Air Filter Mod 96 Ranger

[RangerSVT]

I got tired of the factory snorkel sucking water everytime I went wheelin in deep water, so I came up with an easy inexpensive way to cure my problem and at the same time pick up some mpg's and power. I hope this is a good writeup for others to follow. I went to AutoZone for my filter, but any aftermarket 3" filter will work...
I started by disassembling my factory intake plumbing...

Remove the recirculator line from the intake tube

Next remove the IACT from the intake tube

Next unclip the air filter housing

Disconnect the MAF harness plug next to the air filter housing

Separate the MAF housing from the air filter housing

Loosen the clamp on the intake tube at the TB and remove intake tube

Remove the air filter housing from the fender by removing the push pin and pulling up on the housing

My air filter I picked up from AutoZone for $23.00

Most would take a piece of PVC pipe or something and replace the factory intake tube, but I re-used mine to keep costs down. Any 3" air filter will work, I used a Spectre filter, just what my local store had. I connect it straight to the MAF housing

I then re-install the intake tube into the engine bay, connecting the MAF harness plug

Connect the Recirculator tube and IACT

Tighten the clamp on the intake tube at the TB

Recheck all connections. This is the finished look of the install.

SVT

 

[scott5640]

nice, but the fender has mostly cool air, and your engine has hot air...so it wont have as much power

 

[Doom's Day Custom]

You are goin to have nothing but problems because the the housing that holds the maf sensor is not air tight and this will throw it off and cause your truck to run like shit.


Here my intake i did

 

[riverviewcontracting]

no i dont think so because he used the same housing that holds the maf sensor so he won't have any problems if im correct
but he will have the same problem sucking water everytime he goes wheelin in deep water because the filter is in the same place

 

[Doom's Day Custom]

no i dont think so because he used the same housing that holds the maf sensor so he won't have any problems if im correct
but he will have the same problem sucking water everytime he goes wheelin in deep water because the filter is in the same place

oh okay i warned you ,I had the same idea a while ago but had problems with air getting past the maf and making the truck run like shit...

 

[ozziemo27]

Thats going to get plastered in mud and or continue sucking water if you serve your reputation for rompin through mudholes, lol

 

[Iron Ranger]

I think it's a good start. The next step is maybe a snorkel?

I'm more worried about the Spectre filter oil messing with the MAF, usually those filters are soaked with the filter oil and get sucked in onto the MAF sensor.

Maybe. I dunno.

 

[RangerSVT]

The whole idea behind this was not to get more cold air or design an inexpensive cold air system, but to rid of the factory snorkel for 4x4's and trail rigs, which is located below the headlight. When water get this high, it is literally sucked into the intake system. I have done this twice, and twice I was lucky not to hydrolock my motor. I installed a free flowing air filter to restrict less airflow than the traditional filters. By removing the factory air filter housing, I removed the "airtight suction" of the factory snorkel, eliminating sucking water into the intake system when water gets to the headlight. I plan to make an isolation plate to isolate engine bay heat from the air filter. I took into consideration of the oil saturated Spectre filter, and thoroughly inspected the filter prior to installation...

Update: I have driven about 120 miles so far, and have noticed a more responsive throttle response, and a smoother drive. I have yet to determine mpg's, but I do notice a slightly better throttle response and improved highway driving. Any oil from the Spectre filter (if any excess was on it) has not had an effect on the MAF, nor do I have any codes. Thanks for all the replies and responses
SVT

 

[99_3.0]

Will this mod work with the 3.0, having a different intake tube?

 

[dixie_boysles]

man, take that engine though a car wash

 

[BlackBII]

Cool, a hot air intake.

That should help with preventing water from being sucked in, but that filter is going to get dirty real quick.

 

[brandizzle]

he needs to take svt through the car wash period...but then again its just going to get muddy again the way he likes to go through mud holes. I think a snorkel would be a good mod eventually.

 

[RangerSVT]

A full snorkel and fresh cold air intake tube setup is in the works, but until that is perfected, I chose this route to prevent me from doin my V8 swap before I am ready to do the swap...

Will this mod work with the 3.0, having a different intake tube?

Not sure on the 3.0L, you'd have to separate your MAF housing from your air filter housing and see...providing you have the round filter and not the square one...
SVT

 

[Iron Ranger]

man, take that engine though a car wash

and erase the evidence of a mud caked weekend!?

Heck no!! Besides, he did say he was doing a V8 swap anyway........

 

[RangerSVT]

Yeah, I did this mod mainly to prevent sucking water through the factory snorkel, hydrolocking my motor and making me do my swap sooner....and yeah, washin the truck would show all the scratches I have, meanin I would have to go muddin again just to make it look good again!!
SVT