firelizard

I was looking at the stock airbox on my 1.8L 2nd gen and wondering if the whole box could be replaced by an aftermarket filter . Is it as simple as it looks?

cornercarve98

Well if it's anything like my 1.5L layout, the box is easay to remove. So is that squiggly down pipe to the outer area of the engine compartment. What is in that compartment (in front of the left front wheel, before the bumper, yet out of sight when you open the hood), at least in my 98, is a white alien-looking resonating chamber or something. I had to take the bumper off to get it out (that was fun...keep track of eeeeeverything).

Just have some sockets and stuff (10mm a lot for my case) and keep track. It's pretty straight forward. Have fun.

murcielago

Hey cornercarve, what did you replace the box with?
Just a regular cone filter?

did you need to get any extra housing or tubbing i should say to get it working?

cornercarve98

With my car, the box attaches to the MAF sensor (why oh why did Mazda put it there), so it comes apart with some tools. Yes, I did replace it with a bent pipe and cone filter. The bent pipe (good ol' Auto Zone) was a generic one (for various compacts "one size fits all"), but had the holes for other sensors and a pcv valve inlet.

I had to cut about 2 1/2" off the pipe to make the whole thing fit somewhere in the engine compartment. And I'll just say since there are no performance parts for a 1.5, the job on my car looks decent enough (not to hard to do that), but I wish it went out where the OEM intake did. Always cold air there. Mine just runs as far and low away from the engine.

The pipe came with clamps and a bendable metal piece for mounting somewhere in my engine bay (if I needed). One end of the metal slides under the clamp, the other I fastened to an airbox mount point just in front and below the battery, to the right.

I would imagine the 1.8L would be the same. If it isn't, tell me. Does this answer your question?

firelizard

I just bought a '98 with a 1.5L so I know what you're talking about now. Do you have a pic of your setup? Is it a pipe from the TB to the filter with the MAF somewhere along the way, or is it just stock from the TB to the MAF? Or do I make no sense?

cornercarve98

Sorry for the late reply. I understand what you're asking. The piping from the TB to the MAF is stock. The pipe bends sharply, as well as it's sort of accordian-like appearance soaks up the engine's rocking back and forth. Here are two pictures from my Sunday afternoon adventure--hope they work:

1) The car apart
2) view down on the drivers side of the engine bay. MAF in obvious view. The pipe bends as far down and away as possible (with the piping I had)

Feel free to ask me any questions if I or those pictures aren't clear. Good luck!

firelizard

Ohhhhhhh!!

*runs to get some piping and an air filter*

cornercarve98

Cool stuff. Sorry the pictures don't show the other side of the intake pipe. The pcv valve is not an issue because of where Mazda puts it (after the MAF), but there is a sensor that plugs into the air box that you'll have to relocate to a hole provided in the bent pipe (at least on the one I bought)--I don't think it would like just to hang around.
As far as performance results, don't be expecting much. For me, I noticed it breathed much better at the high end. I lost a smidge of torque at the bottom end--not like there was much to begin with haha. For me, this was a way to have fun--sound like I was going fast, but still being legal speeded--as well as free the engine up a little. I might switch to a K&N air filter just so I know it can be cleaned and is good quality.

firelizard

Oh, uh, is it necessary to remove the bumper and all that to remove the box and pipe?
'cuz I've only got a parking stall, no garage, so I'd have to wait 'til summer to tackle something like that if it's necessary.

cornercarve98

If you want to just get the new pipe and filter in, there's several 10mm screws to loosen to disconnect the OEM air box and squiggly pipe to the resonator or whatever it is. If you look at the top picture, the off white lump of plastic to the right of the ramp is the reason why I needed to remove the bumper. below the resonator or "that thing" is the OEM air box and squiggly pipe (to the left of the box). Those come out fairly easily, though it's been so long since I did it, I forget the order. Fiddle around with some screws that connect various parts to the frame and to eachother. It's kinda fun, like grown up LEGOS...sort of. So ya, you can leave "that thing" in and just throw a pipe and filter down in that area once you remove the box and pipe. Keep track of suff, for sure. Some of the screws can be used for the new intake's mounting.

firelizard

'kay sweet thanks

Oh, and what diameter is the tube?