Just finished the free ram air mod

[John_D.]

So, I finally broke down and hacked out the bottom of the filter box... Actually it went pretty smooth (except one of those snaplock pins fell down into the box in front of the tire on the drivers side and had to find it and fish it out).

A tip that worked for me: to cut out those flaps in the bottom of the filter box, I drilled holes in the corners, used a saw to make the 2 shorter cuts down to the holes, then took a box cutter to score the long cut and then just snapped the pieces out. That saved having to figure out how to get the saw in there for that long cut.

The box cutter worked great for opening up that flap in front of the A/C condensor too.

Now to see if I can tell any difference, the next time I run it...

[MissY2KFirebird]

Does the A/C condensor serve any purpose at all???

I just finished installing the SLP CAI, which is similiar to the free ram air...first, I had a HARD time getting that A/C condensor out, then second, the air duct didn't fit well with the A/C condensor. So I ended up leaving it out. :eek:

[MissY2KFirebird]

By the way...

I cut out the plastic flaps just as you did. Its the best way to do it unless you have a dremel tool...

[John_D.]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MissY2KFirebird:
[QB]Does the A/C condensor serve any purpose at all???
I just finished installing the SLP CAI/QB]<hr></blockquote>

I didn't know you have to remove the A/C condensor to put the SLP CAI in! This should be in big bold letters somewhere.

The condensor is where the heat exchange takes place, where the system gets rid of the heat it takes out of the inside of the car. No condensor, no A/C...

[MissY2KFirebird]

Okay..so maybe I'm thinking the wrong thing...ITS THE AIR DEFLECTOR PANEL. Sorry about that. When I read your reply, I thought "Sh*t, wrong part" something totally different.

Okay...so I wonder if the air deflector panel serves a purpose???

[John_D.]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MissY2KFirebird:
Okay...so I wonder if the air deflector panel serves a purpose???<hr></blockquote>

It routes more air through the condensor and radiator, since on these cars it doesn't come through the grill, it comes from underneath.

Seems like I read on here somewhere, that removing the panel, or trimming the strip on the bottom, can cause the car to run about 10 degrees hotter (under sustained load - not in normal daily driving).

I'm curious if the "free ram air" steals enough of the airflow from the condensor and radiator to notice. The A/C in mine seems marginal anyway, on the hottest days. All that glass (t-tops, hatch, long slanted windshield) make these cars great little mobile greenhouses...

[John_D.]

Oh, MissY2K, I meant to ask you earlier... You did your own airbox mod? Did you do the CAI yourself too? I think that's cool, that you can do those things, or even that you know what they are.

[ March 24, 2002: Message edited by: John_D. ]</p>

[MissY2KFirebird]

John, After reading and learning as much as I can on the install...I finally ordered it from SLP and installed it myself. Now of course, with the help of fellow board member's posts and different reviews I've read, made it much easier. It also helps when my dad is a mechanic with a garage full of every tool that I could possibly need. I was a little skeptical at first, but....it's done! ;)

That air deflector looks like its only functional where that lip hangs down...I can see how it may direct air but whether it directs air into the condensor or radiator makes me wonder.

How sure are you on the car running 10 degrees hotter????

I am going to do a search on the air deflector and see what I come up with...

[John_D.]

Let me know what you find out on your search. When I started cutting that piece under the airbox, I was thinking about that side effect...

I'm not 100% sure on the 10 degree thing, just seems I ran across it in the last week or so. I have started exploring a couple of related boards, so it might have been on one of them.

I believe the deflector is going to push air through both. Just based on how air flows through the grill on other cars, through the condensor and then the radiator.

When I was asking about you doing your own mods, I wondered if there was a car guy you had been around growing up, a dad or brother or uncle or something. It makes a big difference. And of course, you having the interest makes a big difference too!

Congratulations on the install.

[MissY2KFirebird]

Thanks John...it definitely helps!

I will keep you updated on what I find. So far, no luck...but I'll get to the bottom of it sooner or later. [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[99V6Redbird]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MissY2KFirebird:
Thanks John...it definitely helps!

I will keep you updated on what I find. So far, no luck...but I'll get to the bottom of it sooner or later. [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img] <hr></blockquote>

I dunno about that air defflector really doing anything, but taking up space and weight
[img]smile.gif[/img] i took mine off, and so has everyone ese that i know that has done the FRA mod, my car doesn't run any hotter. But maybe my car is the freak in the crowd :D

[HAZ-Matt]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MissY2KFirebird:
By the way...

I cut out the plastic flaps just as you did. Its the best way to do it unless you have a dremel tool...<hr></blockquote>

I disagree. The best tools for the free ram air are a jig saw for the airbox, and an x-acto knife for the plastic shroud above the radiator.

[knowledgefreak]

Of course the "air damn" service a purpose in directing air flow to the radiator and engine bay in general. It really is not the smartest thing to remove it.

Remember engineers designed it and just about every car has one so it just might be a good idea to leave it there. It has nothing to do with your air intake or your a/c condensor.

[Guardsman]

The air dam serves two purposes: First, it pushes cold air up, into the cavity in front of the radiator and condensor. Second, a bit of a vacuum is created behind it. This pulls hot air out of the engine bay, which, in turn, pulls cold air through the radiator and condensor.