THENURSE

HOWZIT FELLOW P5 FANS!? I have been proud owner of a gorgeous '03 midnight blue -loaded- sans side ab/anti lock brakes (couldnt find one in houston or surrounding areas) for about 3 months now. Every day I find myself more and more impressed of how tight this "econo-box" is built and drives. My only quibble is power....or lack thereof. I do have to keep reminding myself that that it IS a econo-box, due to the fact that it drives more like a $25,000 car than a $15,000 one.
But back to the question if have regarding the stock air intake inlet. I am planning to cut out the plastic in front of the inlet behind the grill (8" x 2" in size) which of course would let cooler air that is forced into the airbox at speed instead of feeding hot air from under the hood. Would this adaptation increase horsepower if only by a fraction or hinder power due to a change in airbox pressure? CAI's have a direct feed into the intake instead of the stock snorkle which is indirect. Would the increase of airspeed overcome the indirect feed into the airbox? Should
I plan to keep the stock air filter instead of a K&N because of the possible build up of oil on the AMS?, or do y'all think that it would be worth the $50 to get one. Sorry for being so long-worded. Thanks for your input! Oh yeah, Sir Nuke where do you live in H-town.

AzianDragonz

get either a Injen CAI or an AEM V2. Those are the best CAI out there for this car.

goldstar

Since you raised the issue of removing the horizontal grill piece in order to improve air flow into the intake system, I strongly advise that you check out: http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/sho...&threadid=1977

THENURSE

Thanks for yor replies, but I was really trying to keep everything in stock form if possible. The link was great, exactly what I'am trying to do. I still want know if will would REALLY increase HP or decrease it ,or will the mod do nothing? Also, what is the concensus on the K&N filter; worthy mod or worthless? Any thoughts on this Sir Nuke?

goldstar

For information on OEM vs. K&N air filters, check out:
http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/sho...&threadid=2370

02 DX Millenium Red

Rusty

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I took a 3/8" drill and bored through the grille honeycombs that were blocked. I avoided the area which is a molded brace. I now have 11 holes right in front of the intake snorkle, invisible from outside. Just don't scar up the honeycomb with your drill. Run it slowly.

Disconnected the battery to reset. Now it pulls much better in first if you've got the guts to really romp on it and get those RPMs way up there. Then when you shift, it cured a slight bog I sometimes got just after dumping the clutch in second; an impressive snappy shift now.

After the battery reset, it may take a few drive cycles for the computer to adapt fully.

If it dosen't seem to like the cold winter weather I guess I could tape over the holes from the inside, but I'm not really expecting that

goldstar

Rusty,

You don't have to worry about the engine not liking cold air. In fact, the power varies essentially as the square root of the change in Absolute temperature, so as ambient temperature falls, HP output increases. The IAT sensor responds to changing temperature and the MAF sensor responds to the increased air density due to colder air temperatures thus compensating for the colder intake air. The throttle body will not freeze up because it has coolant circulating through it to prevent this problem.

I, too, have a modified intake where the inlet to the snorkel is exposed to ambient temperature air. Last winter, I drove my car in temperatures as low as +5 deg F with absolutely no problems. In fact, the car feels more powerful at low temperatures compared with warm weather performance.

If you are interested in a more detailed explanation of the effect of ambient air intake temperature on HP output go to:
http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/sho...=&threadid=995

02 DX Millenium Red

SirJaime

Well what I am going to install in my MSP 03.5 is the injen RD 6066 this is made for the MSP 03 & 03.5

Rusty

I dont know about MSPs (aren't they all turbos?), but I've read a lot of posts in this and other forums in which people claim to lose significant low end torque with aftermarket CAIs.

There's a thread on one of the boards with a bunch of posts from people who reinstalled their stock intake after a couple of years of using CAIs (that they slapped on the first week they had the car 'cause everybody told them to), and are thrilled to get their low end pep back. Now they're feeling dumb for driving around like that for so long.

All I've done by drilling those holes behind the honeycomb is given it an asthma shot, but nothing so forceful as a hi perf intake. It really likes it.

I'm scared to open it up any more for fear of the torque falling on its face.

Only my best guess,
Rusty

SirJaime

Hey Rust , thats cool but I aint heard anything like that so far with the MSP , I do check the site out a few times a day just to c whats going on !