Free Mods... I found one, it works...

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

PhantomX

New Member
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
110
Reaction score
24
Location
Land O Lakes - FL
So I'm always one to tinker and squeeze everything I can out of a car, sometimes even the little things will surprise you. As with most of my cars the first thing I tinker with is the airbox, while most are adequate they are usually feeding a big engine thru the small hole possible. The SHO is no different. That measly little hole under the lip of the hood is a joke. So I removed the snorkel and pulled it off and I have to say it absolutely made a difference.

It's a bit of a pain and requires a little modification but it comes out and the opening in the front of the airbox after the snorkel removal is about 60% larger then the opening at the end of the snorkel where its supposed to suck in cool air.

I did some before and after runs using my iPhone and the dynolicious app. Say what you will but that app is damn accurate. I've used in many cars and it' very very close to the ET's at the track, I will say the 60' is off just a tad but the final numbers are usually almost dead on.

Either way for the purpose of testing regardless of the number if it consistently changes in one direction or the other you at least have a guage to go by.

So before my best 0-60 times before snorkal removal were a consistent 5.7 seconds and 1/4 mile was a best 14.0-14.1 at 100mph. With this hot, nasty humid 85+ degree weather in FL that's about right. Now, sans snorkel, consistent 5.4 0-60's and 13.80's @ 105mph in the same crappy weather. You can actually feel the difference, especially after a few days for the PCM to acclimate. I plan on adding a drop in K&N filter to see if that further helps the improvement.

That piece is a bit of a pain to remove.
1. There are 2 screws that bolt it to the frame, remove those
2. Unclip the top of the airbox
3. remove the bottom of the airbox and the snorkel as 1 piece.
4. remove the screw holding the snorkel to the airbox
5. Take a file (I used a dremel) and file down one of the tabs holding the snorkel to the airbox. This isn't a big deal and since the unit does bolt to the airbox it's easy to put back on and will stay in place even missing the little tab. Personally it's a bit over engineered, most cars use a rubber style connecter you can easily squeeze and remove, but oh well.
6. replace the airbox and clip the top back on, all done. Enjoy a better breathing TT SHO for free :woo-hoo:

To put it back on for some of the warranty worry warts is about a 5 min job, not that I think any service departmen would really care but ya never know.


It would be cool if we could get Rick at Livernois on a slow day to test this little mod on the dyno, snorkel on, run, snorkel off, run. I would venture a guess that you would see a modest gain under the curve, power adder cars like to breath, this one is no different. Efficient air in/out = more HP...
 
Last edited:

SHO U UP

SHO Guru
Joined
Dec 10, 2006
Messages
1,506
Reaction score
231
Location
Virginia Beach, VA
So I'm always one to tinker and squeeze everything I can out of a car, sometimes even the little things will surprise you. As with most of my cars the first thing I tinker with is the airbox, while most are adequate they are usually feeding a big engine thru the small hole possible. The SHO is no different. That measly little hole under the lip of the hood is a joke. So I removed the snorkel and pulled it off and I have to say it absolutely made a difference.

It's a bit of a pain and requires a little modification but it comes out and the opening in the front of the airbox after the snorkel removal is about 60% larger then the opening at the end of the snorkel where its supposed to suck in cool air.

I did some before and after runs using my iPhone and the dynolicious app. Say what you will but that app is damn accurate. I've used in many cars and it' very very close to the ET's at the track, I will say the 60' is off just a tad but the final numbers are usually almost dead on.

Either way for the purpose of testing regardless of the number if it consistently changes in one direction or the other you at least have a guage to go by.

So before my best 0-60 times before snorkal removal were a consistent 5.7 seconds and 1/4 mile was a best 14.0-14.1 at 100mph. With this hot, nasty humid 85+ degree weather in FL that's about right. Now, sans snorkel, consistent 5.4 0-60's and 13.80's @ 105mph in the same crappy weather. You can actually feel the difference, especially after a few days for the PCM to acclimate. I plan on adding a drop in K&N filter to see if that further helps the improvement.

That piece is a bit of a pain to remove.
1. There are 2 screws that bolt it to the frame, remove those
2. Unclip the top of the airbox
3. remove the bottom of the airbox and the snorkel as 1 piece.
4. remove the screw holding the snorkel to the airbox
5. Take a file (I used a dremel) and file down one of the tabs holding the snorkel to the airbox. This isn't a big deal and since the unit does bolt to the airbox it's easy to put back on and will stay in place even missing the little tab. Personally it's a bit over engineered, most cars use a rubber style connecter you can easily squeeze and remove, but oh well.
6. replace the airbox and clip the top back on, all done. Enjoy a better breathing TT SHO for free :woo-hoo:

To put it back on for some of the warranty worry warts is about a 5 min job, not that I think any service departmen would really care but ya never know.


It would be cool if we could get Rick at Livernois on a slow day to test this little mod on the dyno, snorkel on, run, snorkel off, run. I would venture a guess that you would see a modest gain under the curve, power adder cars like to breath, this one is no different. Efficient air in/out = more HP...


Welcome to the air box mod world bro. That stock set up can be a pain to remove and modify but it's possible. When I removed my stock air box last year and made my own air intake it made a big difference sounds wise, but really couldn't feel a "power" difference. Maybe now that I have some miles on 'er, it probably is a few tenths quicker than stock. :nut:
 

Unknown_Driver

V6TwinTurboAWD
Joined
Jun 13, 2010
Messages
309
Reaction score
53
Location
Ontario Suburbs
confirmed mod

my buttox dyno approves this mod

you will need a 5/16 wrench to remove the three screws
a flat head screw driver to disconnect the top portion of the airbox from the intake hose
and something to cut or file away a plastic tab


its pretty easy

disconnect the MAF sensor cable then unclip the airfilter box clips and lift it off and push the box to the side, remove the 2 bolt screws on top of the snorkel be sure not to lose any washers, and lift the bottom portion and the snorkel out... unscrew the last screw which secures the snorkel and the bottom box together... take a dremel or sharp blade and start going at one of the tabs to delete it once removed clean up the shavings or whatever plastic from the tab that was once there... take the snorkel and place on your desk and use as a fancy paperweight or in the cabinet next to the fine china... replace all the screws in their original positions so you don't lose them reinstall the box, filter, cable, whatever. remove the tools and drive down that closed course with a professional driver and enjoy the sound of the turbo spooling


i have the K&N air filter and the spooling noise is very noticeable now
 

hawkeye18

Sorta cares
Joined
May 18, 2004
Messages
5,631
Reaction score
2,727
Location
Norfolk, VA
Hahaha, it appears the Gen 4 is more closely related to the Gen 1/2 than it seems! First mod: Remove snorkel.
 

PhantomX

New Member
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
110
Reaction score
24
Location
Land O Lakes - FL
Hahaha, it appears the Gen 4 is more closely related to the Gen 1/2 than it seems! First mod: Remove snorkel.

Lol yup.

I'll try and post some pictures when I get back home. Out of town at the present an the SHO is sitting quietly at the airport.
 

EcoBrick Bob

SHO Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2010
Messages
1,682
Reaction score
253
Location
Clear Lake, IA Naples, Fl
You really don't have to file off the two tabs. One is much smaller and a flat screwdriver can be used to pop it out.

I did all this today and took a 20 mi trip. Only thing I noticed was IAT temps don't come down very fast, and averaged about 10 deg. over outside temp.

EB Flex box and snorkle appear to be the same.
 

wchain

Ecoboost
Joined
Nov 18, 2009
Messages
413
Reaction score
26
Location
USA
Two bolts

DSC06385 vi

Two Bolts removed
DSC06386 vi

Remove the lower airbox, now remove the third bolt.
DSC06387 vi

I buggered the lip a little bit getting the snorkel out.
DSC06388 vi

Slap it all back together.
DSC06390 vi
 

armyintel

New Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2010
Messages
30
Reaction score
2
Location
Virginia
I did this mod.....took no time + installed the drop in K&N today as well. It is louder and I can feel the car going a bit faster.
 

MilkMan

New Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2009
Messages
61
Reaction score
2
Location
AL
Let me preface this by saying that I don't know a whole lot about cars, so take the following with a grain of salt.

I was in the process of doing this... and when I pulled the air box out and was looking at it I decided to put it back (it really is fairly easy to take out and put back in).

I just don't see how this could be helping, although the hole is maybe 20-30 percent bigger at the air box than at the narrowest point on the snorkel, I don't understand how sucking hot air out of the engine compartment could be better than outside, cooler air being forced in by the snorkel. I can see right off the line ... but going 60 +... not really. I would think there would be more air going in at any decent speed.

Seems like the better solution would be to enlarge the snorkel at the intake in some way...

What part of the equation am I missing here? Maybe someone can explain this to me.
 

SHO U UP

SHO Guru
Joined
Dec 10, 2006
Messages
1,506
Reaction score
231
Location
Virginia Beach, VA
^you are correct in what you said bro. The air box itself helps to keep the hot air from getting to the filter. That little "ram air snorkel" is very small and restrictive for sure. The idea here to enlarge it or remove it makes it easier for more air to enter the filter. As long as the box is still in tact it keeps the hot air out. A true ram air from a modified hood or the like would be the best way to do it though.
 

Unknown_Driver

V6TwinTurboAWD
Joined
Jun 13, 2010
Messages
309
Reaction score
53
Location
Ontario Suburbs
Ford engineers must be a bunch of challenged fools...


some of us want our turbos to spool up faster and don't worry i havn't installed an intercooler water sprayer yet :naughty:

as for the hot air i think i've noticed some heat soak in heavy stop and go traffic but normal highway/country roads and cruising didn't make a difference
 

MilkMan

New Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2009
Messages
61
Reaction score
2
Location
AL
^you are correct in what you said bro. The air box itself helps to keep the hot air from getting to the filter. That little "ram air snorkel" is very small and restrictive for sure. The idea here to enlarge it or remove it makes it easier for more air to enter the filter. As long as the box is still in tact it keeps the hot air out. A true ram air from a modified hood or the like would be the best way to do it though.

Thanks for the explanation SHO U UP, makes sense I guess.

Ford engineers must be a bunch of challenged fools...

Does make you wonder, they had to have a reason for putting it on there other than it removing a bit of noise... right?


Mirek
 

EcoBrick Bob

SHO Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2010
Messages
1,682
Reaction score
253
Location
Clear Lake, IA Naples, Fl
some of us want our turbos to spool up faster and don't worry i havn't installed an intercooler water sprayer yet :naughty:

as for the hot air i think i've noticed some heat soak in heavy stop and go traffic but normal highway/country roads and cruising didn't make a difference

I tried it for a day... I agree with your conclusions..... Biggest issues is heat soak in hot summer temps in stop and go driving.

Made me think it was time to be creative.... so I made a custom CAI with parts from other CAI's and an AEM non-oiled filter and have definitely eliminated most of the heat soak issues.

My IAT temps stay lower, and recover much quicker. At HWY speeds, the IAT temps are the same as ambient outside temp. CAI Post with PIX- is in this Forum.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
107,084
Messages
1,181,278
Members
16,152
Latest member
Satchmoz

Members online

Back
Top