CUSTOM RAMAIR!!

[Shredder]

I am currently working on putting ram air on my 96 explorer. I plan on basing it off of a K&N FIPK and just running some dryer hose straight to it from outside. I was just wondering if anybody had done this before and had some advice. How can i seal the dryer hose around the filter, and how can a build an airdam that will capture enough air to create boost? Thanks!

 

[Alec]

I'm full of help tonight, aren't I?

I just added some dryer hose a few weeks ago One length runs from behind the headlight down to where the opening is right next to the license plate. I ran another length from below the bumper (I don't have an airdam anymore) to the pickup for the stock airscoop. I didn't seal the hoses to the filter in case I go into water, I don't want the water directly driven into the filter. They just dump colder air near the filter. With this mod and some tweaks to my supercharger blowoff valve, I now make 2-3 more pounds of boost in second gear! On a "stock" motor, you might pick up a few highway ponies. Oh also, if you seal the hoses to part of the filter, the filter will starve a bit for air below 10-15 mph cause there isn't enough airflow through the hoses. Don't expect substantial gains from this mod, but it'll help.

 

[tbomb]

alec, do you have any worries of water making it up and through the one of the hoses to the filter?...i was thinking of this a while ago, but im too paranoid about water getting to the filter.

 

[Alec]

tbomb,
You don't need to worry about rain, as what little makes it up the pipe is either gonna be atomized (in which case it helps the engine), or it'll just fall into the bottom of the "airbox", dripping a bit off the filter. The water I'm worried about is rivers/streams above my bumper Since installing the hoses, I've been in 2 rainstorms without a problem.

 

[tbomb]

cool, im really thinking about running the hose up there now maybe ill try it this week. thanks, alec.

 

[Shredder]

Thanks a lot Alec! You've been a great help since i've joined this sight, keep up the good work!

 

[bluescat]

Switchable Ram-Air

Once you go with a conical set-up like K&N FIPK or KKM True Rev you owe it to yourself to try to enclose the filter by boxing it in so it doesn't pick up hot engine air.

The other thing is an exhaust cut-out that can shut off the ram air from the grill when it is raining. If you route the flex tubing correctly and place the cut-out through the circular opening behind the headlight, any rain that comes in will be below the conical filter and fall harmlessly downward.

 

[bluescat]

Another pic of ram-air

Here's a different shot that shows where the exhaust cut-out sits:

 

[bluescat]

Lastly...

Here is where I mounted the push/pull control for the cut-out. I ran the cable alongside the heater core feeds from the passenger compartment:

 

[Alec]

I don't have a cut-out, but I have the hose directed downward right at the filter, and 3" of space where water can fall out of the airstream. The cut-out would be nice insurance when I go fording rivers, but I have a flap that I can fit to the hose openings to cover them: so it's basically the same thing. I also have aluminum plates blocking the filter from header heat, but they still let air driven by the fan into the airbox.

 

[Shredder]

If you blocked the filter from getting hot air from the engine compartment and close the cut-out when it is rain, where does the filter get air from then?

 

[bluescat]

It's the same place as stock.

The stock airbox has a small snorkel that protrudes into the round hole behind the headlight. I forget how long it is, like 3-4"? You can see it in the picture above.

Anyway, the cut-out is about an inch longer and sits in the same exact location as the stock snorkel. When you shut off the ram-air from the grille, it pulls the fresh air in from right behind the headlight, just like stock.

Like Alec said, when you fashion the cold-box, you do it so air coming into the radiator also has a slot left open so it gets to the filter.