With all of the recent posts about intakes, I started thinking about how I would design an intake for my Scion (xA).

I'm also curious how you guys would do it, if you could have it your way.

First of all, bends in the intake tubing are bad, so my intake is a straight shot into the throttle body. And I want a velocity stack on the end to increase the air speed.

To get an extra 2 inches of clearance for the intake, I want to rotate the battery 90 degrees. It will be easy to make a mounting plate that can screw onto the OEM mounting plate to extend it 2 inches. The only other things needed are to extend the wire on the negative terminal, and to use a longer battery mounting bracket (on top).

Since the battery will be 2 inches closer to the block (without the OEM airbox in-between), I want a heatshield, too. It would attach to, or be part of the new battery mounting plate.

The increased space will make room for a straight-through type filter. The canister around the filter reduces heat soak. There are also smaller canisters available.

http://www.prmracing.com/New%20Folder/325bmw97_98_01.jpg

I also want to open up the (fog light) hole in the front bumper, and duct cold air near the opening of the velocity stack. The duct will end at the existing hole that leads into the engine compartment. This straight, short intake is my favorite design.

An alternative design would be to seal the ducting to the intake, making use of the ram-air effect, with very minimal bending of the ducting/intake piping. However, this type of system increases the incidence of hydrolock, and longer intake tubing is bad for airflow at lower speeds (without a strong ram effect). I think this CAI system would be the best for the track, but not the street.

The only part of the intake that I need to have made is the (silicone) adapter that would hold the MAF sensor, and the vacuum line. I'm going to hit up PRM to see if they will make it, but I have my doubts.

This is an example of the silicone tubing that I am talking about. I think most companies would rather curve the tubing, so it will be a simple bolt-on, with no modifying of the battery. That sucks for performance (or, doesn't suck as well)!

http://www.prmracing.com/New%20Folder/Integra_gsr_01.jpg

Then I want to make it look good:

http://gallery.s2ki.com/imagecatalog/imageview/64978/1

How about a carbon fiber canister or velocity stack?

-Pete :)

I like your idea for the Xa, I would like something similar also.
ken

I'm going to check the cost of having an aluminum intake tube custom made.

It shouldn't be too difficult. Just a short straight aluminum tube with a small pipe for the vacuum hose, and a mount for the MAF sensor. I like the SPFR design with the MAF mount on the back, instead of on the top like the Injen. I also like the way the vacuum line is on the engine side of the MAF sensor on the SPFR.

If it's too expensive to get one custom made, I can try to get another intake, and cut it before the first bend, and try to graft the rest of the straight system onto it.

-Pete

put me down on this one, because I am seriously interested for the xA... for a significant number of parts it feels like the xA is being left out, while I understand numbers are numbers, I still want to be playing with our toys

I had a custom cold air intake made for my Odyssey. cost me about 300 bucks, was polished stainless and is PERFECT! gave us 17 hp! turbo guys are good for this work...have any custom around you? use them!

That's a very ambitious project. I like that :D

contact me via email to promote your product iv it is in production. the idea is exelent couldnt of done better my self.

You may all laugh at the idea that Toucan came up with but it's a great way to see some power gains and get a ram air style intake for less then the others. What it is is an extention that you can add to their heat sheilded filters. It is made out of a flexible rubber material. I will post pics of it ASAP.

I hope it all works out at minimal price! I cant wait to see what happens!

I haven't heard back yet from PRM, so I'll call them on Monday.

From past experience, I know that they are notoriously slow. They promised a silicone intake tube for the S2000 "in a couple of months, " -that was a couple of years ago.

That's why I am thinking about having an intake tube made out of aluminum. Thanks, trickedxb for the tip on turbo guys. I'm not sure who I'll use for the fabrication, but I have a couple of ideas.

Thanks, for the offer superbox. It seems I get a lot of promotion, without even asking for it.:

http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=177119&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

-Pete http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif

I spoke to Gerry at PRM yesterday.

He said he didn't get my e-mail with the info, so I resent it. I'll follow up with a phone call and see what's up. I doubt that he will be interested in making the intake pipe the way I want it, but I'll wait to see what he says, before I go elsewhere.

I'll keep you guys posted.

-Pete

With all of the recent posts about intakes, I started thinking about how I would design an intake for my Scion (xA).

I'm also curious how you guys would do it, if you could have it your way.
. . .

-Pete :)

Nice write up Pete. I am trying to design something similar for my xB.
Let me know how your plans work out.