Ghetto Style Ebay Intake Mod(PICS)!

[BadakVT]

Firstly, I did this mod because I didn't want to spend $400-500 for an intake system. Moreover, I'm planning to go force inducted in the future so there's really no point for an expensive intake.
Secondly, this intake won't be as good as the expensive aftermarket intakes specifically designed for the Elise. You'll see why after you finish reading this post.

I believe there are some of you here that have something similar installed on your car as well. I actually got the idea from that another post about creating your own intake. I'm just providing you guys with more pics to clarify the steps.

Here is what you need for this mod:
-Bomz Celica GTS Intake --------- $40 bucks shipped from ebay.
-High-Temp Spray Paint(any color you like)------ $8
-800-1000 grade sandpaper------------ $5


1)Painting (skip this step if you like the bling-bling finish )
First step is to sand the intake pipe down with 800/1000 grade sandpaper. Then clean it up, mask the MAF sensor opening and then you can start spray painting it. You don't have to spray paint the whole tubing, just about 3/4 of it since we are going to cut it later anyway.

Here is a picture of mine after I painted it black:


2)Cutting The Tubing
After you are sure that the paint has dried off, you can start cutting the tube. I used regular hacksaw and it was really easy to do.
Cut the tube at the 45 degree angle.



3)Removing The Stock Intake Box
You can follow this instruction for the ForceFed intake system at http://www.gglotus.org/ggtech/elise-...se-ffedcai.htm
Make sure remember to re-plug the VSV cable and then zip-tie the whole VSV module securely. Also, plug the engine vaccum hose nipple with the rubber plug.

4)Installing The Filter Element
This step is pretty simple, just use the silicone coupler and the clamps provided to secure the filter onto the tubing.
My K&N filter didn't get here in time so I had to use the Bomz filter for now... I would definitely change them as soon as I get my K&N though.
FYI, the outer diameter of the tubing is about 2.7" so I bought K&N universal filter with ID of 2 3/4".


5)Intalling The New Intake Onto The Car
This step is also pretty easy. First thing to do is to put the MAF sensor on the new tubing, which was straight forward.
The only hard thing was intalling the silicone coupler onto the throttle body. Here's an easy way to do it, use a hair dryer to heat it up and then put some engine oil around the tip of the coupler and it should slide easily.
After you secure the silicone coupler on the throttle body, you can just put the new intake tubing and then secure it with another clamp. If you don't have enough clamp from the Bomz kit, you can always re-use the stock ones.
Make sure you re-plug the MAF harness/cable.
Put back the wheel well liner and the wheel, and you are done.....


Why is this intake not as good as the expensive ones?
1) The tubing is not extended long enough to be able to fully benefit from colder air from the side vents.
2) No heat shield to prevent heat soak.
3) Nothing is holding the tubing except the silicone coupler.
4) Doesn't look as good as those carbon fiber intakes

Feedback after driving it for about 50 miles:
1) No CEL!
2) No noticeable heat-soak or any decrease in power caused by the shorter tubing.
3) Sounds awesome! Sounds just like Honda's VTEC screaming.... which I like!
4) My butt-dyno didn't feel any significant increase/decrease in power.
5) $50 bucks well spent....

[pianomaniac]

So......what's your point?

[2sporty]

Originally Posted by pianomaniac

So......what's your point?

what is the point you are trying to make by asking what is his point????

[ct_mazi]

Nice write up Michael. With a piece of heat shield, I think that it would be as good as the more expensive one.

[JimK]

Thanks for posting, a slightly longer tube on both ends and a heat sheild and it would be perfect. I've got to believe there will be a less expensive intake coming. The CF ITG intake is a beautiful piece but seems like it could be cheaper if made out of less expensive material than CF.

[Stan]

I'm not sure how much a heat shield would realy do...the air flow comes into the engine bay from the sides and then mostly exits through the engine cover grill. More length would be potetntially useful for torque...but you'd need to cut and try to find the best solution.

[BadakVT]

Piano--- I just don't understand your question, I posted this merely to help others who might be interested in doing something similar.....

I agree with most of you here, the best thing to do would be to extend the tube length to fully utilize the side vents. But again, even by doing this and putting a heat shield would probably give you minimal gains.... Plus my main objective for this mod was just for the sound, I knew there's gonna be minimal or even no gain of power from it. As long as the intake is not triggering CEL and not robbing away power from the car, I'm happy with the 50 bucks I spent. On top of that, it has been my passion doing these DIY-kind of mods.... You get to spend more quality time with your car

[Robert Puertas]

I wonder if a heat shield might create a high pressure zone in the air intake compartment.
Maybe?
That might make an extra 1/2 hp.

[Stan]

Originally Posted by Robert Puertas

I wonder if a heat shield might create a high pressure zone in the air intake compartment. Maybe?
That might make an extra 1/2 hp.

Maybe...at some high road speed. Note that when you pressurize that cavity...it would have to be very well sealed...and it might not build much if any pressure. That cavity is not sealed up in other places. But it might make the postion of the intake more forgiving, if that is even a factor that is...

Check out this E30 M3 factory cold air intake. The mouth lives in the channel within the bumper...yet drinks the same high pressure air feeding the radiator. And it gets to enjoy lower turbulence. If you just glance at it from the engine compartment side after gaining sightline access..it looks like it wouldn't work. It also tends to keep grit and crap away from the intake as those things would tend to stay rearward. This was on a homologation car which in some series would race with such a setup.

[Bill B]

Aside from idle I don't see a heat shield doing a whole lot for this. With the radiator and oil cooler not located in the engine bay a "sealed" engine bay may not be necessary.
I like it, nice job.

[pianomaniac]

Originally Posted by 2sporty

what is the point you are trying to make by asking what is his point????

I wasn't trying to make a point.

I was wondering what was the point in building this intake if there were no positive gains as listed?

[JimK]

Originally Posted by pianomaniac

I wasn't trying to make a point.

I was wondering what was the point in building this intake if there were no positive gains as listed?

sound and the pure joy of tinkering.

[cixelsyd]

You know, just the other day I was wondering about the possibility of doing something like this. Thanks for the instructions!! Great writeup, I bet the engine noise is much better now!

-=cixelsyd

[psionix]

Originally Posted by pianomaniac

I wasn't trying to make a point.

I was wondering what was the point in building this intake if there were no positive gains as listed?

i think this is it...

3) Sounds awesome! Sounds just like Honda's VTEC screaming.... which I like!

[Hillgiant]

Originally Posted by pianomaniac

I was wondering what was the point in building this intake if there were no positive gains as listed?

Same reason people paint their shift nobs. Love thier cars and can't leave well enough alone.

[Arno]

Originally Posted by Stan

I'm not sure how much a heat shield would realy do...the air flow comes into the engine bay from the sides and then mostly exits through the engine cover grill.

Actually.. No..

While driving there's a high pressure area above the engine cover grille, so very little air moves out of the engine bay there.

There is surprisingly little 'natural' airflow in the engine bay as the NACA ducts in the undertray are alreay sucking in most of the air and building pressure in the engine bay, so only a little comes in through the normal side-scoops.

The Rover powered S2 elises still sucked hot air out of the engine bay at the grilles surrounding the exhaust pipes as this is largely an open space connected to the engine bay, but as this is closed off on the Toyota powered elises you may see the same effect as the S1 elise has (which has a closed rear clam) where airflow through the engine bay is very limited.

It's very possible that in this case the side 'scoops' are actually used by air exiting the engine bay!

Some experiments with pieces of string attached to the body, high speed and camera's should give a better idea.

Bye, Arno.

[BadakVT]

The more I drive the car it seems that MyElise is right, there seems to be more power especially on the top end. However, this might just be a placebo effect of the increased sound and my brain playing tricks on me...
I would say if there's any significant gain, it would still be similar compared to those expensive intakes... Afterall, they are all just a pipe with filter attached at the end....

Thanks for giving me the idea MyElise....

[AutoXr]

FWIW, I've had this mod on the car since June. The procedure was simple enough as described. No CELs, none, nada. I added a different silicone hose that steps from 2.75" to 3" for attachment onto the throttle body as this seemed to be a weak point. Other than that, it's as described; even got the "Bomz" brand that had red "condiments"

The differences noted have been more noise and maybe a little more torque down low with more power on the cams too. I only noticed the torque when autocrossing as I seem to be more focused on what the car is capable of at that time. (sounds a bit strange?) During autocross I think the intake gets a bit heat soaked while sitting in line. That's the only drawback that I have noticed. I can't complain as the hottest event this year was maybe 75 or so.

For $50, you can't go wrong if you're willing to do a bit of work.

I am interested in whether the Matrix XRS intake has more usable length. For that matter, the true cold air intakes for the Celica might be longer too.

[Allan Gibbs]

Originally Posted by psionix

i think this is it... 3) Sounds awesome! Sounds just like Honda's VTEC screaming.... which I like!

Also, it was based on his Buttometer. Purhaps there could be some gains.

On a slight digression, if the inside of the tube was rifled to produce a vortex, would that increase the speed or focus the air that's traveling into the throttle body.

[2sporty]

Originally Posted by Allan Gibbs

Also, it was based on his Buttometer. Purhaps there could be some gains.

On a slight digression, if the inside of the tube was rifled to produce a vortex, would that increase the speed or focus the air that's traveling into the throttle body.

exactly, that's why i got http://www.spiralmax.com/ for my car.