okay, i've read quite alot of posts and threads about custom intakes...has anyone made their own? for example, my daily driver is a '03 Nissan Frontier pick-up truck. i went to Auto Zone and they sell Spectre stuff. What I did was buy the MAF sensor adaptor plate and the cone filter and that was it. $30 was all it took. No check engine light, nice throaty intake sound.

Has anyone done something like this? Is the motor to fickle to accept this modification?

Thank you.

 

From the research I've done, it seems Mazda did a damn good job in the design of the factory intake and it's a bit hard to improve upon. Although you could piece together something that has a better sound, there is a good chance it would be at the expense of performance. Just my 2 cents.

 

You hit the jackpot on this one!

The stock intake is great... Even upgrading to the MS CAI wont be much better performance wise. If you want better sound without sacrificing performance just get the MS/AEM CAI.

 

If you want better sound, remove the VFAD, and the baffeling from the air box. Free and no one will laugh at you for building a hot air intake.

 

Just to satisfy my urge to mod, while being financially prudent I guess you could say, I did this.

Removed VFAD. Plugged up nipples on UIM. Modded stock airbox by removing the bell piece from the inside, leaving one screen in before the maf, and to this I connected a random K&N cone filter which fit in well. And, I left the bottom filter box installed to help draw air from the bumper, but left the top air box assembly resting on top of the air filter. So there is a little a gap exposing some of the K&N filter.

Most likely, I'm getting warmer air than a completely enclosed air box, but I like the sound, and it looks decent (actually, I think it looks really cool but I'd only say that to online enthusiasts lol).

 

There's power to be found there with the right combination of supporting parts, the key is to focus on a complimentary design at both ends of the engine


But that's all I'll say about it

 

kind of confused with your post.

But if you removed the bell that would reduce the air flow into your engine just a lil fyi

 

thats what i did and i added the K&N drop in filter.

 

Stingray.

What I did was replace that bell directly with a cylindrical K&N. Basically leaving a straight shot route to the MAF. Airflow would only be impeded if my setup was enclosed; then, yeah, for sure.

But, I've essentially made a hot air intake, somewhat protected however, which draws ambient engine bay air.

Soon, I'm going to go back to stock, get rid of that cone filter, and try to mod the useless VFAD ducting I have to make a RacingBeat ram air knockoff.