DIY: High Flow Stock Airbox (Swiss Cheese Mod)

[CREGAN]

Hey guys- new to the forum and my Tahoe, but soaking up all the info like a sponge! Did the Swiss cheese mod tonight. Looks and sounds good. Just cleaning my K&N to put back in tomorrow. I took pics but haven't figured out how to post yet.

I do have a question though- Do I have to disconnect the battery and let it sit for a while to reset the computer now?

Thanks
Craig

 

[chip]

No you do not.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

actually this does nothing
this mythhasbeen busted
when they did the experiment the only way they increased horse power by a tad was running a hose outside the vehicle and sticking it on the front bumper and they increased it be 2 or 3 hp the factory intake gives the most hp over the aftermarket intakes as well as jerry riggen or modifying the factory system
and this is fact not opinion the cars were run on a dyno with each intake setup less HP every time

---------- Post added at 09:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:24 AM ----------

we also did experiments at UTI
some creative student who actually bought a K&N intake for his honda we stuck it on the dyno and it actually had less HP then the factory intake

Your comparing a 1.6L engine to a 5.3 or 6.0L engine.

The intake on my 96 integra is bigger than the opening in the fender on my 6.0L Denali.

Is this mod going to make a HUGE difference? No, but it costs nothing, and the "downside" is more intake noise, and some slightly increased opportunity to hydrolock the engine I suppose. If you are kicking up tons of water in the area where this mod exposes the filter than this is not for you obviously.

I have noticed (according to my dash readout) a slight MPG improvement, and slightly more intake noise when outside the vehicle. You cannot hear the difference inside.

 

[owl_93]

Just swiss cheesed my airbox and dropped in a k&n. No huge difference but its a little more peppy. Im just trying to compensate for my heavy-ass tires.

here's my airbox. I could probably drill it out some more for more noticeable results. These are 1/2" holes

 

[ezdaar]

should have not drilled those holes..

should have cut the bottom out minus the mounting holes and removed the steel plate below the air box.
If your going to mod a oem air box, go all the way or not at all..

 

[owl_93]

should have not drilled those holes..

should have cut the bottom out and removed the steel plate below the air box.
If your going to mod a oem air box, go all the way or not at all..

The holes are fine since they're far below the air filter. The only possible issue with them is they might be getting warmer air since theyre next to the coolant tank.

I cant remove the plate below because thats what the airbox is fixed too. Maybe in the future I could cut out a square hole in both the plate and box and but steel mesh over the hole but I don't have the tools right now.

 

[Red Rider]

I just don't see this working. Has anyone dyno tested this? I just don't see why GM would not do this if it gave added MPG and better throttle response. Engineers at GM could not figure it out?

 

[TheAutumnWind]

I just don't see this working. Has anyone dyno tested this? I just don't see why GM would not do this if it gave added MPG and better throttle response. Engineers at GM could not figure it out?

Aftermarket intakes have dyno confirmed performance increases. There are other trade offs. Noise, cost, and extreme weather situations were all taken into account when these were designed by GM. I certainly understand your skepticism, but you could say that sort of thing about all modifications.

For example Why aren't all 4l60e's built with shift kits, heavy duty sun shell's, etc when longevity and performance are improved.

 

[ezdaar]

Yes, you can remove the plate and cut open the bottom of the box.
I know this as fact because I personally have done it to two of my own box's, and many for friends.

You cut out all material between the box mounting holes. It completely opens the bottom of the box. then you simple bolt it down to the fender.

This give you a HUGE straight shot for air flow from behind the bumper and in front of tire.

Before telling someone that it cannot be done, you might try it for your self or ask how they know it works or how to do it.

modding the box in this way with a good cloth filter and a air raid Jr is IMO the best and cheapest way to get a Functional CAI that is not a complete waste of money and time installing some elaborate system.


Those BS tiny ass holes you drilled do nothing but allow hot air to enter your system, if anything you lost power due this fact.
FYI. that's not even the correct location to do the "swiss cheese" method which BTW doesn't work worth a shit if you don't do what? REMOVE THE PLATE below the box.


/rant off
/end thread

 

[owl_93]

Yes, you can remove the plate and cut open the bottom of the box.
I know this as fact because I personally have done it to two of my own box's, and many for friends.

You cut out all material between the box mounting holes. It completely opens the bottom of the box. then you simple bolt it down to the fender.

This give you a HUGE straight shot for air flow from behind the bumper and in front of tire.

Before telling someone that it cannot be done, you might try it for your self or ask how they know it works or how to do it.

modding the box in this way with a good cloth filter and a air raid Jr is IMO the best and cheapest way to get a Functional CAI that is not a complete waste of money and time installing some elaborate system.


Those BS tiny ass holes you drilled do nothing but allow hot air to enter your system, if anything you lost power due this fact.
FYI. that's not even the correct location to do the "swiss cheese" method which BTW doesn't work worth a shit if you don't do what? REMOVE THE PLATE below the box.


/rant off
/end thread

Jesus F**king Christ dude, no need to flip your shit. I wasn't saying that I couldn't cut a large hole in the bottom of the plate and box, as others in this thread have done. I don't really want to bolt the box to my fender. I can still get a large amount of cold air with a large hole in the box and plate. Relax. Nobody is calling you a liar.

 

[ezdaar]

aye, my bad bud. been a stressful day. didn't mean to jump ya like that..

 

[owl_93]

aye, my bad bud. been a stressful day. didn't mean to jump ya like that..

No worries, it happens. I just like to keep it friendly and helpful up in here.

Sent from my Galaxy Note 4 via Tapatalk for Android

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Here's some pics of mine.

Cut out most of the bottom of the filter box, added a screen and bent it to fit in place, threw on some black silicone and a bit of black spray paint.

Took a look @ the bracket in place. The cuts in the bracket line up with the opening in the airbox, looks kind of haphazard here... I didn't want to cut out more than necessary.

Hit it with paint

Did it make any difference? Who knows. Maybe someday I'll hit WOT on the freeway and find out.

It cost nothing but a few minutes of my time and materials that I had laying around in the garage. Had fun with my grinder and dremel too.

Looks like the inner fender well liner might scoop air up into this area.

 

[ezdaar]

Way better than before. I would still cut alot more of that plate if not just toss it over the shoulder.

 

[owl_93]

Way better than before. I would still cut alot more of that plate if not just toss it over the shoulder.

Does removing this much material drastically increase the risk of getting lots of water in there?

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Way better than before. I would still cut alot more of that plate if not just toss it over the shoulder.

You think so? The hole in the plate is nearly the same as the opening in the filter box. I really can't see any air flow improvements by removing it at this point, and I don't like the idea of the filter box bouncing around up there.

---------- Post added at 02:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:58 PM ----------

Does removing this much material drastically increase the risk of getting lots of water in there?

There really isn't any reason to think that lots of water could get pushed up there. There is the plastic inner fender liner blocking any water that would get thrown off the tire. I can't think of anything short of fording a river that would cause an issue, which I certainly don't plan to do, and I'm not sure that I could even find a river that was deep enough in CA to do that in right now anyways. (ugh drought)

 

[ezdaar]

eeh, if the holes match up, all is well.

As far as water. mine has been wide open with no plate. its a gigantic passage straight down to ground.
I have never had water issues and sometimes treat my vehicles like submarines.

 

[owl_93]

eeh, if the holes match up, all is well.

As far as water. mine has been wide open with no plate. its a gigantic passage straight down to ground.
I have never had water issues and sometimes treat my vehicles like submarines.

As long as I can still get through some streams and small water crossings I'll probably cut out a fat hole in my plate and box when I get my hands on the right tools

Sent from my Galaxy Note 4 via Tapatalk for Android

 

[ezdaar]

Bud, if your doing any water crossings offroad. build a snorkel, not a street air box mod..
Would hate to see you do this and hydro lock your engine.

 

[owl_93]

Bud, if your doing any water crossings offroad. build a snorkel, not a street air box mod..
Would hate to see you do this and hydro lock your engine.

Yeah a snorkel would be sweet, but TBH I don't do a lot of offroad stuff around water. In the past I've had to mob through some small creeks and stuff that were no deeper than my bumper. Im on the fence about this given the limited amount of performance it can give vs the potential risks. I would never forgive myself if I did this and ended up hydrolocking.

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