MAKING my own go-fast bits

Tj-zetec · 13-08-2007, 05:40 PM

So after my heroic quest to find a cold air intake that wasn't gonna cost me an arm and a leg turned up SFA i decided to make my own.

Just as well i didn't part with the big bucks too because i was recently informed (ta melbzetec) that an ST170 airbox and snorkel will bring similar results for a fraction of the cost, i'm gonna scout out a few wreckers before i try ford though to see if i can scrimp a few more dollars.

a post on focaljet.com's forums and this article parts 1 2 3 4 and 5 (which i strongly recommend reading) inspired me to modify my stock intake to catch more cold air.

I made it from a sheet of 0.3mm aluminium which i got from work for nothing and spent a few hours, with which i had nothing better to do, measuring drawing and bending this up.

I even made a diagram incase anyone wanted to copy it, just for the hell of it.

I haven't had much of a chance to drive it, but it does seem to have a bit more low rpm pull and a noticeable pick up in throttle response.

I know it was the shonky way out but i reckon when coupled with an ST170 box and snorkel it'll work just as well as any other cold air intake and it didn't cost me a cent as opposed to $600 for the pipercross viper or $800+ for the volant system from the US.

I'm just curious to see if it picks up a lot of bugs and rubbish. i'll drive it round for a week and then pull the filter out of it and see i suppose.

BTW:It's in at Hitech mufflers right now getting a complete stainless steel exhaust and extractors made for it. thanks again to the people that gave me the heads up there too

fordel · 13-08-2007, 06:34 PM

Nice work, hope it works out well for you

Piotr · 13-08-2007, 06:39 PM

Wow that looks very nice. Good to see someone having a go themselves not just throwing the cheque book around.

More revs · 14-08-2007, 11:03 AM

Doh

You forgot the LS.....

I'm thinking of doing the same with my LS.

zetec · 14-08-2007, 11:21 AM

You could perfect that with a 2.0 Auto Air deflector for around $45 which puts a cover over it too!

14-08-2007, 01:08 PM

Nothing like backyard engineering. Its a good feeling coming up with something that is just as good as a several hundred dollar part and only requires a few bucks, good tools, imagination and time.

melbzetec · 14-08-2007, 01:32 PM

Nice job TJ. Very neat indeed.
Probably the best bit of fabrication for the intake I've seen anywhere

A personal view (and that's all it is). I would look at creating a similar shroud, but one that goes over the intake.

My view is that it is not so much a matter of airflow, but air pressure.
I think of the air that is forced into the front grill creating a real area of high air pressure, and with the shroud going over the intake, and the area underneath it open to the grill area, allows the air to be sucked in from this high pressure area. (Sort of what the air deflector Matt is talking about does, but doesn't fit neatly with an ST170 intake)

It all depends on whether you think air is forced into the engine, or whether the engine sucks!!!!

melbzetec · 14-08-2007, 01:37 PM

And now I've opened the articles and realised they are the great articles from Autospeed on exactly my point about air pressure

But I hadn't thought about the air pressure IN the intake. mmmm. Not sure which way works best....maybe both the same!

Then again.....................I'll go away. I am just rambling now

Tj-zetec · 14-08-2007, 04:30 PM

That is a very valid point. but i would have thought that the under side of the bonnet would work as a top for it.

meh.. i've still got a big sheet of aluminium left (which didnt cost me anything, so if i stuff it or it turns out to be a waste of time i didnt lose anything) and i'm going down to wakefield park in sept, so if i get bored, i can make another one with a top, and compare the two for no other reason than to go 'hey, that did something'