I've noticed a few people here have cut open their stock airbox, just like this guy:

http://serjimr.tripod.com/airbox.html

I understand that it's done mainly for sound reasons. I was thinking about it though....If you cut the airbox like is explained in the above link, wouldn't it be detrimental to the amount power made by the motor? Think about it. The airbox would be drawing HOT air from inside the engine bay. :confused: The colder the air the better, right?

I was pondering doing this to the SE-R, and I just wanted to run my thoughts by you guys. Am I wrong? Has anyone else done this?

Thanks..................

Joe

The car pulled 122.7hp and 119.3ft-lb torque last weekend with the hood open, if that make any difference. ;)

There's a hole in the engine bay where the resonator tub used to be, so air is partially drawn up from the air flowing into the fender. Plus, a good swirl of air comes around the battery when the car is in motion. The side of the airbox that faces the engine wasn't hacked, nor was the top - the open part faces down and to the driver's side. Whether or not that helps in the heat shielding, I don't know.

A lot of people pay real money to run cone filters, and my setup isn't any more susceptible to heat than that. It's free, too. If you don't want to go all the way, just take off the three-outlet plastic tube that connects to the airbox. You'll hear your SR20 more at WOT, and you'll bypass the useless resonator.

*** take the bottom part off and zip tie the filter to the top part of the air box and hey u got sound and add a k and n for a pony or 2 no need to cut a perfectly good airbox, btw if u dont have zip ties long enough *** use to or three small ones and together im using 3 small ones to wrap around mine

Or duct tape. That's really ghetto - just peel and replace when you change filters.

I can't say cutting is for everyone, but you can't be cool and Innovative™ unless you do scary, irreversable things to your car. :cool:

My setup retains the stock functioning of the airbox, which is something I wanted, personally. When I need to mess with it, I can pop the clips and use it like it came from the factory. The bottom half of the airbox stays in place and keeps the top from flopping around, too. Total stealth.

Your car, your call.

JimR- Thanks for your post. Also thanks for the instructions on how "ghetto rig" the airbox.

The engine heat was my only concern. Didn't want to make the engine louder, but strip power at the same time. And I definately did not want to buy a CAI or short ram intake, seeing as how I'm looking to auto-x on a shoestring budget;)

Looks like I have another fun little project to work on this weekend.....Thanks!

If you're running Solo II Stock class, just make you don't do anything you can't put back:

Stock 13.10 Engine and Drive Train
The engine air filter element may be removed or replaced. A replacement element which is taller than standard may not be used to hold the air cleaner cover open. No other components of the air induction system may be removed, replaced or modified.

It sounds good, thats good enough to do it I guess?

instead of makin the ghetto air box mod quite so "ghetto"...
try removin the lower half of the air box and cutting around it just below the metal clips so that you can still use them to hold the filter in and then remove the resonator and air horn...to the untrainned eye it will look stock...and changing the filter is much easier than cuttin zip ties and what not...hope this helps....

I'm gonna start charging up my dremmel for this weekend. Definately will keep the bottom half of the box so the filter can be clipped in place.

Thanks guys for your help. :D

Just did the mod for myself...didn't have a dremmel so I used a hacksaw and scroll saw...worked all the same..I've gotta say I like the sound...thanks Jim

either way it wont make much of a difference power wise... before i had the cai i just took it off to hear that growl

not a big deal

Originally posted by Limited Slip
either way it wont make much of a difference power wise... before i had the cai i just took it off to hear that growl

not a big deal

Actually, it will. I had my car on the dyno, and for one run I pulled the air box completely off. I gained about 4 HP on the top end, but it was not worth it as a bunch of torque (about 8-10 lb*ft) was lost on the bottom end.

Aaron

I have cut every air box in every car/truck/scoot/atv I have ever owned. It is a gain and that's all that counts. I have talked many of friends into having me cut their airboxes too.

holy resurection....someones been searching for something! what exactly was it that you were searching for that lead you to this thread???

p.s. i cut my airbox when i first got my se-r...woot woot! sound is good! butt dyno improved as well.