses the panel filter. Then smoothed it out. That's literally it. I also ported and polished my Throttle body with a dremel to a mirror finish and the great benefit to that was months later I still have no carbon build up!

Im curious how have you figured out taking care of the crushed pipe?

[tigger]

Sept 1, 2014 15:44:43 GMT -6 scottyaurorav8 said:

...engine swap to 4.6

Agreed. '01 already has CAI (I'll admit it's path restricted), best bang for the buck is a VIN 9.

[plato442]

I'm not sure what gutting the intake box would add much flow. A replacement K&N of course should help. But, I agree will ALL options! I found a virtually new in box Volant CAI (for an STS) that was a direct fit, and it compliments my port and polished TB to my 4.6 engine and my madtuner tune delivers everything well!!

[scottyaurorav8]

Hey Plato if and when you get a chance, could you post up a picture of your engine bay, showing a picture of the volant intake setup. I'm curious how it looks in there. Thanks.

[plato442]

Sept 4, 2014 6:01:14 GMT -6 scottyaurorav8 said:

Hey Plato if and when you get a chance, could you post up a picture of your engine bay, showing a picture of the volant intake setup. I'm curious how it looks in there. Thanks.

Scotty, here are some pics of the engine compartment with the Volant cold air intake, the inside of the air box (don't mind the dirty filter), and one of a clean P&P throttle body!

[plato442]

     

                                                        

[scottyaurorav8]

Wow looks pretty solid Plato. What are your thoughts on the gains?

[plato442]

Thanks! I'm sure there is a power gain but with everything else done to the car, I think it compliments tj all well

[Marc]

The only sure way of finding out what any power increase would be is to first do a run. Record the speed & ET. Then do the mod. Then do another run ASAP. If there's any HP gain it'll show up with improved speed & ET.

[plato442]

Yeah, I know I should have, but wen the car was down getting the oil leak fixed (oil divergent plate) I threw it on.