I have a slightly different twist on the much rehashed intake question. I just got my first FD. The airbox was removed: entirely. I just have the plastic pipes.

So my overall question is whether it makes sense to buy a stock airbox or go straight to an aftermarket intake. The concensus seems to be that the cheap-B mod is the way to go but that assumes that you already have a stock airbox. Would everyone still agree that this is the best option if starting with a clean slate? (Trying to keep the cost under $200).

Only mods so far are downpipe and catback. I suppose I should also be thinking about the 3 mod rule...

Let me know what you guys think. It's taking samurai patience to let my new car sit their undriven.

 

I suggest getting a replacement stocker (they are cheap and people will almost give them away) and cut out the bottom if you wish. Then you can drive it while you look for a deal on an aftermarket intake.

Dave

 

I'd probably agree - get a used stock airbox with a K&N drop in. The stock airbox will keep the air a bit cooler than open element filters and it will help keep you from boost spikes and it will quiet down the moo sound one gets with an open intake. Plus it will help keep the air temps cooler which is helpful considering you are using the stock intercooler.

You can probably find a used airbox for $40 or so unless you find some kind soul giving one away.

Just make sure that the clips are intact and the area where the hoses enter are not broken.

 

I have a stock airbox I don't need.
$40 shipped and its yours...

 

I have a pettit intake w/o the filters for sale. I'll let it go for $125 shipped. PM me.

 

I guess I will jump on the bandwagon. I have a Blitz SUS Intake with the eBay hardpipes that I will let go for $225 shipped or $200 for just the intake.

Here is a pick of them installed:


I actually cut the pipes since then to fit a little better.

I also have the stock intake box I will ship for $30

 

Didn't mean to make this a parts for sale thread Like you guys predicted there are a bunch of folks with stockers w/drop in K&N ~$40. That Blitz unit sure is pretty, but looks like the best bet is to stick with stock for now.

 

stock airbox k&n filter with adam c cheep bastard kit.. and get a boost gauge

 

Yup. I've got the boost gauge already. Told Adam I'd hold off on his upgrade until I worked on fuel management. There there's the vacuum leak, missing or ugly body parts and interior pieces, brakes with 1mm left on the pads and rotors that have so many scars that they look like phonograph records...

 

i wouldnt waste money on a stock airbox unless it was free. your going to dish out money for an intake later on anyways. so you might as well save the extra $40 from buying a stocker.

 

Shoot, do what I'm planning on - get 2 K&N filters, the Ebay hardpipes, and fab a heatshield. It isn't rocket science, and the job could be done for underr $100 and some elbow grease.

My big beef with the stock airbox is the size and "in-the-way-ed-ness" of it. You're constantly pulling it out for most any job on the car, and it's a royal pain to install and remove. Hell, I had to pull it today to put new belts on the car - that's just ridiculous. I'm looking at fabbing an intake less for performance and more for never having to see that damn thing again .

But, if you're just looking to get something to get your car going, it's hard to beat the price of a stock airbox.

Dale

 

That's what I did... waiting for my K&N filters to come in the mail...

 

It's only under $100 if you have a welder and other fab equipment

Dave <- who wishes he had space for even an air compressor

 

I think its all the same. I just got the ARC because of the looks.

 

You don't need a welder, just something to cut sheet aluminum (doesn't take much) and a rivet gun.

Matt <- also wishes he had space for an air compressor

 

I've got the ebay hard pipe setup with two new filters for $70 shipped.

 

Got the stocker with drop in K&N. Almost wish I'd seen DaleClark's post earlier, seems like it might be less work to fab a heat shield than to install the damn thing: hoses, hoses everywhere and the shop manual hasn't arrived yet.

I definitely got spooked by threads on "heat", "boost", "wasted money", "soup cans (?!?)" and figured, go back to stock and start from there (well, no airpump either so not exactly stock).

And it's freakin snowing. Been waiting all week to get some time to work on her and now it's snowing. My wife's probably right. I should be cleaning the garage instead of surfing the board.

 

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/intake-fabrication-how-pics-310727/

 

So now we have dueling cheap intake options right?

In the left corner:
Stock airbox, drop in K&N, Adam C CBI (heatshield, mods)
Cost: $100 ($70 CBI kit, $30 K&N)
Work: remove airbox, install heatshield, mod airbox, install airbox

In the right corner:
Ebay hardpipes, K&N, Zullu hose mod, moo muffler, heat shield
Cost: $118 ($50 pipes, $20 K&Ns, $20 Zullu parts, $10 heat shield, $10 moo muffler, $7 couplers, $1 lawnmower filter LOL)
Work: remove airbox, fab & install heatshield, fab & install zullu, snap on hardpipes, fab & install moomuff

More work on the second option because Adam hasn't done it for you but creates room in engine compartment & adds bling.

Heat/flow would be about the same for both, right?

 

hotter air intake temps from the "right corner" but maybe a little more airflow and more noise. see scuderia or was it robinette for a comparison on intake temps with different intakes if you are curious about heat.

 

Crap. Got the car into the garage and now realize that the airbox mounting bracket is missing and the main intake hose is cracked. Not going to throw good money after bad, going to look for cheap ebay hardpipes.

So there you go, first wasted money on the 7. Anyone want to buy a stock airbox?

 

When I was installing my hardpipes and K&Ns, Alberto_mg gave me a GREAT tip on using the angled K&Ns versus the straight ones. Without that, I would of had clearance issues with the hood. The part number was RB0720. Just passing on the info. Thanks Alberto!

 

thorsent, whats the zullu hose mod? Never heard of that one...

 

yeah.. more info on this Zullu hose mod?

 

Basically cleans up the two air return lines on lhs of turbo intakes. Not technically necessary but diy way to eliminate noise (the whooshing, not the mooing). I can see the vexed Mazda engineers listening to the whoosing and mooing and saying things like "Crap. Car pretty but no girl buy if make animal noises. Fill rest of space with airbox! "

Now I'm wondering, is that returned air going to be hot or cold or one of each?

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=310727