I pulled the front of the airbox off and put a K&N on the place where the first MAF screen normally goes. It's coupled to the pipe with a rubber adapter. The car idles fine, but now seems really low on power and when I give it some gas I get this angry lawnmower sound that seems to come from the back side of the motor. My car is a bone stock 04 AT with no prior issues.

The MAF is hooked up and left on the stock mount, BTW. I didn't do anything with the stock air box back that has the holes for the engine cover.

put the stock airbox back on and get a k&n drop in filter. problem solved.

I pulled the front of the airbox off and put a K&N on the place where the first MAF screen normally goes.

why?

I pulled the front of the airbox off and put a K&N on the place where the first MAF screen normally goes. It's coupled to the pipe with a rubber adapter. The car idles fine, but now seems really low on power and when I give it some gas I get this angry lawnmower sound that seems to come from the back side of the motor. My car is a bone stock 04 AT with no prior issues.

The MAF is hooked up and left on the stock mount, BTW. I didn't do anything with the stock air box back that has the holes for the engine cover.

Did you car ingested a bolt or nut by mistake and ended up inside your rear rotor housing? Try putting everything back to the way it was and see. If you have the same issues then something went terribly wrong. Normally the only issue you will encounter with a K&N type filter (without the air box) is intake noise but no internal engine noise. :eyetwitch

Thanks for the 2 helpful comments in this thread. Charles, I'll check out that thread.

I guess the power loss was in my head or temporary until the car adjusted for the different air flow. I put the stock box back on and it sounded normal. I guess there was some sort of resonance from the engine made very apparent. Is there some sort of valved system that opens up under certain conditions or certain RPMs? I noticed the sound happen when the engine was under a heavier load (i.e. quick acceleration, downsifhts, etc) and stayed that way for a short period of time even after the throttle was pulled back. It seemed RPM and speed INdependent to some degree.

BTW, my goal in this was not more power, it was more intake sound. I had the cone from a previous car and wanted to open up the intake some more. I already removed the baffles in the airbox. I'll see what else there is to do that isn't a waste of $250+

Try to study more about your car before you start your next post.

Having a louder intake is something we all think we want, at least in the short term, but having your dashboard rattle and your engine howl at you at various RPMs gets annoying. Even moreso when you realize that you are not gaining any power. Nothing is as cool as rolling up next to somebody and quietly blowing their doors off
That's why it's back to stock for now. I want A LITTLE more sound, but not obnoxious buzzing and awkward resonances belting from under the hood. I'll see what's available for some cheap moderate sound, but I don't think I'll be blowing anyone's doors off, be it quietly or loudly. The car (esp. my AT) just doesn't have the go and I don't have the cash flow to pay for tickets for stomping kids in old Hondas ;)

Try to study more about your car before you start your next post.
thanks for the contribution to my question! Brilliant insight like this is really what makes these boards a wealth of knowledge and help.

Racing Beat is your answer.

Best intake.

^If facts and rational thought actually sold products, there would be a lot of companies in a world of trouble.

The OE air box is not a significant restriction on an NA 8, and the air it breathes is plenty cold. For the money, it is the best intake (sound and cosmetics aside).

PICS!!!! i gotta see this, and what filter did you use (part number for K&N)


i see you JEDI

^If facts and rational thought actually sold products, there would be a lot of companies in a world of trouble.

The OE air box is not a significant restriction on an NA 8, and the air it breathes is plenty cold. For the money, it is the best intake (sound and cosmetics aside).

I swear ya'lls intake comments are music to my ears and right up there with my thoughts on the matter.

To the OP, I would focus on things that will improve the overall stability and longevity of your car starting with a AccessPort supported by a reputable tuner. Once you've got your car running in an optimal state then look at things like your exhaust system and consider the nitrous bandwagon... at least that's the evolutionary I'm following.

dozer - it's back to stock now, but picture looking down at the top half of your intake box with the tip of a K&N cone stick out just a bit. It's not too pretty and didn't sound right due to (what I've read and assume to be) a secondary intake 'system' opening up around 4k. There are a few vids on youtube that I tracked down using Charles's quoted search suggestion that clearly show the resonating drone that comes from a lack of some baffling on the intake system. It sounded great aside from that, but when those tones kicked in, all I could imagine was a slammed crx with all the plastics on it, neon stickers and an 8" exhaust pipe buzzing by. I'm going to see what I can do to make the stock box A LITTLE louder w/o damaging it, but the cone project was a failure IMO and won't be back.

Shell Dude - I'm not really too hell bent on modding the car for performance. I've come to terms with driving a relatively slow car (compared to what I had before) that doesn't (IMO) sound good with loud exhaust. The car runs great now and doesn't really need much more. I WOULD like to eventually have a faster rx8 and will look into nitrous down the road. I have a NOS kit that will work well when the time comes, but I"m not ready for it yet. I'll be buying a good set of scan gauges (probably Aeroforce) and an AccessPort before much more than pretty stuff goes on the car.

Pissed off lawnmower? That's just your engine!:lol:

just delete vfad. heard it before, it's decently louder without it.

make sure you cap the tube that goes to the intake manifold.

it uses a 5/32 vacuum cap. you can find them at autozone.

cool, thanks for the details. I knew the VFAD delete, but never saw the detail on the cap size. I'll give it a go. I'm also thinking about blocking the raised grid inside the airbox. I'd bet they are there mostly for sound dampening and covering them might prevent some sound cancellation.

I think i sensed some sarcasm towards NYCGPS haha