Air Box Modification, More Cold Air?

[Ranger101]

Rangers,

I intend to keep the stock air box on my 89. I’ve searched the forums and the internet and have seen: 1) the original filter retained; 2) the air box cut at the bottom to allow more air to hit the ‘original’ filter; 3) the air box cut and a K&N filter (original shape); 4) the air box cut and a cone shaped filter completely inside the air box; 5) the air box eliminated and a cone shaped filter on a modified tube to the throttle body (vacuum line issues?); etc.....

Obviously there are many different preferences out there. Again, my plan is to keep and modify the air box and go with a K&N filter. I would love to modify/upgrade the tube from the air box to the throttle body but am concerned about the current lines going into the stock rubber tube. Thoughts and experiences on changing that tube will also be appreciated.

Tell me what you think and what has worked, and hasn’t worked, for you. I’m always open to suggestions and willing to learn. Thanks in advance.

 

[adsm08]

That same airbox was used to feed the 3.0 and 4.0. It's ability to flow air is not a performance limitation on your 2.9.

The factory configuration of the air box however is a true cold air intake, pulling from behind the grille instead of from in the engine bay.

Any configuration you put together of a cone air filter existing outside a box but inside your engine bay turns it into a hot air intake. Colder air means more density and more oxygen, which is what your engine needs. Hot air = less density = less O2 = less performance.

 

[Ranger101]

That same airbox was used to feed the 3.0 and 4.0. It's ability to flow air is not a performance limitation on your 2.9.

The factory configuration of the air box however is a true cold air intake, pulling from behind the grille instead of from in the engine bay.

Any configuration you put together of a cone air filter existing outside a box but inside your engine bay turns it into a hot air intake. Colder air means more density and more oxygen, which is what your engine needs. Hot air = less density = less O2 = less performance.

Thanks adsm08,

Your thoughts on upgrading the tube from the area behind the grill to the air box? It appears to be much smaller than the tube from the air box to the throttle body. I’m just trying to get more cold air.

I see the small vent mounted at the front that helps stop water coming and the two wires on that tube. Can the small vent be modified? Can the tube be modified without having to retain the wires attached to it?

 

[adsm08]

I’m just trying to get more cold air.

Allow me to refer you back to my first thesis statement.

It's ability to flow air is not a performance limitation on your 2.9.

Unless you are porting, polishing, boring, stroking, adding boost, and upsizing injectors you are getting all the air your engine can use right now.

More air does not equal more power. More fuel does not equal more power. Gas engines need both in a very specific balance to get the most performance out of any of it. Your stock air box can and does flow more than enough air to meet the abilities and requirements of your fuel system.

 

[Ranger101]

Next time I’ll pay more attention to the thesis statement on the first go round. I’m not porting, polishing, or upsizing injectors, yet, so stock it is. Thanks for your input.

 

[cbxer55]

Nothing you do will get you cold air when it's hot outside. Nothing. 100 degrees is 100 degrees. While I do have a so called CAI on mine, I also have a large three inch tube mounted in the grill that blows "cold" air all over the filter. Blows the air right into the side of the filter. I have the same in my Lightning and Mustang. I can definitely tell the difference between summer and winter driving. All three run so much better when it's 20 degrees outside rather than 100 and humid.

In aircraft, the worst conditions are called the Three H's. High, Hot and Humid. And there's not a damn thing you can do about it. Except wait for winter. ;-)

 

[Ranger101]

Thanks cbxer55.

I appreciate the rationale.

There are two lines that I see coming from the tube midway on the tube from the grill to the air box. Did you eliminate these two or incorporate them into the three inch tube you replaced the original with? Flexible or hard pipe?

Can you post some pics of your setup?

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Nothing you do will get you cold air when it's hot outside. Nothing. 100 degrees is 100 degrees.

...........thats only if it has a blue oval........

Here's How the Dodge Demon Uses Its Air Conditioning to Make More Power

One of the Demon's most clever tricks is actually pretty simple to understand.

www.roadandtrack.com

Mopar ftw

 

[Ranger101]

OK, here I go.

The article PJ412 posted shared that in the Dodge Demon, when cool AC air was diverted from the cabin to the inter cooler performance was enhanced but, AC air to the cabin is non-existent when diverted. What if, just saying, a setup allowed ‘shared’ use of the AC air in our Rangers? A switch would allow full cabin AC, shared cabin AC and intake AC, or full intake AC. This is damn near genius!! Imagine the year round performance enhancement with cold air ON DEMAND!!

OK PJ412, your mission, if you choose to accept it (notice the Mission Impossible reference, LOL), is to design this system and post your final product. High amp alternator, e-fan, baffles similar to a home AC system that allows one system to independently cool two separate floors via separate thermostats (I put this system in some of the houses I remodel), etc? Why not the same for cars/trucks? When it hits the aftermarket as a ‘bolt on’ or ‘clamp on’ I only want 10% of the gross (before expenses) of the patent licensing or production, from whomever develops it. This could be aftermarket and become an option or standard on new vehicles (same 10% applies).

Groundbreaking!!

 

[Dirtman]

Engines is goes.... oh screw it, I don't even care anymore.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Groundbreaking!!

Mopar.



I toyed with the idea of ac... but why cram it in when methanol works as well?

So. I have methanol injection. Even on n/a its worth doing. If you're insane. Which I am.


When tuned properly, 8%/8%/8% increase in fuel efficiency, power, and emissions.

And oh gods that arctic blue washer fluid smells amazing when it burns.....






Demonstrated effects: chemical intercooler, lowers combustion chamber temperature, steam cleaning, octane booster, anti detonant, extra fuel, minor steam engine effect where expanding water vapor in the combustion chamber does provide a bit more downward force on the piston.

I'm happy I did it. Pieced it together off Amazon with a diaphragm pump and devils own nozzle. Everything else is lowes. Around $100 all in, could be done for much less with agricultural sprayer tips. I sprung for the DO nossle with fi in mind.

 

[snoranger]

...........thats only if it has a blue oval........

Here's How the Dodge Demon Uses Its Air Conditioning to Make More Power

One of the Demon's most clever tricks is actually pretty simple to understand.

www.roadandtrack.com

Mopar ftw

Sorta like the Supercooler on the 1993 Mustang Mach III concept vehicle.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

IIRC, haven't the Dodge Brothers been showing Ford how to do sh*t the right way since, what, nineteen hellcat or something?




















Hemi is goes vroom.

 

[Dirtman]

The dodge brothers gave each other sloppy BJs while their father watched.

 

[snoranger]

IIRC, haven't the Dodge Brothers been showing Ford how to do th*t the right way since, what, nineteen hellcat or something?




















Hemi is goes vroom.

Even Subaru owners laugh at the Dodge brothers...