Sounds like a winner. I'm breakin' out the dremel if the rain will stop long enough. Thanks Traveler.

Haha people actually listen to my advice. I'm still a car newbee though. :D

I wouldn't worry about sucking in water by simply hittting water puddles. That amount water from that sudden splash isn't really enuff to get water all the way up to the filter.

It's a different story if you plan to drive thru floods that are like a foot deep. :D

And also, it isn't really loud, just slightly noticable. At highway speeds, the wind noise completely drowns it out, so not a problem :)

The reason that engineers dont design better intakes is because of penny-pinchers and whiners. the penny-pinchers dont want to spend the money to research it and the whiners want a quiet intake. If the average person were to hear an aftermarket intake as we enthusiasts hear daily then, theyd never buy the car. Instead, they'd whine about how loud it is.

is the grill solid on the 02 model sedan also? i looked, and i dont see the solid wall of plastic everyone is talking about. it doesnt look like the grill is anywhere near solid.

Take a look at the top of the grill that's exposed when you open the hood. Since that's the area that is right beneath the stock air inlet. When you close the hood, the gap between the hood and the grill and headlights is the only area that air can get in. The upper area where the grill mounts to the radiator core support is solid plastic from headlight to headlight.

ahhhhh..... i was looking at the lower grill. i feel dumb now.

Install walkthrough
 

I've done this mod and taken pictures. If you wish to view it an a few other items, take a look at my website. It's under construction, and will be for a bit until I move and get my garage set up.

http://members.rogers.com/cbrodnicki/

Picking up from Traveler's post three steps back.... I found this hint several months ago, site unknown, but...Lift your hood. The top passenger side 'tray' between the back of the grill and the front of the radiator support bar is the culprit. This flat area above the stock horn, a slightly wedge shaped area about 9" wide by 3" deep, will need to be removed. I carefully used a large drill bit, drilling out the corners and angles, and cut between them with a hand held hacksaw blade. I reset the computer with a negative terminal removal. I now wind out strong to redline. No choking past six grand. Mileage change unknown, didn't have a good baseline. Also smoothed out the inner 'corner' of the 90 degree elbow that goes into the airbox. NO EXPENSE, only time. Try it.

Nice info.

I wonder sometimes if too many folks think "louder" automatically means "faster". Just a thought. . . .

my air box mod
 

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This was done the day the mod was made...notice how the filter is very dirty in only one spot?? It's because that is where 90% of all the air was going in...now it's geting even distribution. Also for those who say I'm sucking in hot air do this simple test first.....with the car running and completly hot put your hand on the stock inlet near the ultra-hot header. See how that feels, then stick your hand under your air box where the radiator fan is blowing and tell me which is hotter.