modified intake question (i need help)

[punkbek3886]

i want to modify my intake so the inlet is higher. i dont plan on modifying anything between the airbox and the throttle body. what i want to do is seal off the stock opening in the front part of the airbox and make the new intake come out of the back of the airbox facing the firewall. the only problem is that there is a tube from the lower intake to somewhere in the engine block (I think). is it important to keep this tube where it is or can i extend it with a longer piece of hose to my new intake position? i need all the help i can get!

 

[Alec]

If you just use an open element filter, the stock inlet won't create suction and thus you don't have to worry as much about water. I think that's where you're going with this?

 

[dogfriend]

The tube that you are referring to goes to the "heat stove" which partially covers the exhaust manifold. The purpose of it is to route warm air from near the exhaust manifold when needed.

On a carburetor equipped engine, the warm air helps to atomize the fuel and avoid condensing the fuel on the walls of the intake manifold when the engine is cold. On a fuel injected engine I believe the purpose is to help emissions during engine warmup.

I think that you would be okay if you need to extend or move it. If you disconnect it your truck may not run as well when it is warming up and your emissions may be higher during warm up.

It is considered to be part of the emission control system, so in CA you could fail the visual part of the smog test if you remove it.

I think that the valve for the warm air could be built into the airbox, but I can't remember. You need to make sure that the valve still works ok after you make your mod.

 

[punkbek3886]

ok, thanks, i thought that was a way to use the engines vacuum to draw cold air past the headers to cool them down on the side of the engine that most of the electronics are located on.

 

[dogfriend]

I think the valve uses a bimetallic spring to open or close the inlet to the airbox. A bimetallic spring will move in response to temperature.

My Ford Ranger had a similar system to the one on your Explorer, but I noticed that my 97 Explorer doesn't have a heat stove at all.