clokker

iTrader: (2)

Recently I've been indulging in a lot of noodly little projects as larger projects lurch through development.
This usually means I spend a lot of time rummaging through my "parts storage" (could also be defined as "crap", depending on one's perspective) and one part in particular kept catching my eye.
Interest piqued, I pulled it from the attic and kept it in view as I did other things.

Two summers ago I was laser focused on cobbling an over the radiator intake for the swapped FD.
"Laser focused" in this case means spending days in the junkyard test fitting parts from any car at hand till something jelled.
I ended up with a ton of various intake parts, including this airbox:




I'm thinking this is from a Ford because IIRC, that was my most fertile hunting ground. but I can't say for certain.
I do know it was common because I wanted to make sure filters were easily available.

Anyway, it didn't get used on the FD and has sat gathering dust til yesterday.

Just looking at it I was struck by how suitable it looked for my S5 NA.
The port for the AFM appeared the right size and there was even a bung for the air pump intake.
I decided to see how it might work.

The AFM fit like a (slightly loose) glove. I wrapped it's nose with a bit of sealing foam and it slid home nicely.
I had to relocate the fuel pump relay/resistor (bolted it to an empty threaded hole on the frame rail below it's original position) and slid the box in.
Hmm.
Reversed the top of the box and ended up with this:




What I find interesting is this...
The most common form of "cold air intake" that I see here is a box built into this corner that's fed from a hole where the washer fluid reservoir used to be.
It would be ridiculously simple to adapt the intake flange of this box to do exactly the same thing.
You wouldn't have to make a box, seal it to the hood or any of that nonsense- here's a nicely sealed box with a flat panel filter already done for you.

Accelerating up to 80 didn't seem any better or worse than the previous intake with the K&N cone filter, so there is no giant performance hit.

I'm kind of tickled.

jerd_hambone

That is actually pretty bad ***. It will save people who aren't fabrication inclined a lot of time and effort. Simple mans cold air box?

clokker

iTrader: (2)

It's commonly bruited here that the stock airbox and snorkel is already a "cold air intake" (although I have my reservations about it's efficacy) but for those without the stock fan and shroud, this is certainly a cleaner setup.

And BTW, I don't consider myself "fabrication challenged" but would take a premade option over fabricating any day.
IIRC, I paid $5 for that box at the junkyard (including the filter!) and spent about 15 minutes cleaning it off.
Couldn't duplicate it myself for that amount of money or effort.

Besides, it's one of my fetishes to use OEM stuff as much as possible.
I like things to look stock even though they aren't.

dwb87

iTrader: (22)

Very nice clokker! I like the fact that you pay so much attention to the intake on these cars... More people need to take advantage of things like this. So, you're not sure of the make and model in which you got this from??

This would adapt well with my ducting...





I think you mean the "solenoid resistor"... As the fuel pump relay and resistor do not exist on an N/A. Only TII.

clokker

iTrader: (2)

The hole where that ground is is the very one I used to mount the fuel relay thing.
If that hole (nicely done, BTW!) were closer to the fender side, it'd be ideal for the airbox.

The intercooler piping would be in the way...pesky thing.

You might be able to flip the box's top and suck air from the top rather than below.
Probably even rig a real "ram air" scoop through the hood if you were really into it.

It's called the "fuel pump resistor relay" in the '91 FSM...

dwb87

iTrader: (22)

You're right!... There are so many possibilities when it comes to intakes on our cars.

I thought about running the TID to the hole that I drilled, and then where the ducting is clamped to the aluminum MAF adapter (pictured below), the filter would attach to that. But then I thought about rain...

dwb87

iTrader: (22)

You sure that's not in the Turbo section?

RotaryRocket88

iTrader: (7)

Looks stock-ish. You would still need to fab up something custom to go from that odd-shaped opening to an opening by the washer fluid reservoir. Unless you scavenged another piece to bolt onto the end that goes to a round opening?

That's just on S4s. All S5s got the fuel pump resistor/relay pack; even NAs.

ben.farnath

thats an awesome looking e-fan and shroud. whats it off?

dwb87

iTrader: (22)

Ah... Interesting. I've been hating on people for mixing the two. Heh'

clokker

iTrader: (2)

That's an 18", 2-speed fan from a Lincoln.

Hyper4mance2k

iTrader: (40)

Bringing out a dead one. Did you stick with this intake? Got any idea on what particular type of Ford it may have been?

clokker

iTrader: (2)

Yes, it's still in there and no, still no idea what it came from.

Casual_John

iTrader: (8)

reviving an oldie but a goodie...

How about now, Clokker? What kind of air box are you running? Is it still a reversible mod?

(I thought I saw a different photo somewhere else, but I'd like an updated description here. Thanks)

clokker

iTrader: (2)

Jeez, you dug deep for this one.
No, the intake has changed radically from this early iteration- although I do still have that box stuck in the attic.
The latest version (and all it's early stages) can be seen here (post #1880).
And yes, for the most part it is reversible.