3.2 air box mods?

[motorcop]

Just finished installing Steve Wongs chip and M&K cat bypass. The car screams! Best bang for the buck IMO. While speaking with Steve he said that opening up the restrictive stock air box could be worth up to an extra four horses along with the "sound" at 3/4 to full throttle of the extra air getting to the motor. I checked the search feature but struck out for info. Anyone modify their 3.2 box? Pros? Cons? Photos? Thanks guys!

[Rot 911]

Did he really say that? All research out there indicates that the exhaust is the restriction in the system. The intake, in stock configuration, can flow more air than the 3.2 engine can use. If you want to hear it make cool sounds either take the snorkel off or cut some holes in the face of the airbox.

[Tigerrat]

You should be able to find pics where folks have drilled holes or otherwise cut up the airbox cover. I think Fabspeed has a cut out cover. Louder sound sure but power adds are debatable. I did the SW chip and cat replacement but left the intake alone. Ken

[mthomas58]

Here are some ideas for you. I have done the first one (pretty common mod).

[Zeke]

None of those ideas are good if you wash the car or leave it out in the rain.

When you look at the size of the butterfly, you realize the horn supplies all the air that is needed. The restriction is the filter itself in spite of it's large size relative to the butterfly. You could go with a K & N which has not been proven to be of any great advantage, or just keep a fresh and clean stock element in there.

I guess the holes at the bottom don't hurt.

[NoLift911]

Easiest way to make the mod (vs. turning it into swiss cheese) is to put the box on a table saw and cut it down so it is just clips and the frame to hold in the filter - takes about 5 minuets and comes out very clean.

What this will get you is an un-holy howl when you are WOT around 4-5k rpms which sounds like someone is sucking all of the air out of your ears...

I have this mod in my 3.2 Carrera, along with Steve's chip, cat-bypass and a RUF sport muffler which really wakes up the car in all areas.

One step further is to take a ton of weight out of your car - all of this really gives you some biscuits and gravy for a stellar power to weight ratio = fun.

I helped a buddy install a 3.6 into his 86 Carrera - his car has all of the accoutrement's that Porsche offered from the factory, mine is stripped. There is not much difference in the two cars in terms of power. I took over 500lbs out of my car (512 and counting) He is now stripping his down and I am sure he will realize the beneifts of the 3.6 swap.

[wildcat077]

I went with the Fabspeed cover and K&N filter along with the SW chip and other exaust replacements and i have to admit that when the chip kicks in between 5000 to 6500 rpm's the sound is awesome ...

Sounds a whole lot different than when it had the stock airbox... horsepower gains ???
Who cares,it sounds too good

Cheers !
Phil

[m110]

It should be noted that the factory itself provided a "motorsound package" for the 993 which included a drilled-out intake. I like the sound and only drilled the front most portion so water doesn't get in.

[Por_sha911]

This one is my doing:

Sounds better (but probably not as good as taking the entire face off) and since the car has A/C and you barely notice the holes when the cover is on. I've driven in rain (and been caught in major downpours) and have had no problem with ingesting water.

[Schwarzeritter]

Interesting, I haven't looked up close at a Sound Package. Especially since I am not sure
how many cars came equipped with it, and to find out for me is sort of trivial haha.
But in short I think the Swiss Cheese method is better, although it sort of renders the " Intake Velocity Tube " useless.

However what would be very interesting, would be to set up a test bench and test each set up, and for kicks the 993 sound package and see which flowed the best. Although remember flow is good, but you still need velocity too. Although a extensive and well developed rig would be needed. Good times!

On filters, I would rather have a filter that filtrates better then flows, so long as it did not constrict air flow below that of the original filter unit. =D

[paulgtr]

I swiss cheesed my cover as well. sounds a little better but didn't make much difference. it is true that all gains come from the exhaust. i went to a cat by pass and it made a big difference, then i went to SSI's and an M&K 2 in 1 out. huge difference. but apparently, even the SSI's are a bit restrictive for the 3.2... so there is the possibility for more!

[motorcop]

Thanks Guys......keep em coming....Im listening!!

[deputydog95]

Has anyone done this intake? A well respected tuner recommended this particular product, slightly modified.

MSDS - Air Intake Systems

[stlrj]

Mostly just for looks and yet does as much good as Swiss cheesing your wallet, performance wise. Do a search, the data is in.

[hcoles]

Lots of butt dyno stories - where are actual dyno sheets with/without air box holes?
IMHO - leave the $%*& thing alone and drive the car.

[Bird911]

I did replace the airbox with a K&N cone filter when I had my 3.2. I can't say I felt a difference. But, who can really feel a 1% difference in power. (If I recall they claim a 2-3 HP increase. This need to be proven.)

What I mostly liked with the cone is that it cleaned and opened the engine bay nicely.

[DRACO A5OG]

Keep the OEM air box and buy an aftermarket pre-cut cover. Just in case you need to go back to OEM to pass smog inspection. Some of us have failed because inspector determined it was modified.

Finding an OEM cover is difficult.

In writing this I have cut mine too. After watching SW's dyno test of it stock vs cut out air box. I was convinced, out came the Dremil

No issues with rain or washing, BTW. I wash my engine bay allot, OCD like that. ( I went from Coned Filter due to excessive dirt intake, yes properly lubed )

[DaveMcKenz]

Originally Posted by deputydog95

Has anyone done this intake? A well respected tuner recommended this particular product, slightly modified.

MSDS - Air Intake Systems

Yes, this seemed to me like a good system. It uses a molded intake adapter, with a smooth transition between the round filter and the rectangular AFM. The filter looks like high quality, maybe S & B? Anyway a nice product.
Dave

[stlrj]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

In writing this I have cut mine too. After watching SW's dyno test of it stock vs cut out air box. I was convinced, out came the Dremil

Do you really think that Porsche missed that simple trick? Thank goodness there are some of us who know better than the factory.

[DaveMcKenz]

Originally Posted by stlrj

Do you really think that Porsche missed that simple trick? Thank goodness there are some of us who know better than the factory.

My goodness. Do you think the only factor for the engineers was performance? 30 years ago?! Maybe they had to compromise for the sake of emissions. Who knows.
They were very smart, but they did not have the same design parameters.
Really, is this news to you!!??
Dave