ok so i'm gonna skip new pics...I've decided to scrap the coupler that was "ramming" the air in...the filter is pretty much sealed off from engine heat so I wanted the whole thing to breath good. So long story short...minus and open tip filter, it looks the same.
Here goes...
1. aquire supplies mentioned in original post:
rubber maid plastic garbage can, escape specific maf adaptor for the filter on ebay, and some foam pipe insulator. some 1" nuts and bolts to hold it together. 3m double stick tape.
2. Remove stock air box...it's just one bolt as I recall and it just lifts right out after you loosen the clamps.
3. You should have your MAF sensor disconnected by pulling the clip out, which will allow you to loosen the clamp on your sensor housing and pull stock air box out.
* at this point you should have only the stock air box out...you will use the distance from the maf sensor housing to the inner edge of the fender as your box's length.
4. On to the cutting and shaping...take some brief measurments(it's gonna take lots of trial and error, possibly a second can to cut up :lol: *(you can cut the entire side out of one side so you're left with a giant dust pan shaped garbage can. Lay it sideways so the fat side is up. The top will be open to access the filter anyway.
5. Grab your dremel and a re-enforced cut off wheel and begin your trimming.(start small and go cram it in there noting where to keep cutting...you can always take more. I believe the short end nearer the strut tower is about 6" or so and the long end is roughly 10-12"(DOUBLE CHECK)...I'm going off memory as it's pouring outside right now. The tough part is gradually shaping the strut tower curve.
6. take your adaptor plate, mark and drill your screw holes in the lower right corner of the bottom side of your garbage can.
7. When you get your fit just right, you now need to remove that MAF sensor housing as well. It makes the assembly much easier. So now, take your foam insulator and carefully go around the edges this will cover all your cut up edges so it pretty's it up too. I drilled a hole every 6 inches or so and at the corners and zip tied my foam in place(see pics).
8. Now place your sensor housing, the adaptor plate and your box together and fasten them so that your new "heat sheild" is screwed firmly to the adaptor plate through the holes you drilled earlier.
9. Place your entire new unit, back into the intake tube rotate and tighten your clamp so that the angle of the box follows the slope of the hood as close as possible. I used a zip tie in the upper corner to attach it to a high-reaching set of wire loom that held the back end higher.
10. at this point your box should be sitting so that the stock tube is entering it right in the bottom front corner...You can now attach your filter and plug your sensor back in. Should be looking awesome!
11. Now for the tricky part lol, you need to create and attach another foam seal that attaches to the under side of the hood. This closes down and rests on top of your box seal...essentially filling the gap between your heat shield and the hood.
12. Easiest way.... measure your distance from the front edge of the fender, basically right on top of your headlight to right past the fuse box where your box starts. Then measure the distance it goes "in toward the center of the hood", then the length of the box going further up towards the windshield, then to where it goes back towards the strut tower, and then from the strut tower edge to the cowl of your hood up near the wipers.
13. Essentially this gives you an up, in, up, out, up, pattern of measurements that can be transfered to the bottom side of your hood with a piece of chalk and a tape measure. You can then see where you need to make your "u shaped" insulator that will close down on the foam attached to the top edge of your box...thus sealing the top edge. Your goal is to have it sit right on top of the box when the hood is closed.
14. Cut your foam piece to the combined length of the measurements, score your edges for better corner bending and attach to bottom of hood with heavy duty 3m double sided tape.
15. Enjoy your ridiculous amount of time spent and sense of accomplishment.
16. I am not responsible for any mess ups or damage you cause your vehicles if you mess up, I'm just a dude with a hand tool and some spare time. I have no mechanical inclination lol, so please dont trash me if it doesn't work for you. I'm sure there's a million ways to skin this cat...this is just mine. I spent a few nights perfecting it, and still don't know if I'll keep it, I need a few weeks of testing to decide. But enjoy it if you go for it...it looks, and sounds amazing. :rockon:
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