DIY: Short ram intake cold air inlet

[One_love_silvia]

Not really sure where to put this, so i thought this was the most appropriate spot.

People are always asking "should i get a short ram or cold air intake?" Well, I've got the solution to the problem! you can get a short ram intake with the possibility of it sucking in cold air! It was inspired by the ac ducting inlet idea that some people rock. It doesn't have as much air flow as the size is restricted (unless you want to cut metal off your car), but it doesn't look nearly as goofy, and is actually hardly noticeable.

DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE THAT HAPPENS TO YOUR VEHICLE WITH THIS MODIFICATION. THIS HAS NOT BEEN TESTED IN RAIN STORMS OR PUDDLES.

most items such as the metal strip, pvc pipe, bolts, nuts, and lock washers can be purchased at home depot on the cheap.

what you need:
-stock lower intake box
-drill
-drill bit
-rubber mallet
-chisel
-pliers
-2 piece pvc pipe that connects to each other
-(depending on the size hole you drill) a bolt, lock washer, and nut
-hack saw
-metal sheet to make bracket with
-wrenches (cant remember sizes. from 8mm-12mm)
im not going to explain how to take out the air box. if u need help with that, u probably shouldnt even be driving a car.


step 1: take out lower intake box

step 2: with hacksaw, saw off tip of intake box. meaning the pieces that look like O D

step 3: if u have a drill bit big enough to cut big holes, u can use that, but i just used a mallet and chisel. start chipping away at the plastic in order to make the same shape that the metal hole in the fender makes. kind of looks like a jelly bean.

step 4: there is going to be a wall in the intake box, dividing the 2 sides. take the chisel and mallet and cut all the way down on one side, and then the other, so there is no more wall separating the 2 sides. only do this for where the hole area is.

step 5: take pliers, and just brake off the wall. it all breaks very easily.

note: for areas that u cant break off with the chisel, u can use the pliers.

step 6: start forming the jelly bean shape hole by cutting/chipping away plastic.

step 7: once you are all done with this, u can start working on the bottom part. there is a higher and lower surface on the bottom. the higher surface is what you will be cutting.
from about half width of the box, start hacking away at the entire upper face. make sure you are cutting the right side. it can get confusing because its upside down.

step 8: you will also have to break off the edge of the upper face so it is level with the lower face. this allows the pvc pipe to turn forwards.

step 9: once u are finished with the intake box, you can start on the bracket. i personally bought a strip from home depot that already had holes in it. this also allows for adjustments if necessary.

the body of the car curves down some, so you are going to need to bend the bracket quite a bit. cut about (guesstimating) 10 inches for the bar.

once you are done bending the bracket, it should look similar to a fishing hook. something like... ____,,,,,,\ without the dots... i needed them to make this shape.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,\___J note: ur font size has to be a certain size to view this right.

bolt it down with the stock nut and stud shown in the picture

step 10: put the 2 pvc pipe pieces together so it looks similar to an S.

step 11: once u have this done, bolt the stock lower intake box back up to the car, and test fit the pvc piping. you are probably going to have to maneuver it around a bit to get it to go through.

step 12: get a marker or sharpie or something so you can make on the pvc pipe. find the nearest hole on the bracket that will sit flush with the pipe, and stick the marker through the hole and mark where you will need to drill the hole.

step 13: take the pipe back out, and get the drill and drill bit, and drill a hole in the area you marked. make sure you dont drill too big, or it might be difficult to find a bolt that wont fall through the holes. i personally only drilled a hole big enough to allow a 1/4 inch bolt through, tho 3/8 would work too.

step 14: put the pipe back in, check how well you marked and drilled the hole. if it works out, good. if not, repeat step 13 until you get it right.

step 15: bolt up the pipe to the bracket, and make sure to make it nice and tight. the lock washer goes on the side facing the engine, so it goes:
nut>bolt comes through>pipe>bracket>washer>bolt

step 16: bolt every thing down nice and tight, and you're good to go!

your intake is now sucking in cold air from outside the car! and the faster you go, the more air that comes through! (obviously). when you're done, the pvc pipe inlet should be pointing directly at the intake filter just as mine is.


sorry if any thing is unclear. this is my first write up, and i wasn't planning on doing it, but here i am lol. wish i had more pics, but alas, i dont.

i can confidently say i noticed an increase in hp after doing this. i couldn't really feel it too much when i installed just the intake (though second gear scratch became apparent, i couldn't actually FEEL or really see - on the tach - an increase), but after this, i definitely did. and for obvious reasons, it works better at night.i live in san diego, so im not quite sure how well it will work if you live in hot climates like nevada or AZ, but its worth a try, and it only cost me about a $12 total.

pics:
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e266/deathsreaper200/IMG00376-20110604-1639.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e266/deathsreaper200/IMG00378-20110604-1639.jpg

[curbhuggerrps13]

how does it fair in a puddle? i know we are from cali but you seen the end of the world storms that have been going on

[One_love_silvia]

ummmm i only just did it, so im not sure how it will fair in a rain storm, but i couldn't imagine water shooting up it into the intake filter.

and if need be, it literally takes a couple minutes (if that) to take it out, so you can just take it out for when its raining. or if u wish to keep it in but are really scared of hydro lock, u can just get one of these: Injen Intake Accessories - Hydro-Shield Water Repellant Pre-Filter (Black) for 95-98 Nissan 240sx at Andy's Auto Sport (http://www.andysautosport.com/nissan/1995_1998_240sx/performance/intakes/intake_accessories/injen/inje00128620.html)

but from what i have read, hydrolock doesnt really happen too often, and thats with the intake going all the way down there, so like i said, i assume this should be safe. il put a warning in the diy though just incase.

[curbhuggerrps13]

i also used a circular saw and made holes in stock air box back in the days that i couldn't afford mods....well i still cant but it does divert water if it gets in there.

[ayuaddict]

I never knew S13s had a lower intake box...

[ericcastro]

Instead of that little circular tube, why dont you just remove that whole box leaving a giant oval open to let air in?

[One_love_silvia]

I never knew S13s had a lower intake box...

idk if they do or not. i suppose if they dont, this diy is for s14's only.

Instead of that little circular tube, why dont you just remove that whole box leaving a giant oval open to let air in?

if i was to just leave the hole there, air wouldnt flow in, as much as just seep in.

that hole is hiding behind some stuff, including the bumper. u wouldnt get much air flow.

not to mention a solid directed flow is much better. if i was to just leave a hole there, the air could go where ever it could flow. however, with the pipe, it directs the air right to the intake and no where else. its the only way to guarantee the intake is getting the air. and its not just flowing to the intake. its shooting INTO it.

im gunna try and use an analogy here.... think of it like smoke from a fire. in an open fire thats in a fire pit, the smoke blows in any which direction possible. however, with a fire in a fire place, the smoke is directed up and out of the house, rather than staying and flowing in the house.

hope that helps

[Hashiriya415]

I read through your whole thing in like 5 seconds. There is a problem with your setup, you have not installed a pressure and temp sens after the filter so you have no idea if its better or worse then factory. Judging from the pics, your pipe throwing air into the engine bay is worse then factory ram air.

[One_love_silvia]

I read through your whole thing in like 5 seconds. There is a problem with your setup, you have not installed a pressure and temp sens after the filter so you have no idea if its better or worse then factory. Judging from the pics, your pipe throwing air into the engine bay is worse then factory ram air.

what are u talking about? i have an aem short ram intake. and a pipe that throws air at the intake.

i honestly have no clue what you're talking about. perhaps u thought i had a stock intake? specified a little more in the original post to get rid of any confusion

[ayuaddict]

S13, S14, same thing.

If you don't have a stock intake, why is the lower (now mutilated) half of your airbox still there?

Also, you stated that your PVC pipe contraption "throws" cold air at the intake. Do you mean it directs air from behind the bumper in the general direction of your air filter? If so, to put it simply - that's not gonna do shit.

IF you wanted to get serious, you could get a 2.5" or 3" (or whatever dia. the throttle body is) velocity stack, place that facing the front of your vehicle and run an inline air filter between that and your throttle body for a "ram air" effect.

That's still not gonna do shit.

[One_love_silvia]

S13, S14, same thing.

If you don't have a stock intake, why is the lower (now mutilated) half of your airbox still there?

i didn't remove it. and it helps hold in the pvc pipe.

Also, you stated that your PVC pipe contraption "throws" cold air at the intake. Do you mean it directs air from behind the bumper in the general direction of your air filter? If so, to put it simply - that's not gonna do shit.


yes thats what i meant. as u drive, it scoops up cold air from outside the car like a shovel. it flows through the pipe, and into the engine bay, right at the intake.
and yes, it does do "shit". its the same concept as a cold air intake, but instead of bringing the intake to the air, im bring the air to the intake.

and as i stated, i was able to feel a difference, so thats ur proof to it having an effect or not.

[Hashiriya415]

you only have a small pipe aiming at your filter, while you are getting a small 20-30% of cold air thrown at the filter. The other 70-80% of air will be the hot engine bay air getting up into your filter. And 2nd this is no ram air. Ram intake has a charge, which you obviously don't know, that is why I say in the beginning you have no pressure sensor to even test any of your work that you do, because the factory creates some pressure while the car is traveling and your throttle is not open all the way.
Your thread is kinda pointless because there is a very good write up somewhere, that has a complete fully functioning intake write up somewhere. I remember it was 3 setups, factory which had around half a psi, just a filter which was like nothing, and then his setup which made 2-3 psi right before the turbo.
I have fucking seen civic owner at Honda bring their retarded intakes with computer fan, thinking that it will give them extra power. Please google a properly setup intake. At least make a box for it so you don't draw hot air from engine bay. Then create a proper ducting starting from the bumper, understand from bumper, not a foot after bumper.

[One_love_silvia]

you only have a small pipe aiming at your filter, while you are getting a small 20-30% of cold air thrown at the filter. The other 70-80% of air will be the hot engine bay air getting up into your filter. And 2nd this is no ram air. Ram intake has a charge, which you obviously don't know, that is why I say in the beginning you have no pressure sensor to even test any of your work that you do, because the factory creates some pressure while the car is traveling and your throttle is not open all the way.


20-30 percent cold air is better than 100% hot air. i dont think u guys are getting it. im not saying doing this mod will make ur car have a short ram intake.
I ALREADY HAVE AN AEM SHORT RAM INTAKE.

without this mod, it would simply be sucking in the hot air of the engine bay as u stated, just as any other short ram intake does. however, this mod allows cold air from outside the car, into the engine bay, and at the intake's filter.

note: this is a SHORT RAM INTAKE with a CONE FILTER. if u guys dont understand that, then idk what else to say. i know for a fact it works. not to mention simple logic. u guys are just thinking too hard.

i can take the pipe out, blow into it in one end, and feel the air come out the other end. there for, when driving, the "wind" i guess u could call it from the vehicle moving, flows through the pipe, and into the engine bay.

i really cant lay it down any simpler.

im not saying this is some hot ass design guaranteeing u 20 hp. its just a simple intake cold air inlet, that lets in cold air.

and it doesnt matter if its from the front bumper or a foot back. as long as it hangs down far enough, it will scoop up air. air passes through the bumper vents right to it. and if thats not enough, air from under the car flows to it as well.

and i dont know why ur talking about turbos. this is for my stock ka24DE.

[s14tan]

I made mine out of a Vaccum hose, like a house vac. I can post pics upon request,

[Hashiriya415]

Factory is all 100% cold.
Do people even know what the definition of "ram" means?
1. To strike or drive against with a heavy impact; butt: rammed the door with a sledgehammer until it broke open.
2. To force or press into place.
3. To cram; stuff: rammed the clothes into the suitcase.
4. To force passage or acceptance of: rammed the project through the city council despite local opposition.

Tell me if your short intake crams air into the engine or does it just hang in the engine bay and let the engine suck up the air?

I'm not talking about turbo's at all. I'm saying the guy that did 3 different setups and was smart and actually took readings of how well the 3 intake setups performed, he put the pressure sensor in front of the turbo. I'm giving you keywords so you can find this and see how to build yourself a correct intake and stop telling people that putting a pipe will do something. The guy that had the computer fan said he felt 10 hp difference after I switched his spark plugs, his old plugs were in new condition. He also says that adding a quart of oil on top of the fill line on dipstick made his car even faster.
One_love_silvia, you might have great ideas on your mind, but until you can prove any air pressure difference in your intake, you have no way of knowing on what level your intake is on.

[curbhuggerrps13]

Are u running a heat shield of any on the intake itself?

[mitcheyismyname]

To the op: Just dyno your car (not butt dyno), and post results. Good write up and everything but people like seeing results in numbers. Honestly I run a stock setup with the resonator box removed. works perfect with the stock Y pipe getting air from just below the bumper and the left headlight.

[One_love_silvia]

^thank you. though i definitely dont have the money to do a dyno lol. if i had one available tho, i would.

Factory is all 100% cold.
Do people even know what the definition of "ram" means?
1. To strike or drive against with a heavy impact; butt: rammed the door with a sledgehammer until it broke open.
2. To force or press into place.
3. To cram; stuff: rammed the clothes into the suitcase.
4. To force passage or acceptance of: rammed the project through the city council despite local opposition.

Tell me if your short intake crams air into the engine or does it just hang in the engine bay and let the engine suck up the air?

I'm not talking about turbo's at all. I'm saying the guy that did 3 different setups and was smart and actually took readings of how well the 3 intake setups performed, he put the pressure sensor in front of the turbo. I'm giving you keywords so you can find this and see how to build yourself a correct intake and stop telling people that putting a pipe will do something. The guy that had the computer fan said he felt 10 hp difference after I switched his spark plugs, his old plugs were in new condition. He also says that adding a quart of oil on top of the fill line on dipstick made his car even faster.
One_love_silvia, you might have great ideas on your mind, but until you can prove any air pressure difference in your intake, you have no way of knowing on what level your intake is on.

95-98 Nissan 240sx Short Ram Intakes from AEM at Andy's Auto Sport (http://www.andysautosport.com/nissan/1995_1998_240sx/performance/intakes/short_ram_intakes/aem/)
^this is why i am saying its a short ram intake. it is CALLED a short ram intake.


and no, no heat shield yet. i was thinking depending on how much i have left over, i might wrap the tube in gold foil heat wrap. ive yet to make a heat shield for it tho.

[Hashiriya415]

Have you thought about removing your filter, connect pipe and route it down through that hole and attach the filter down there.

[!Zar!]

Probably made your car slower with the weight of that vs the power you made.

[One_love_silvia]

Have you thought about removing your filter, connect pipe and route it down through that hole and attach the filter down there.
That would defeat the entire purpose of this. I did this so its not necessary to turn it into a cold air intake to get cold air. This will also most likely prevent thje hydrolock people suffer with true cold air intakes.

And to the above, it only weights a coupe pounds. U or ur car aren't going to feel a difference that much of a weigh loss. Its better to get the cold air to it than to lose 3 pounds.


If u guys don't think it'll help, then don't do it. But I'd like u to stop questioning it in this thread. Its only a 12$ mod, that I can personally say I felt increase my speed, and using simple logic, I can say I am receiving cold air to the intake. Its here for people who want to do a cheap mod to gain a little more hp off their short ram intakes.

[ayuaddict]

Man, I chuckle to myself every time i see "gentlemon". Never gets old.

[ericcastro]

Have you thought about removing your filter, connect pipe and route it down through that hole and attach the filter down there.

THAT, would actually get the cold air into the engine.

I understand your concept, but your execution isnt really doing what you want imo.

I believe you would get better flow if you just removed the airflow impedeing hose, and cut the front off that box.
Creating a bigger scoop and a oval outlet twice the size of that pipe.

What will actually get your entire car running cooler is if you put the lower shroud on under the fan.
That will create the airflow that the car was made to have, and stop a lot of the turbulence that is going on in the engine bay right now.

I am sure it helps a little, but could be a lot more efficent with the same amount of work and just doing it a bit different.

[chiboy002]

I never knew S13s had a lower intake box...

yeah they did, it was the biggest waste of room and plastic on that car hands down

just an empty box under the driver side fender, no filter, nothing. just dead air

[chiboy002]

Among the 3 of these intake which is much better:

Short Ram
Cold Air
Complete Cold air intake

If ever that i will get a short ram, will it increase the horsepower??
(http://www.thepartsbin.com/brands/street_performance/street_performance_short_ram_intake.html)
intakes hardly give noticeable power increase

also, theyre all pretty much the same lol

just get a good filter, no need for expensive/over priced metal tubing that doesnt flow any better than stock

[One_love_silvia]

Among the 3 of these intake which is much better:

Short Ram
Cold Air
Complete Cold air intake

If ever that i will get a short ram, will it increase the horsepower??

___________________
Rose, Illinois 61108
Street Performance Short Ram Intake (http://www.thepartsbin.com/brands/street_performance/street_performance_short_ram_intake.html)

idk how strict illinois is on smog, but if u dont need the carb sticker like i do in cali, just get an ebay short ram. and people are always saying its not a noticeable difference, but i sure as hell can tell. imo those people just don't drive their car enough to be able to tell a difference.

super street proved the aem short ram increased whp by 8 at its peak gains, somewhere around 5k rpm

[Banana_Cute]

Relocate battery, get a cold pipe that runs all the way down under the bumper.

Shorter, colder. WIN.

[ayuaddict]

What if you routed the intake into the cabin, up to a dash vent and kept your AC on all the time?

Parasitic loss from AC pump + cold dense air into the engine = cancels each other for no noticeable difference = every other aftermarket intake.

[towlie]

super street proved the aem short ram increased whp by 8 at its peak gains, somewhere around 5k rpm

8whp won't even be noticeable. I think air intake kits are one of the most overrated mods

[!Zar!]

The greatest increase in power when it comes to intake is swapping out the OEM filter to something else.

Be it a panel filter or cone.



FYI: My turbo blows hot air into my intake manifold. MINDFUCK

[chiboy002]

idk how strict illinois is on smog, but if u dont need the carb sticker like i do in cali, just get an ebay short ram. and people are always saying its not a noticeable difference, but i sure as hell can tell.

the butt dyno is 100% accurate, it sure is. :facepalm:

The greatest increase in power when it comes to intake is swapping out the OEM filter to something else.

Be it a panel filter or cone.

yeah or at least make the flow in the stock system less restricting by drilling holes in the pre-filter plastic

[One_love_silvia]

the butt dyno is 100% accurate, it sure is. :facepalm:



Iif u can't tell a difference in 8whp, then u aren't driving ur car enough, or hard enough.

If u require a dyno to tell if u gained hp from an intake, then that's like saying i need a profession driver to tell u if my cusco cf rear strut makes a difference. Cuz that sure as hell makes a big difference.

Not attacking anyone. Just saying, if u can't feel differences in ur car like that, then u don't drive it enough, nor do u drive it hard enough. It might not make a difference with 8whp when u have a lot of hp, but as compared to stock, u sure as hell can.