Na Custom Cai
06-15-2003, 10:15 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 1,801
There's been a lot of talk about this so I decided to do it today. My brother gave me his used 92-96 Honda Prelude under hood intake for free so I had to try it.
Here is what I used:
92-96 Honda Prelude intake pipe with coupler (~$30 on ebay)
1 roll of Thermo-Tec heat insulating tape for piping (~$15 at Summit)
2 3" to 3" Home Depot PVC couplers with clamps included (~$12)
1 HKS SMF mini air filter ($60-$70)
I measured and cut the intake pipe into two pieces and kept the pipe's stock vacuum nipple intact to connect to the stock metal pipe that goes along side the TB. I wrapped both pieces after test fitting with the heat insulating tape. Next I jacked up the pass. side front wheel and turned the steering wheel all the way to the right and removed the fenderwell guard. Then I took out the windshield washer reservoir (2 10mm bolts down below and one above.. the fill spout just pulls right out when you remove the bolt). Then I cut a 3" hole basically right around the stock hole where the reservoir fill spout was. The HD 3" coupler fits perfect on the stock TB inlet duct and needs tightened down extra to snug on the 3" intake pipe (PVC is bigger and I believe the HD couplers are measured in O.D. rather than I.D.). The other coupler is used to connect the MAF sensor outlet to the upper intake pipe. I used the coupler that came with the intake kit to connect the cold air pipe to the inlet side of the MAF sensor. Secure the assembly (I had a bracket already connected to the MAF sensor from my previous intake set up) and then connect your filter to the cold air pipe in the fender well and your done. I plan on getting the couplers and reducers from Hose Techniques for better fit and looks in the future... also, you don't need an HKS SMF mini but it is easier with a shorter filter. I'm sure you could order whatever 3" K&N short cone you want or cut the cold air pipe shorter and stuff the cheap *** ebay filter on the end that came with the intake kit.
There is no need to cut into the brake cooling duct and I wouldn't want to. There is plenty of room for a filter above it and this way you avoid water getting on the filter. You don't need "ram air" anyway... your engine produces plenty of vacuum to suck in the air it needs. The point of this is to first get cool ambient air from outside of the engine bay and second to get the air to the engine easier with the smoother flow of the mandrel bent piping. I'd have to say this was the best bang for the buck mod I've done since it was so cheap... I definitely noticed a power and throttle response increase throughout the range and regardless of whether sitting in traffic, going down a back road at 80mph, or whatever since the air it is pulling in is generally always the same temp. I noticed the biggest increase in the midrange (from 4-6k). This car is not my daily driver... if you want to do it to your DD and retain your winshield washer, there is actually a place to cut a hole through above the grommet where the washer motor wires pass through but it would take a lot more cutting on the fender side.
Here are a few pics:
Here is what I used:
92-96 Honda Prelude intake pipe with coupler (~$30 on ebay)
1 roll of Thermo-Tec heat insulating tape for piping (~$15 at Summit)
2 3" to 3" Home Depot PVC couplers with clamps included (~$12)
1 HKS SMF mini air filter ($60-$70)
I measured and cut the intake pipe into two pieces and kept the pipe's stock vacuum nipple intact to connect to the stock metal pipe that goes along side the TB. I wrapped both pieces after test fitting with the heat insulating tape. Next I jacked up the pass. side front wheel and turned the steering wheel all the way to the right and removed the fenderwell guard. Then I took out the windshield washer reservoir (2 10mm bolts down below and one above.. the fill spout just pulls right out when you remove the bolt). Then I cut a 3" hole basically right around the stock hole where the reservoir fill spout was. The HD 3" coupler fits perfect on the stock TB inlet duct and needs tightened down extra to snug on the 3" intake pipe (PVC is bigger and I believe the HD couplers are measured in O.D. rather than I.D.). The other coupler is used to connect the MAF sensor outlet to the upper intake pipe. I used the coupler that came with the intake kit to connect the cold air pipe to the inlet side of the MAF sensor. Secure the assembly (I had a bracket already connected to the MAF sensor from my previous intake set up) and then connect your filter to the cold air pipe in the fender well and your done. I plan on getting the couplers and reducers from Hose Techniques for better fit and looks in the future... also, you don't need an HKS SMF mini but it is easier with a shorter filter. I'm sure you could order whatever 3" K&N short cone you want or cut the cold air pipe shorter and stuff the cheap *** ebay filter on the end that came with the intake kit.
There is no need to cut into the brake cooling duct and I wouldn't want to. There is plenty of room for a filter above it and this way you avoid water getting on the filter. You don't need "ram air" anyway... your engine produces plenty of vacuum to suck in the air it needs. The point of this is to first get cool ambient air from outside of the engine bay and second to get the air to the engine easier with the smoother flow of the mandrel bent piping. I'd have to say this was the best bang for the buck mod I've done since it was so cheap... I definitely noticed a power and throttle response increase throughout the range and regardless of whether sitting in traffic, going down a back road at 80mph, or whatever since the air it is pulling in is generally always the same temp. I noticed the biggest increase in the midrange (from 4-6k). This car is not my daily driver... if you want to do it to your DD and retain your winshield washer, there is actually a place to cut a hole through above the grommet where the washer motor wires pass through but it would take a lot more cutting on the fender side.
Here are a few pics:
07-01-2003, 01:50 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: IL
Posts: 2,930
I think this thread got buried and lost too quickly, some of you NA guys on a budget would do alot better with this DIY approach than spending a few hundred on some junk that won't even be getting cold air sitting in your engine bay.
hats off to FCmaniac, I think he did a great job on this.
Just gotta do something about filling that natural box in the quarter panel with some postive pressure
hats off to FCmaniac, I think he did a great job on this.
Just gotta do something about filling that natural box in the quarter panel with some postive pressure
