7M ghetto Ram Air

[hey...it runs]

Hey SM, it's been a while. After a much needed tune-up (NGK plugs and Bosche wires), my 7M seems much happier, but I think I can get a little more out of her.

Back in the day, I read about routing piping from the airbox inlet to behind the grill. I want to take this idea to another level and make a "ghetto ram air" as I call it.

I was thinking I would pick up some semi-rigid dryer venting from Home Depot, slit one end and hose clamp it onto the oval shaped airbox inlet and route the other end through a hole I'll cut in the black plastic piece next to the fog light and then secure it to behind the grill. Do you think the 6" diameter piping will be enough to make up for the extra bends or would I be better off fabricating a small scoop approximately 8x8" and mounting that behind the grill? That's a lot of air being funneled when you're going 60. I don't think it will look half bad if I paint it all black and am careful to keep the job looking clean.

If this does significantly increase air flow, what kind of issues could I be facing? Would it throw off the tuning or would the AFM adjust? Could blocking off some of the already small grill area lead to cooling issues? Could this deplete my gas milage? Could it mess up my aerodynamics over 100MPH? Could I end up with snow/rain in my airbox? Would it totally mess with the ECU? Would it lead to a soiled air filter twice a year? Or would it lead to a few more MPG's a little bit more spunk?

Yes, I know it's ghetto, I know there's better ways to make power and I know it's probably a somewhat decent amount of work for little gain, but hey, I'm a college kid that doesn't have a lot of money and likes his car. I find it fun to work on it and do little stuff like this. The car isn't all that nice and it's not worth throwing money into anyways, but I can justify <$20 for sheer enjoyment and learning. Thanks guys, looking forward to the input on this.

 

[hey...it runs]

Title was supposed to read "7M Ghetto Ram Air" but it won't let me edit it. Seriously though, am I the first one to try this or is it so incredibly stupid nobody wants to break it to me? Lol. Well, I'll keep you guys posted then.

 

[IJ.]

Here's how I did mine way back, can has a K&N Filter inside.

Benefit of this routing is less chance of water ingress if you drive through standing water.

 

[hey...it runs]

I like the filter can idea alot actually. I'll have to post pics of mine. If it works, I think you guys are gonna like this...or think I'm a cheap corner cutting kid that shouldn't own a Supra, either way I honestly don't know what to expect. I bought the parts though.

 

[hey...it runs]

Well, I went ahead and did the project. Took it for a test drive amd honestly it's hard to say if it made a difference. It seemed like 3rd got a little boggier and 4th picked up a little bit of power but it's hard to say. It also seemed to fun a tiny bit hotter but that's not surprising, although that could also be from doing test pulls. I'll have a better idea in a day or two. I plan on hooking up a vacuum tester or maybe even a boost gauge to my stock intake after the AFM and doing a few tests to see if it actually makes a difference. I figure I'll see what it reads at certain RPMs in neutral then match those RPMs while moving. I'll post my results, not that anyone cares, just for the sake of anybody who might later on. I Also took lots of pics so let me know if you want them posted.

P.S. thank you to whoever fixed the title of this thread for me.

 

[IJ.]

Welcome!

 

[Nick M]

It seemed like 3rd got a little boggier and 4th picked up a little bit of power but it's hard to say.)

If you built it correctly, that is exactly what it will do. The ram air effect doesn't happen until you are moving, and the faster you go, the more shoved in. Your airflow meter will only account for so much, don't go thinking you are going to do much more with it.

 

[hey...it runs]

If you built it correctly, that is exactly what it will do. The ram air effect doesn't happen until you are moving, and the faster you go, the more shoved in. Your airflow meter will only account for so much, don't go thinking you are going to do much more with it.

Yep that pretty much summed it up. Considering I usually cruise around 45-65 and 75% or more of my driving is on city/country roads, I disconnected it. I find myself pulling much more often in 2nd or 3rd than I do in fourth or fifth. However, it's not a mod lost, I basically have a ram air into my inlet cavity, so I may not get the ram air effect, but at least there's a good supply of nice cold air from just behind the grill and she won't be starving for air. It also seemed to harm my milage while it was connected...of course, that could have just been me "testing it" but I don't think the ECU liked it. As much as I loved doing pulls to XXX MPH, it's much more practical to be able to pass people going 45 in a 55.