Air Inlet Mod?
 

I was looking at a post yesterday about this TRD $5 mod ( https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=221073 ) and it seems to me that if I cut (or un-tighten) the stock air inlet I could potentially get a $5 semi-cold air intake. Take a look at this pic I found online and let me know if you think it would be wise to mess with this piece. what are the chances of water intake? Since the wheel-well cover is on, that limits the water from the tires.

https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y1.../Underhood.jpg
If I unlink the U-shaped tubing. Ignore the circles. Got the pic online(sorry).

Ya i guess that would sort of work... it would def be less restrictive then stock...

there is another thread about this mod and rather than buying the inlet the user just routed the pipe into the lower grill inlet

The only problem I would have with that is that debris would enter the tube and stay there for a long time, whereas with the TRD intake, the air is filtered immediately. Just be careful.

714xb brings up a great point.. cause the tube has "ribs" it will keep leaves in there and it might clog it...

I had thought about that. I was thinking I could possibly not use the tube. Maybe disconnect it at the point where it is a stub little-inlet and don't even worry about the tube. Let the filter worry about it. If it ever rains I could cover the TRD inlet up...??

PS. I could even put some mesh behind that inlet to avoid leaves from entering.

I say give it a try... if you dont like it put it back to stock... or get a real CAI...

Yeah. Good point.. Just got my Stimulus money. Maybe I can invest it in my car.

Looks hella ugly. Get a real intake.

^ well unless u drive with no bumper you wont see the stock air box mod... It will look stock from up top, but it will be a little less restrictive then normal... prob wont see much if any improvement in performance...

that TRD grill isn't available for purchase seperatly anylonger ...

I have already made the purchase. I hope it still goes through.

good luck if it does ... all the local dealerships within 2 hours of me have said it isn't available anymore .. and sent email to all the online places that sell and got same thing from them.

Well i just ordered two today... so guess i will see if i is not available anymore.

two? i dont believe you can just reverse it and put it on the other side....

we will see about that... hehe

I checked with the dealership today and they said the part is on its way from Japan... Said it might be a few weeks. Also, have any of you checked this intake out? I am a little skeptical.. http://www.nlmotoring.com/ProductDet...S2008X&click=2

^ ya i am getting it this week... i'll have installed pics and my 2 cents about it after that...

Alright. I will hold off my order until I can hear your 2 cents.

anyone ever consider doing the "deckplate" modification? Basically it involves going to a boat store, buying a deckplate for $15, removing your airbox, cutting a hole in it for the deckplate to fit in to, and removing the center of the plate. The deckplates are round pieces with removable centers, normally for accessing hatches on boats, or in the toyota world opening up intakes for better air flow. you can find better write ups on it at sites like ttora.com and customtacos.com