Cheap ways to get more "go"

[jpless]

Make sure you have a couple blades for the dremel. I started off with just one, thinking I had more in the box, and when it was done I ended up having to jump in my friend's car (he was helping me do the mod) and speed my a$$ off to get to the hardware store before it closed (i had about 5 minutes).

I used the walkthrough that I found on yotatech.com and everything went well. It'd be nice to have a long extension for your ratchet because I didn't and thus I had to move the windshield wiper fluid stem to the side.

Also, make sure you take your time with the cutting. What I did was i put the deckplate directly on the box in the front, a little to the left side so the washer fluid stem wouldnt block airflow to it, and then trace both the inner and the outer circles. A good thing to use is one of the silver sharpies used for marking on black surfaces. Then start cutting from the inside out, that way if you mess up, you dont necessarily make the hole too big.

All in all, if you refer to one of the several walkthroughs it'll be easy. Hope it works out, it's a great mod and I love it.

 

[Blade]

I just want to thank everyone for their help and advice on getting me through the "Deck Plate Mod". It came out perfect!! The hardest part was dremeling the hole in the airbox; it maybe took me a half hour. Everything went back together okay. Amsoil filter is in. All told, maybe it took 90 minutes to complete.

How long before the ECU retrains itself for the increased flow? I didn't pull the fuse out. What do you think?

 

[SolaraT]

I did this yesterday as well. It came out great except I followed some DIY that recomended a 4.25" round cutting bit but I would have been better off with a 4.50" for a perfect fit. I had to trim some more off. Only took 3 minutes. Total project took about 90 minutes too. Took off the elbows, screened, replaced, PCV, Cleaned throttle body, & changed oil. Man that throttle body was NASTY and the PCV was almost cloged. That plus more free flowing air definatly alowed quicker throttle response.

The only thing I need now is the Amsoil filter and I'm set.

Here are a few pics...

 

[SolaraT]

Pic 2

 

[jpless]

I screened as well but i put the screen on the deckplate. If you reach in where the filter goes and use the same technique for putting the screen on the elbow you'll end up with the same thing i've got (deckplate mod wise). I prefer this because it keeps leaves and bugs and other large debris out of the box. Pic of it is shown on page1 of this thread.

Also: for ecu response. not sure how long it takes. I heard one full tank should do it. I recomend taking out the ecu because its performing as if you hadn't done the mod and therefore its basically like adding extra air but not changing the performance. I've actually taken it out a couple times because when i first did it was flying around everywhere and wasting gas like heck (i get like 12-13 mpg on average, basically what i got before the mod but i go faster now). I take it out basically when i change my driving habbits. When i stopped flooring it all the time i started noticing harder shifts and after resetting the ecu it was better.

 

[SolaraT]

I thought about that screen you used but the holes are a bit to big and scarry for me. I just used metal window screening material. I don't know where the ECU is. What do I do?

 

[jpless]

Well yea my screen is a little big but it seems as if you didn't screen the deckplate and only screened the elbow.

The ecu: open the fuse box, look on the inside and it should tell you. I have a 98 and on the left side of the fuse box (if standing at the front of the vehicle) has like a 20amp fuse with 3 15amp fuses below it. The middle 15amp fuse is for the ecu. Check the fusebox diagram tho (should be stuck onto the inside cover of the box or in the manual...also search this site and yotatech.com forums if you don't find it)

 

[SolaraT]

Thanks for the ECU info! Yeah I did screen the DP. You just can't tell in the pic.
You got to look real hard. lol

 

[SolaraT]

I thought you where saying to litteraly take out the ECU and put it back in. I know where that fuse is.

 

[phishman9]

Does taking out the elbow help as well? I figured it was either the elbow or the deckplate and not both. I just did the deckplate this weekend and it's great, but left the elbow in since I figured it's pulling most air from the front.

btw, TRD or amsoil? I think the TRD is made by AFE and it seems better here..... http://home.usadatanet.net/~jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm

 

[jpless]

i believe the trd filter is the same as the K&N but it says TRD.

 

[SolaraT]

The reason I took the elbow out along with the deck plate because I want the least restrictions as posible. Also I noticed that the elbow picks up ALOT of dirt from the fender well. At least now the box has an extension pointing in that direction but nothing to restrict it and suck dirt from the well as much as it did before.

Amsoil for me. It also filters out more then K&N and is just as high flow or better.

 

[phishman9]

Wix filter

Judging by some of that data on the link in my last post, I think I'm going with a Wix drop in filter. I know lots of guys really like the K&N, but it just lets too much through. And the foam/oiled filters can get the MAF dirty after a while.

I have a buddy that races Baja and swears by the Wix filters, so I guess I'll give it a shot. Seems like a happy medium between flow and protection.