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Stock intake resonance chamber - plugging the hole

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Old Oct 1, 2004 | 11:51 PM
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Stock intake resonance chamber - plugging the hole

I'm going back to the stock intake to see how it changes the "performance" of my 8.

Tonight I was looking at the factory intake. Has anyone removed the factory resonance chamber on the factory intake tubing and "plugged" the hole? If so, what did you use?

I'm wondering about sound and/or performance as well.

Thanks.
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Old Oct 1, 2004 | 11:54 PM
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Which part are you referring to?
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 12:09 AM
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I don't have a picture but on the factory intake tubing there is a "resonance chamber." I have the factory manual in front of me but no pix... sorry.

When I looked at it today, it can be removed; the manual states that it's feature is:
"Installed to the air hose to reduce air intake noise."

I'll try to take pix and post tomorrow so everyone knows what I'm talking about.

(If no one understands, then I'm assuming no one had done this...)

Last edited by 310Guy; Oct 2, 2004 at 09:24 AM.
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 12:28 AM
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Okay, so I got the pix sooner than I said I would…

The “square” is the resonance chamber.





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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 12:32 AM
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I reckon you can use a wine bottle cork to block off that hole.
I did that on my S14 Silvia's return line for the stock BOV.
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 12:36 AM
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Damn. That's a HUGE wine bottle!
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 12:41 AM
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Bigger bottle tops for bigger thirsts..... we Aussies certainly love our grog.

BTW, are you gonna try blocking it off?
If so, keep us posted to any potential benefits (and/or side effects).
I'll let you be the guinea pig on this one.
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 02:12 AM
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Hey, I remembered removing that from my old mitsubishi lancer mivec and it improved throttle response slightly. Let us know how it goes, 310 guy.
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 02:50 AM
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The accordion shape of that tube is hurting airflow to the extent that that chamber probably doesn't affect airflow at all. It just absorbs sound waves. I'd be more concerned with finding a rubber hose that can replace the accordion pipe.
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 09:17 AM
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well i just tried this idea and guess what? car almost stalled on me 4 times.........i have never made it home so quick in all my life......hehe.....it stalls when your at a stop ..........so i had to keep revving my engine to make it not stall.....then again i dont have the m flash but i highly doubt it would make a difference...then again i didnt plug the whole up with anything either....so i wonder if that would make a difference....
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 09:22 AM
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Originally Posted by bossnikon23
then again i didnt plug the whole up with anything either....so i wonder if that would make a difference....

You just left it "exposed"???
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by 310Guy
You just left it "exposed"???
oh yeah, leaving it open would totally screw it up, you have to be able to maintain the vacuum.
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 01:02 PM
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Of course it didn't run. There was a leak int he system after the maf. The ecu didn't know how much air the engine was getting.
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 01:04 PM
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Theres a picture of a yellow 8 in texas someplace where they installed a nitrous nozle in that hole.. this is in some magazine article someplace done sometime when the car first came out a year ago or so maybe longer.
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 01:43 PM
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Well I was at OSH and Home Depot and I could not find any type of "plug" to place in there.
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 01:47 PM
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that thing i mentioned had a big rubber plug that the nitrous nozle was installed in.

cant you cut a test plug out of wood and varnish or fiberglass it?

Last edited by guy321; Oct 2, 2004 at 01:49 PM.
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 02:03 PM
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Capped off piece of PVC? Or maybe just a PVC cap to fit inside and tighten down the hose clamp?
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by NavyDood
Capped off piece of PVC? Or maybe just a PVC cap to fit inside and tighten down the hose clamp?
I looked at that and came up empty. I really would like to find some thick sold rubber tube or tubing or some time of rubber plug to place in there and clamp it down.
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 02:20 PM
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couldn't you use a thick rubber sheet and use the existing clamp? How hot is the air that flows through there?
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 02:33 PM
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Originally Posted by rotarygod
Of course it didn't run. There was a leak int he system after the maf. The ecu didn't know how much air the engine was getting.
Is it really after the MAF? I seem to be missing something on the placement of my MAF then.

What is the aluminum piece after the resonator/accordian?

Last edited by rev-2-9k; Oct 2, 2004 at 02:43 PM.
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 05:29 PM
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Originally Posted by rev-2-9k
What is the aluminum piece after the resonator/accordian?
The throttlebody.
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 09:00 PM
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I was looking at this last weekend when I was checking my oil... I was wondering if the chamber was part of the tuning of the intake, or just noise reduction. If it's just the latter, I might just cut out a circle of MDF the right size and clamp it down inside the intake inlet. I wouldn't mind a little more intake growl :D

Anyway, thanks for posting this out in the open- I tried searching before and didn't find anything.
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 10:59 PM
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Originally Posted by 310Guy
I looked at that and came up empty. I really would like to find some thick sold rubber tube or tubing or some time of rubber plug to place in there and clamp it down.
Try a labware/chemistry supply shop...they have all manner of rubber stoppers...otherwise do what rotarygod suggested and get rid of the accordian-shaped plenum and replace it with something that doesn't impede air flow as much, or, you could just put the resonator chamber back on...On my last vehicle (SVT Contour) that type of resonator chamber was required during cold weather to keep the intake from "moosing/hooting" (resonating) during idle.

just my $0.02 worth :D

Regards, Art
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 11:28 PM
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Art, thanks for the tip! :D

I just put in the stock intake with the chamber; once I find something to plug the opening I'll make the switch.

I am VERY curious to hear if there is any difference between the stock intake with the chamber and without.

Anyone else have suggestions, keep them coming. :D :D :D


------------------------------

Edit: Did a little research. For those looking to do the same thing, my suggestion is a solid 6.5 rubber stopper. A 6.5 is 34mm at the top and 27mm at the base; that's roughly 1.34" at the top and 1.06" at the base. When I measured the opening is was approximately 1.25". A 6.5 stopper *should* work with the clamp in this situation. If anyone thinks differently, please post.

-------------------------------

Last edited by 310Guy; Oct 2, 2004 at 11:54 PM.
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Old Oct 2, 2004 | 11:31 PM
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Originally Posted by G8rboy
I was looking at this last weekend when I was checking my oil... I was wondering if the chamber was part of the tuning of the intake, or just noise reduction. If it's just the latter, I might just cut out a circle of MDF the right size and clamp it down inside the intake inlet. I wouldn't mind a little more intake growl :D

Anyway, thanks for posting this out in the open- I tried searching before and didn't find anything.

According to the Mazda Service Highlights Manual (I have the full manual in my car, this one in my home), it said the chamber was for noise reduction.
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