Cheap and easy tricks

[Dignan]

I have some free time and want to do something to my Explorer. I don't want to spend money on it right now because I'm saving up for a major suspension/axle swap project. Does anybody have any ideas about what I can do, I drilled the airbox and I want to do something like that. A cheap and easy trick to get a little more power or something. I want to play with my car, but can't afford to buy anything for it, any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mudbug]

How bout insulating your intake hose with aluminum tape it cost about 2.27 and helps keep the air going into the motor cooler for about 3-5% better gas milage and a couple horsepower, especially in the summer.

 

[Rhett]

try cool tape

Go to http://www.martelbros.com
they have a product called "Cool Tape" that you can use to insulate your air intake system. It costs a little more than 2 or 3 bux but it also works better than plain aluminum tape. Still pretty cheap when you consider some ppl are dumping $3000 on a supercharger.

 

[rock883]

Cool Tape

Hey Rhett I went looking on that page for some of that tape, where is it at? Can you either tell me how to get there on that page or just find it and send me a link. Does this little trick work?? I could use better gas mileage for only $3.00.

Well I just re-read your post and I guess you were right, you said it costs a little more than 3 bucks, my bad.

[Edited by rock883 on 06-25-2000 at 08:37 PM]

 

[rock883]

Well Rhett, I just found it with the search feature, nifty little thing. But you lied to me. I'll forgive you though (it was actually about $13.00) but I still got some anyways. Do you think 15' will be enough to cover up the intake tube?? It better be or else I'm screwed.

 

[Turner55]

hey, i could use some more mpg too...but i dont know where anything is enginewise...where exactly is the intake tube? i mean i know the basic stuff...air filter location, spark plugs/wires, all that basic stuff...also, is it something i could do myself?

 

[mike91]

Turner -
Your intake hose connects your airfilter to your intake manifold - that big black tube in the front of the truck. There is nothing behind applies the tape. All you have to do is wrap the tape around the hose - it's that simples. You might want to angle the tape when you wrap it though, to make the job nicer looking.

 

[Turner55]

still dont understand....is it the big black thing that goes from the air filter to the other side of the engine?...there's like the place where the filter goes on the left, then the big black hose runs to the right in front of the engine...right????

[Edited by Turner55 on 06-25-2000 at 08:28 PM]

 

[mike91]

It's the biggest/widest black hose (2-3 ft long) you have on your truck and yes it goes from the air filter to the right side (driver) on the engine. Its the first hose that catched your attention when you open the hood.

 

[Turner55]

gotcha now...but how far do i tape?...further the better?

 

[Rhett]

Hey I never said it was $3...

So Mike91, does it do anything??

Well, I have not personally used Cool-Tape...so I can't say if it will give better gas mileage. I just thought I would mention it since I plan to tape mine up.

Also, the more of the air intake system you can cover the better, in my opinion. The cooler you can keep that air, the better, especially in summer. Tape the airbox, the big tube, and the little tube that leads to your grille area.

 

[flyguy]

Hmm... a little late but dontcha think its a bit much to compare a supercharger to tape? Id like to see a side by side comparison on a dyno.

 

[BExplorer]

Cheap tricks

If you want a cheap trick, and dont mind playing with your plugs often? Try to side gap your spark plugs, it's simple but you have to check them often because they deteriorate faster than normal. The trick is to grind the ``J`` piece to see the tip of the electrode and tighten the gap a little bit. For my 94' they Ford recommend .54 of gap so I put .50, and YES you can see a difference in power. I will look in my papers and find the web site for that, with photos it is easyer to explain.

 

[mike91]

"does it work?"

I am not sure because I have never tried it, though I put my hand on the intake hose after driving for a half hour yesterday and it was hot. I definitely think that it could tack on a mile or two on the mpg on a hot day or so. You won't really notice any power gains or feel a difference cause you will probably see 1-2 hp and that will be on very hot days.
If you have a stock airbox with no holes, you may see better results that those of us whom swaped for the KKM set or even the box drilling. Thats because we are picking up hot air from under the hood so I doubt that the intake hose will help even if its insulated. It might however, be able to cool the air down a bit, but thats unlikely being that it only travels a couple feet in the hose before it goes into the engine.

 

[flyguy]

On the subject of intake hoses... Has anyone seen a replacement air intake hose for a 94 explorer thats a bit more streamlined than stock?

 

[Rhett]

hehe
I wasn't comparing supercharger to tape...ehe
All I was saying was that if he wants a cheap thing to do, then tape's it. A charger is not cheap. But no way was I implying that taping up your intake system will come anywhere close to bolting on a supercharger...

 

[rock883]

Hey Rhett, I edited one of my messages and said sorry about the mishap on my post, I put on the edited post that I re-read your post and saw that you said it was more than 2-3 bucks. Anyone else have any more $10 upgrades??

 

[Dignan]

My original plan was to run hoses from the holes in the airbox to a place that would suck cold air, but one of the holes kinda broke out and can't really take a hose now, so I think I'm going to just cut it up as much as I can and still have the frame to hold the filter.

I was looking for cheap, but I did spend a little money and got the GM towhooks ($25). These are a great design and though it took a while to get them (2 weeks when I was told 2 days) they are a must for off-road use.

 

[flyguy]

Which ones are tow hooks? I want those hooks that mount in the front of the explorer... anyone know how much those cost and how much you can pull with em? Also, do they have to be professionally installed? Anyone have ideas on that intake hose thing??! And cumon Rhett, you know you were disapointed when that tape didnt give you a 50% boost. hehe

Nick

 

[Mudbug]

If you need some front tow hooks try going to the hardware store and look for the biggest shackels they have. I got some at Lowes for $11.00 each. They are the perfect size to mount through the holes in the frame at the front of the truck. No drilling or even bolting. It took about 2 minutes to install them, and they worked great pulling a full size chevy out of the mud.