Air Silencer and Exhaust

[fturner]

Hi guys,

I figure this weekend I'm swapping my tires out for a set of goodyear ultra grips for the winter, and in the process I'm thinking of pulling the air silencer.

Should there be anything done to replace the silencer, like say a pipe or something to direct air into the filter better? I've read several threads about this and some say to add some PVC piping in, or set up some kind of cone filter etc etc etc, or can I just leave things alone after removal. I'd like to do the job right the first time if ya know what I mean.

I've taken a look at the exhaust and it has the standard cats that go into a y pipe, and what looks like just a straight pipe to the split at the back into a set of standard mufflers. The factory resonator is gone, thank goodness, but should I actually put a resonator in, like one of the magnaflow ones? Eventually I'd like to get a nice deep throaty sound that is subtle and not loud. I do NOT want it to sound like one of those civics with the bleaters on it that sound like a field full of sheep :rolleyes: .

Anyways, your opinions will be appreciated :) .

Frit

[Jeff]

Hi guys,

I figure this weekend I'm swapping my tires out for a set of goodyear ultra grips for the winter, and in the process I'm thinking of pulling the air silencer.

Should there be anything done to replace the silencer, like say a pipe or something to direct air into the filter better? I've read several threads about this and some say to add some PVC piping in, or set up some kind of cone filter etc etc etc, or can I just leave things alone after removal. I'd like to do the job right the first time if ya know what I mean.

I've taken a look at the exhaust and it has the standard cats that go into a y pipe, and what looks like just a straight pipe to the split at the back into a set of standard mufflers. The factory resonator is gone, thank goodness, but should I actually put a resonator in, like one of the magnaflow ones? Eventually I'd like to get a nice deep throaty sound that is subtle and not loud. I do NOT want it to sound like one of those civics with the bleaters on it that sound like a field full of sheep :rolleyes: .

Anyways, your opinions will be appreciated :) .

Frit

Hey man,

You do not have to replace any when you take the silencer out. You could use your stock filter. However there are 2 (that i know of) types of intakes you can get. 1. MAC cold air intake (where the filter is placed in the same place as your silencer) or 2. Zr intake (pretty sure this one the filter is in the engine). 2 advantage with the mac is that 1. you filter is away from the engine so no heat go's throught it. If you get a Zr intake you need to get an "air box" i think it is called. It stop the heat going through. 2. the mac is bigger (if you want to upgrade you maf and tb bigger).

Hope this is right :eek: :D

Jeff

[Jason Wild]

Jeff you have that wrong. The ZR goes in to the fender just like the mac but on a better set up then the mac. The only thing is there is no ZR's left Paul from BTM is working on something new to replace it. The one your thinking of with the air filter under the hood it the big dog set up from SCP it's part of the magnaport set up with a 85MM TB. Thats a good set up and you dont need the air blocker for it. Now out of all of the cold air intakes for the SC I would say the mac is the one to stay away from since some people have had problems with it seting the maf reading off because of the 90 bend right befor it. I would look and see what BTM has to offer.

[SeanMatteson]

Jason is right about the ZR intake kit, in that it does place a cone filter in the fenderwell like the MAC. The biggest difference is the angle at which the pipe enters the MAF... It's basically straight.

Personally, I'm running a MAC CAI (Cold Air Intake), and it works well. I had to play with turning my MAF a little to get a good reading, but I haven't had any problems in years of using this setup. The last time I had the car on the chassis dyno, I started out with the MAF situated at a 90 deg angle from the stock orientation. On a later pull, I changed it to be only 45 deg from the stock orientation, and amazingly picked up about 5 RWHP! I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. ...And yes, there were plenty of other SCCoO members present to witness this. In fact, I think it was one of them (Andrew Vengust maybe?) who suggested I give this a try.

Anyway, the point is, if you can get your hands on a ZR Motorsports CAI, then great. On the other hand, if you can get your hands on a MAC CAI for the right price, you can work with it. It's still one of the best looking setups, IMO.

At the very least, if you're going to remove the inner fender and get rid of the silencer, then I suggest you have (I think it's four) nuts and bolts on hand to secure the airbox down to the fenderwell in the stock bolt holes, and it would really be a good idea to swap in a K&N panel filter in place of the stock paper air filter. ...And get ready for a little increase in blower noise! It's not unbearable, or annoying. IMO, it's damned horny!!! :D

Cheers,

Sean

[Jeff]

Well at least i got one right ;) better then when i started with the SC :D

Jeff

[fturner]

Well, me tinks I'll just remove it for now and bolt down the filter box.

Sean, is there a place in Hamilton I can pick one of those filters up?

I'll look at the other filter options in the spring, as my wife would probably shoot me if I spend alot of money on it right after I bought it ;)

Frit

[SeanMatteson]

Sean, is there a place in Hamilton I can pick one of those filters up?

I believe that PartSource and Canadian Tire both carry K&N filters. I would call ahead just to make sure they stock the right filter for our application, given that you've gotta come in from Hagersville. If they don't stock it, I'm sure they could get it for you in a day or two.

Cheers,

Sean

[charged92]

Sean, is there a place in Hamilton I can pick one of those filters up?
Frit

If you mean the K&N filter, you can pick one up at Canadian Tire. Cost is around $75, but remember it lasts "forever". :D

[charged92]

I see Sean hit the submit button only seconds before I did! :)

[JRROSS]

I have a used k & N panel for sale.... oiled and clean, $20 sound fair for it???

[SeanMatteson]

I have a used k & N panel for sale.... oiled and clean, $20 sound fair for it???

There you go, Frit! ...See?! We told you being a member here has it's privileges! :D

Cheers,

Sean

[Ryan A Harris]

For the money, some of those intake kits are a lot over priced. I think the MAC puts the fliter in a better place, its closer to the opening where the fog lights sit. But the ZR is better for the MAF readings. As Sean siad, on the dyno you gian HP with just rotating the maf, I found out the same way he has. I have the MAC, and its fine on my car. The voltage readings for the MAF have always been correct with it installed.

For the best cheapest set up for an intake I'd do this next time.
1. remove air silincer.
2. Use taurus or sable(i think thats it) cone filter holder. Bolts right up to the stock air silincer location. EDIT: MN12 used to sell these, but no longer. I have one, but its on a car in "storage". Next time I see it, I'll snap a pic of it for ya.
3. use K&N stlye cone filter of at tleast 7"
4. remove fog lights.

I bet thats same as spending 250 USD on the aftermarket intakes. With about the same gians. But much cheaper.

On the exhust side or your question, don't listen to me, I like it loud still. :rolleyes:

[fturner]

I have a used k & N panel for sale.... oiled and clean, $20 sound fair for it???

Sounds good to me, how do you want to go about dealing with this? Pm me if you want.

Frit

[lazybird4pt6]

Sean - yeah, it was all my fault. :D But then again, 5rwhp IS 5rwhp. ;) And FREE!

Frit - panel filter, all the way. Getting a cone filter that is exposed under the hood won't help you after you've been driving aruond for 5 minutes (SC= oven :p ). The cone filter will give you the benefit of only having to buy it once and being able to re-use it. Performance gain? Debateable.

As for the Taurus/Sable piece pointed out by Ryan (good one, bud, but read on!) - DON'T BOTHER!!! It sucks, and I don't mean in a good way! On the '96 and '97 4.6 LX this unit was STOCK, as in from the factory. Just like the Taurus/Sable, this piece was used as the air resonator/silencer. TRUE! This piece was the "new and improved" design. It could easily be modified into a "performance air filter" adaptor by holding it over a kettle (stop laughing!) to melt the glue that held two pieces together (I said stop laughing!).Who would have thought that Ford would ever use a $10 glue gun in the factory? LOL! Then, by taking a 3.5" inlet K&N conical you have a "CAI performance air fiter kit". Guess what? It's the worst p.o.s. you could put on. The airflow is horrible, you will loose power and use more gas (screwed up MAF readings). I modified my piece and swapped between this and the direct-replacement K&N panel filter and always noticed decreased performance, decreased fuel economy and stumbling idle EVERY TIME the "kit" was used.

I found FAR better results spending $5 (Canadian too!!!) at Rona and getting 4" aluminum dryer-duct tubing and making a "ram-air" kit with the K&N panel filter. Not noticeable on the street, but on the highway above 110 kph it was noticeable. Maybe useless on an SC, but worth a try for the $5 investment.

Oh yeah, Frit - think 70mm stock or 76mm C&L MAF, if it's not there already. ;)