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Ford Explorer Community - Maintenance - Modifications - Performance Upgrades - Problem Solving - Off-Road - Street
Explorer Forum Covers the Explorer ST, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer, Mazda Navajo, Ford Ranger, Mazda Pickups, and the Ford Aerostar
I'm about to do it but is 2" holes to big or to small how many do yall think and do I put them on the sides aswell? I know they aren't supposed to go above the filter.
Jason,
Be sure and keep them where you can easily tape them up if you change your mind. I drilled mine and performance actually decreased. After checking out the numerous posts here on the board, I realized that the hot air being sucked in to the intake was hurting more than helping. I taped the holes back up and performance came back. Some drillers have had some benefit from the extra holes though. I have a K&N filter that did help some over stock.
Rick
Jason
I drilled a "bunch" of smaller 3/8" and 1/4" diameter holes on 4 sides and a few in the bottom of the airbox - sort of the shotgun approach. Why the smaller holes - because they are easy to drill, and the air box remains rigid (keeps its structural strength). Then I kept the regular pleated "stock" type paper air filter in there to see what the difference was. My impression is that above 2000 RPM, it shows improvement - and in the 70-85 mph highway speeds it is really noticable. Of course, up here in the Pacific Northwest, the temps are relatively cool and so the hot air from the engine compartment probably is not as big a deal (especially at highway speeds). And one these days I will install the KKM cone type air filter.
Mike in Seattle, 91XLT 4x4
Jason-I knocked out most of the sides of my airbox on my '91XLT. I started off with a bunch of 2.25" holes and it worked fine. Then I removed more of the side walls and epoxied some fiberglass screen over the openings to keep big stuff from going in. I haven't suffered any decrease in performance. I figure the more the better breathing for your engine. Hope this helps
I have a KKM filter in my 94 and saw an increase in performace.. considering it gets up to 110 degrees outside... im surprised. I guess heat doesnt effect me too much.
