Modifying your Airaid air box

[KMPrenger]

My AirRaid comes tomorrow...and I'll be hackin it all up and installing after work tomorrow....CANT WAIT!

[VR Baron]

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

My AirRaid comes tomorrow...and I'll be hackin it all up and installing after work tomorrow....CANT WAIT!

Let us know what you think. I will do more holes tommorrow, but not sure which gave KGA more response this time in hotter weather the extra holes, the shield or both? Will never know but I dont yet have his sq aera in holes yet but have a smaller shield. I'll add holes first and see what happens

[Toasty]

It would be VERY helpful if KGA took some dimensions/measurements of the shield when you make up the permanent shield? A paper template (scan) of the finished shield would be WICKED helpful for those of us more challenged in fabricating, LOL.

[icsparks]

On the inlet duct what about a small computer type cooling fan that would blow cool outside air into the box. This would help force outside air from the front of the car and not the heated air from engine area. A separate duct could branch off the box to a location that would pick up cool dry air. Even at a stop light the box would be getting an exchange of air.

[icsparks]

when you all did your install did you have the windows up or down on the car during the bat disconnect? Just wondering which is the better way to go.

[Mankind]

Leave your windows down. Easier to get in and out and it made me nervous when i opened and closed without the auto up and down working. Computer has to reset the limits for them to work correctly. The onboard screen will tell you what to do to set them.

[KMPrenger]

Going to be nearly 100 degrees here today, even before the heat index is factored in. Prolly be a little cooler by the time I have it installed, but if I notice a difference on a day like today I'll be happy lol.

[ScottyB911]

Originally Posted by Mankind

After reading all the ideas and suggestions i have a question. The holes you drilled look pretty kool by the way. Has anyone tried using, say a flexible or universal radiator hose, some kind of tube attached to the box running down to the lwoer fender area like the injen location? You shouldn't risk water lock beacause you are drawing air from the top snorkel as well. Was thinking it might help with cooler air coming from the lower opening of the front facia being sucked through a 2 inch, or so, tube back up top. This set up made some really good numbers with just the snorkel, add more cool air and maybe get even better numbers. Just a thought.

I have been thinking the exact same thing for a while now. My old Porsche used to draw air into the box from the upper part of the fender well.

I was thinking of modifying the "snorkel" to run a tube down to the front but Im actually thinking a clean hole in the bottom of the box with a tube dropping down toward the lower grille or at least the spot where the Injen filter is could be a good thing.

[BaylorCamaro]

Originally Posted by Toasty

It would be VERY helpful if KGA took some dimensions/measurements of the shield when you make up the permanent shield? A paper template (scan) of the finished shield would be WICKED helpful for those of us more challenged in fabricating, LOL.

I like this idea! I've been a little hesitant to swiss cheese my box but it sounds like everyone is having good results. Guess I'll grab some lunch and start drilling!

[SchwarzerDrache]

I just got my Airaid. I need to start drilling. I would like to put a hole in the bottom too but don't want to be the first. Someone else hurry up and do it and let me know how it went!

[kga10734]

Originally Posted by blackbee

Let us know what you think. I will do more holes tommorrow, but not sure which gave KGA more response this time in hotter weather the extra holes, the shield or both? Will never know but I dont yet have his sq aera in holes yet but have a smaller shield. I'll add holes first and see what happens

I think adding the shield to keep the heat out of the intake area was the biggest factor, but more holes couldn't hurt was my thinking. I just added more to get as much air possible around the air filter like all the other CAI systems have, and trying to get that cool air from the same place as those CAI do. The Airaid is the only CAI system with a completely sealed off box except for that one opening which fits the stock snorkel. If I can let more cooler air get to the filter, it can only help not hinder the performance of the car. As I have stated a few times now, This is my first experience with a CAI system. I have never bought one for any of my new vehicles. I have bought many Edelbrock intakes and dropped a nice big double pumper on them, but never a CAI. Airaid came out right after I got my car and I knew I wanted to change out the stock intake. I just don't like the look of them under the hood of the Camaro. As other companies have come out with their CAI I have noticed, with the exception of the regular Injen, that they all are using a shielded wall and getting the air from that corner of the engine bay. Allowing the cool air to come in from the front of the car and from below the fender well, but keeping the hot air from the engine bay out. That is all I'm trying to do with these modifications to the air box.

Worst case scenario is I have to buy another intake system, but I don't think I'm going to have to do that.

Originally Posted by Toasty

It would be VERY helpful if KGA took some dimensions/measurements of the shield when you make up the permanent shield? A paper template (scan) of the finished shield would be WICKED helpful for those of us more challenged in fabricating, LOL.

I'll try to do something like that. Right now all I have is the piece of cardboard I cut up, bent, tapped together and re-cut to get what I wanted. Then I laid it out on top of the piece of sheet aluminum and traced it out. I am getting low on my stash of aluminum, I got it from a place by our shop and the material came from the signs and billboards they make for business.

Originally Posted by SchwarzerDrache

I just got my Airaid. I need to start drilling. I would like to put a hole in the bottom too but don't want to be the first. Someone else hurry up and do it and let me know how it went!

The bottom section sits right over the frame area, and it will be hard to get cool air from there. The shield I made actually covers that area underneath.

I am by no means telling anybody to drill, cut or alter their Airaid air box just because I'm doing it. I like the Airaid and it was making some nice HP and TQ according to the test that JRE did for us. I am just taking their advice from their findings and trying to improve the air flow to the filter. Which in turn should keep the IAT from heating up under throttle, keep the timing up where it needs to be for the best performance, and increase HP and TQ a bit more. So far it seems to be working for me.

[VR Baron]

Originally Posted by kga10734

I think adding the shield to keep the heat out of the intake area was the biggest factor, but more holes couldn't hurt was my thinking. I just added more to get as much air possible around the air filter like all the other CAI systems have, and trying to get that cool air from the same place as those CAI do. The Airaid is the only CAI system with a completely sealed off box except for that one opening which fits the stock snorkel. If I can let more cooler air get to the filter, it can only help not hinder the performance of the car. As I have stated a few times now, This is my first experience with a CAI system. I have never bought one for any of my new vehicles. I have bought many Edelbrock intakes and dropped a nice big double pumper on them, but never a CAI. Airaid came out right after I got my car and I knew I wanted to change out the stock intake. I just don't like the look of them under the hood of the Camaro. As other companies have come out with their CAI I have noticed, with the exception of the regular Injen, that they all are using a shielded wall and getting the air from that corner of the engine bay. Allowing the cool air to come in from the front of the car and from below the fender well, but keeping the hot air from the engine bay out. That is all I'm trying to do with these modifications to the air box.

Worst case scenario is I have to buy another intake system, but I don't think I'm going to have to do that.



I'll try to do something like that. Right now all I have is the piece of cardboard I cut up, bent, tapped together and re-cut to get what I wanted. Then I laid it out on top of the piece of sheet aluminum and traced it out. I am getting low on my stash of aluminum, I got it from a place by our shop and the material came from the signs and billboards they make for business.



The bottom section sits right over the frame area, and it will be hard to get cool air from there. The shield I made actually covers that area underneath.

I am by no means telling anybody to drill, cut or alter their Airaid air box just because I'm doing it. I like the Airaid and it was making some nice HP and TQ according to the test that JRE did for us. I am just taking their advice from their findings and trying to improve the air flow to the filter. Which in turn should keep the IAT from heating up under throttle, keep the timing up where it needs to be for the best performance, and increase HP and TQ a bit more. So far it seems to be working for me.

What he said! All of it. I just added 9 more holes so I have 16 on the front panel in three rows and 6 in two rows on the side to go with the 3x5 rectangle cut out next to the stock inlet.My holes are 3/4" as that is the bit I happened to have. All this equals in square inch area to 43 of KGA's holes just to compare and I think way more then we need. The shield I think helped but mine isn't as good do to lack of materials but covers the open area from the top of the inlet scoop to the top of the box and forward to the front of the car.I doesn't cover the bottom open area under the scoop yet but I don't know if it matters as its a small area and with all the air rushing up and into the engine area and could be just blowing the lighter, hotter air up and back out of the way since hot air rises after all.

As to the hole in the bottom yea I did that but KGA's right and may get some hot air up there but we can't tell for sure unless we are in the engine area while driving and I dont see that happening and my static air temps were hotter there so I closed it up. Again what is all that air at speed doing in the engine compartment at to what effect? All I can tell is that up to this point it sure does help alot!!! My test drive tonight showed no more improvement with the extra holes but I need more drive time. They all do help alot as temps rise, 87 here today and the car was strong and smooth with only a slight drop off in response from 72 degrees!!

All we need now is some IAT temps to verify what real improvement we got.

[icsparks]

I installed my Airaid today and still thinking of the cooling fan Idea. Does anybody know what CFM of air the engine pulls in from idle to full open?
The small fans don't cost very much and should be easy to install. Adding a heat shield directly to the sidewall of the box on the lower engine side would help. I felt down around the box and this is the area with the greatest heat buildup. The box felt hot.

May as well not have the box if going to let more heated engine air in by drilling more holes. This is also adding other ways for dirt and dust to reach the filter from the tire wells. I live on a dusty back road so I have to stick to the factory grill inlet duct and figure something out with it.

[KMPrenger]

Installed my AirRaid last night also, and drilled holes basically like KGAs...

...unfortunently I didn't have time to take it out for a spin (bummer) and all I got to do was start it up and rev it. The magnaflows I have were already pretty low toned on cold start up, so I couldn't tell much of a change there. It may have been a bit louder. When it idled down it sounded about the same, but when I reved it up it definitely sounded meaner, stronger and like it wanted to run! Very good stuff there!

I will definitely be taking her out for a spin today after work, although it is super hot again today which sucks.

On a side note, I enjoyed the install and it wasn't bad....cept I hated installing the rubber thingy around the top of the box. I think that was the worst part....I think it should come with it installed and glued in place from the factory. That would be my only recommendation (besides more holes in the bottom of course lol).

Oh yeah..one more thing. My car wouldn't start for the first 2 or 3 key turns. lights and dash and everything came on, but wouldn't try to start. Then finally it just started right up. Is that normal?? lol