Drilling holes in airbox?

[FlyFisha']

I've read that a few people have drilled holes in their airbox... on the underside is what I gather.



What benifits have people noticed from doing this? Is there any change in sound... turbo, etc?



Also, have you noticed if the filter needs to be changed out more after making this mod -- extra dirt, debris entering the filter due to increased air flow?



Bottom line, was it worth it?



Thanks for any input... I'm thinking about doing it this afternoon with the weather being so nice over here in Seattle today!



Jeff

 

[nickleinonen]

i have a 4" hole drilled in my airbox in the bottom. i also cut out the X baffle in air pipe and i like it. it sounds good [although i would like more turbo song ] i have a wire mesh covering the hole to keep big pieces out, and when the weather gets nicer, i have a 4" blast gate i will install in the hole [will relocate the mesh to outside the blast gate] to give me the option of closing the hole off [driving around in the rain kinda scares me. i avoid big puddles]

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Heres what I did to the one on my '02 because of the apparent constriction of the stock air inlet into the box:



#ad




Prior to this mod, and the installation of a K&N filter, the filter-minder pulled down to 66% on the first long hill towing our 5th wheel - not budged off the bottom since then.



As far as any added filter maintenance, only whatever air the engine needs and uses goes thru the filter - so no reason any "extra" airflow or maintenance would be called for.

 

[ttreibel]

I picked up 1. 5mpg towing(14500GVW) and 2 mpg around town at 8500GVW with a 3inch hole and now the filter minder doesn't budge with WOT.



I added a 3inch ABS street elbow to curb water intrusion the BOMB was the best bang for the buck yet.



I am still using Mopar paper filters and the engine is bone stock 48 state Standard Output 10/2002 build

 

[FlyFisha']

Thanks for all the feed back. I went ahead and drilled out 3 2-1/4" holes in the bottom and one in the front off the air-box.



I just got back from a test drive and noticed a bit more whistle when going through the gears and while coming off the fuel pedal. I'll watch the fuel mileage and see if anything comes of it.



So far I like it... The next move is an aero-turbine -- with a straight pipe or possibly a free flowing muffler.



Thanks again,



Jeff

 

[Gypsyman]

I drilled a 3-1/2" hole just in the bottom and saw an approx 50* drop in cruise EGT and I have noticed that the filter stays cleaner alot longer. Maybe from not pulling from the fender area where all the tire spray and mist is generated?

 

[RobbieH]

Gypsyman, I think you just hit on regarding my post about wtf with the filters. That's where all that crap is coming from!



Oh and I noticed I went up to 66% with a brand new filter too. Time for me to get the drill out.



You'd think there'd be some detriment from taking the hot engine bay air in though?!?

 

[R.M.THOMPSON]

Try a 5" hole and some of the black plastic corragated pipe from home depot or the like. The pipe cann be used as an extension with 90's if your creativity reqires !

 

[MCornwell]

FWIW

Originally posted by ttreibel

I picked up 1. 5mpg towing(14500GVW) and 2 mpg around town at 8500GVW with a 3inch hole and now the filter minder doesn't't budge with WOT.



I added a 3inch ABS street elbow to curb water intrusion the BOMB was the best bang for the buck yet.



I am still using Mopar paper filters and the engine is bone stock 48 state Standard Output 10/2002 build

I got tired of seeing the filter minder at 35% or more every time



i check under my hood, so today i drilled a 3. 5" hole in the



bottom back of my air box to keep water spray out. After many



WOT runs the filter minder has yet to move, with a slightly used



mopar filter. Same build date as the truck above



-Mitch

 

[ScottBrown]

I did this little bomb over a year ago I replaced the stock filter with the AFE drop in . drilled a 3" hole in the front of the airbox next to the intercooler radiater used a PVC with threads on the outside . Next I got a 3" PVC screw on cap to plug the hole in rain /snow. After I did this I noticed that The spool up was a little quicker and temps went up quick So I put the Aeroturbine on and this balanced everything out. I even bought a new airbox and keep it in my shop in case I have to take truck in to dealer. Also keep the stock air filter to go back in the stock box. I have a old pic in my gallery of location of hole.

 

[Mr.Goat]

Well I drilled about a dozen 1/4" holes in the bottom of the air box to let the water run out from rain and melted snow that gets in through the ordinary fender inlet. I posted about this last winter as I had so much snow getting in the the air box the engine couldn 't run properly.

I have been giving serious thought to going to an aftermarket filtering system. But the truck has been running well since spring came, until last week when I started to loose power again. This time I discovered a red squirrel had built a nest in the air box under the filter. The little fella had it jammed full of leaves and whatever, plus he chewed up part of the filter for bedding.

He's now looking for a new home. I installed 1/4" heavy wire mess over the inlet hole. He will be looking for a new life if he returns and causes more damage.

You have to laugh at all this, what else can you do. My dealer contacted DC last winter when the snow clogged the filter. They called it an enviromental issue, therefore it was not their problem. But they did admitt receiving numerous complaints about prematurely clogged air filters. Well I guess a squirrel is also an enviromental issue. So according to the wisdom of DC we should not be driving our trucks in heavy snow. I guess this now includes areas in which squirrels inhabit.

Do you think they might have a little design flaw. Aren't trucks suposed to be driven outdoors in the enviorment. ? Pete

 

[cpizz]

No you are not. It is supposed to be driven in a closed environment. The same place where they get their horsepower and torque ratings for the engine.

 

[bighammer]

Mr Goat, for that same reason (squirrel or other critter) my airbox is an air ring. Basically, I cut the whole bottom off so there is just a ring the depth of the filter cartridge.

 

[RRoton]

I guese I better go buy some heavy screen.

There are a LOT of squirrels in my neaborhood.

Might have something to do with all the pecan trees.

 

[SClements]

I wish I knew how to post pics, my modified airbox seems to be working great. I basically cut out most of the bottom, and part of the front side. It draws fresh air from below, and also if you look in from the grille its getting a fresh dose of ram air from that area. Before, the filter minder sucked down to 66% every WOT run. Since the mod it hasn't budged. This is with the original 37,000 mile filter that was in my truck when I bought it about a month ago. I'm now waiting on a AFE drop in filter to replace the old factory one. Should be awesome. Also since the mod the mileage on the console has crept up . 5 mpg. The truck has a very nice turbo whistle now.

Seane

 

[kcnizdodge]

What about this idea?

What about cutting a 3" hole in the bottom of the box and then running the 3" corrugated tubing from Home Depot down to the opening in the bumper and adding an elbow from the hose to the outlet. Would that give somewhat of a ram air effect? You think that would suck in more rain, snow, dirt, etc. that it would be worth?

 

[R.M.THOMPSON]

5" is even better !

 

[fj40dave]

I cut out a 4 or 5" hole in my wifes 4Runner airbox (saw this mod posted in a 4Runner forum) and put in a boating deck flush screw cap type thingie that you can put the plug back in if need be... . I also sandwitched some screen to keep out the big stuff..... it's a lot more work than drilling holes only..... looks cool though..... PM me and I can send pictures tomorrow (working today 5-7)

Dave