Drilled Airbox

[k1ckb0x3r]

Can someone please post some picks or draw some in photoshop of where you are drilling the holes in the airbox?

 

[J91FORD]

do you drill these holes on both sides of the air box?

 

[GJarrett]

Howdy!

Man, you're putting way too much thought and planning into this. If you're gonna do it, just remove the box and start drilling away like crazy. Mine looks like swiss cheese that's been used for skeet practice. There is no "correct" placement of holes (as long as you stay below the filter).

Gerald

 

[k1ckb0x3r]

I'm just worried about it sucking in hot air which would hurt it more than help it.

 

[Big Poppa]

I drilled the holes all the way around (all four sides) the bottom half of the box. To date, Ihave done this to my explorer, Bronce, and Ranger. All had good porwer improvements and much better sound under acceleration.

Swiss cheese thats been used for skeet practice- nice analogy.
Good Luck

------------------
'91 2 dr Eddie Bauer
modified air box
K&N filter
MUCH MORE TO COME

 

[PunkChild]

What type of airbox do you have? Is it the box that uses a rectangle filter or the one that uses the cone filter?

 

[Big Poppa]

Rectangle

------------------
'91 2 dr Eddie Bauer
modified air box
K&N filter
MUCH MORE TO COME

 

[Nonoy]

If you are worried about the air box sucking in hot air, use a flex tubes. You can get it from Sears of different types/size. Decide what size you want and buy the the same size to make a holes. I used the 3/4" flex tubes and just insert it into the holes in the box and run it to the back of the headlight. Some posting they use the flex tubes for vaccum cleaner and run it down the bumber air dam. You can use plastic ties to hold the tubes in place. Good luck

------------------
NY State of Mind

 

[TymeKeeper]

I'm gunna have to try out that "Swiss Cheese used for skeet practice" idea Dead Link Removed what size, or does it matter Dead Link Removed



------------------
Jim
'92 Eddie Bauer Explorer
Dual 2.25 exhaust, no Mufflers
Cobra 148GTL W/K40 Mag
235/60's
My Baby!!

 

[Trckmagik]

Just make sure you are only drilling on the bottom half of the airbox. "And yes" People have actually drilled on top and bottom! Dont!

------------------
Brian Green
-2001 Sport Trac
-1992 Explorer 2wd w/ six
inch suspension lift
-1992 Ranger 2wd w/ 5.5
inch suspension lift
Trckmagik@aol.com

 

[leenjen]

is drilling the box really worth it, or is it better to get a KKM, K&N, or something like that?

 

[IAMCDN]

It is the best free upgrade. Very noticable difference in sound and throttle response. I did the holes a couple months before I got my K&N(last week) and the holes made a WAY bigger difference.

Let's see...free upgrade or $75 upgrade(that's what it costs in Canada)...do the free one.

I just thought I'd try the K&N because I tow a boat and I want as much HP as possible. Haven't noticed a big difference since the K&N.

 

[JDraper]

Instead of the swiss cheese-skeet approach, why not try putting 2 or 3 holes in with a hole saw. It's a lot neater and it will give less turbulent flow, which is better for performance. I put 3 2.5" diameter holes in my box, and it made a definite difference.

 

[IAMCDN]

JDraper, could you explain the turbulence thing for me? I was reading on the box the K&N came in and it talks about less turbulence and improved HP because of it. To me, it would seem that any turbulence going into the airbox or just after the filter would be straightened out by the time the air got to the throttle body. Not?

 

[leenjen]

one example of turbulance...

my daytona had a factory air intake that consisted of a "ribbed" hose. i replaced it with a smooth aluminum intake and reduced turbulance. this increased the horsepower by forcing the air in through the pipe (intead of the ribs causing turbulance and slowing it down). less restriction helped the turbo spool up even faster.

another example..

the trans am with the ram air can generate more horsepower than without, because of less restriction or turbulance

 

[JDraper]

Originally posted by BlueOvalFan
JDraper, could you explain the turbulence thing for me? I was reading on the box the K&N came in and it talks about less turbulence and improved HP because of it. To me, it would seem that any turbulence going into the airbox or just after the filter would be straightened out by the time the air got to the throttle body. Not?

Without going into a tedious discussion on fluid dynamics, (believe me, you don't want to hear it!!) yes the flow will be straightened out fairly well by the time it gets to the throttle body, but you can still improve it. The swiss cheese approach gives you a lot of small holes that have air entering from all sorts of different locations. This can set up eddys and pulses that can disrupt the air flow getting to the filter, which may lower the inlet velocity, therefore lowering the flow to the motor. Fewer, larger openings will give better air flow. You can also get more intake area by drilling fewer, larger holes. By drilling three 2.5" holes in the box, I added 14.7 square inches of air intake to the box. To add the same amout of intake area with a 3/8" drill bit would take 133 holes!!!

Another benefit is keeping some structural rigidity to the airbox. Drilling 133 holes in the box would definitely mess up the structure of the box. Besides, imho, it makes the box look like S**t! Do it once, do it right.