Gutting an air box
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So I finally gutted my air box. Saw all the cool kids doing it so I figured it was worth the time. So I'll do a write up for it too. Time will probably take between 45mins - 1 1/2 hours.
Start out by finding you air box and unscrew the two pieces apart as you were taking the air filter out
This is it:
![Name: AirBox.jpg
Views: 358
Size: 54.3 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28662d1501273902-gutting-air-box-airbox.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
Need to take these two screws out:
![Name: FrontScrews.jpg
Views: 313
Size: 37.6 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28663d1501273902-gutting-air-box-frontscrews.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
Then disconnect the box from the intake tube by loosening the clamp:
![Name: HoseClamp.jpg
Views: 285
Size: 44.1 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28664d1501273902-gutting-air-box-hoseclamp.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
At this point pulling the back part off the tube and out of the car is easy.
The front part though is stuck that'* because of a stud on the bottom:
![Name: HiddenStud.jpg
Views: 338
Size: 55.6 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28665d1501273902-gutting-air-box-hiddenstud.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
It'* in the circle on the bottom toward the center
![Name: Stud.jpg
Views: 327
Size: 46.2 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28666d1501273902-gutting-air-box-stud.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
Can see it clearly here
So time to get the beer (or rootbeer PBF does not condone underage drinking) muscles grab the box firmly and pull it will pop right off.
OK time for the gutting part we'll start with the back part of the box.
You'll see melted tabs around the edges of the box:
![Name: Rear.jpg
Views: 356
Size: 49.3 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28667d1501273902-gutting-air-box-rear.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
I took a dermel tool if a cutting but and cut around and through the tabs. Be careful to not go through the box because this is post air filter and needs to stay sealed.
Once you cut all the tabs pull and pry the panel out and this will be your end result:
![Name: RearGutted.jpg
Views: 302
Size: 49.6 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28668d1501273902-gutting-air-box-reargutted.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
Now on to the front part. Same deal cut around the tabs:
![Name: Front.jpg
Views: 326
Size: 41.8 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28669d1501273902-gutting-air-box-front.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
once those are are cut start prying if you are have trouble you can cut the tabs are the tube. If you get it out and the tube is still in the tube pulls out easily it is not formed to the box.
![Name: TubeFront.jpg
Views: 291
Size: 43.2 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28670d1501273902-gutting-air-box-tubefront.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
This is your end result:
![Name: GuttedFront.jpg
Views: 331
Size: 41.5 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28671d1501273902-gutting-air-box-guttedfront.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
Now you have two gutted pieces of box. Clean up the insides to get rid of all plastic shavings. Put the front part on first by popping it on the stud and screwing in the screws the stock panel filter still fits from fram to K&N remember to put your filter back in you didn't make a magic box.
Attach the back part to the tube and screw the two pieces together and you now have a gutted air box.
Things that will change:
Better throttle response
Front left noise will increase.
Other spec changes are under review I'm assuming gas mileage may increase too and possibly KR will decrease.
Hope this is easy to follow any question can message me Nighthwk12
Start out by finding you air box and unscrew the two pieces apart as you were taking the air filter out
This is it:
![Name: AirBox.jpg
Views: 358
Size: 54.3 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28662d1501273902-gutting-air-box-airbox.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
Need to take these two screws out:
![Name: FrontScrews.jpg
Views: 313
Size: 37.6 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28663d1501273902-gutting-air-box-frontscrews.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
Then disconnect the box from the intake tube by loosening the clamp:
![Name: HoseClamp.jpg
Views: 285
Size: 44.1 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28664d1501273902-gutting-air-box-hoseclamp.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
At this point pulling the back part off the tube and out of the car is easy.
The front part though is stuck that'* because of a stud on the bottom:
![Name: HiddenStud.jpg
Views: 338
Size: 55.6 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28665d1501273902-gutting-air-box-hiddenstud.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
It'* in the circle on the bottom toward the center
![Name: Stud.jpg
Views: 327
Size: 46.2 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28666d1501273902-gutting-air-box-stud.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
Can see it clearly here
So time to get the beer (or rootbeer PBF does not condone underage drinking) muscles grab the box firmly and pull it will pop right off.
OK time for the gutting part we'll start with the back part of the box.
You'll see melted tabs around the edges of the box:
![Name: Rear.jpg
Views: 356
Size: 49.3 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28667d1501273902-gutting-air-box-rear.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
I took a dermel tool if a cutting but and cut around and through the tabs. Be careful to not go through the box because this is post air filter and needs to stay sealed.
Once you cut all the tabs pull and pry the panel out and this will be your end result:
![Name: RearGutted.jpg
Views: 302
Size: 49.6 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28668d1501273902-gutting-air-box-reargutted.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
Now on to the front part. Same deal cut around the tabs:
![Name: Front.jpg
Views: 326
Size: 41.8 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28669d1501273902-gutting-air-box-front.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
once those are are cut start prying if you are have trouble you can cut the tabs are the tube. If you get it out and the tube is still in the tube pulls out easily it is not formed to the box.
![Name: TubeFront.jpg
Views: 291
Size: 43.2 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28670d1501273902-gutting-air-box-tubefront.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
This is your end result:
![Name: GuttedFront.jpg
Views: 331
Size: 41.5 KB](https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/performance-brainstorming-tuning-96/28671d1501273902-gutting-air-box-guttedfront.jpg?*=45298cf195a8a31d59109568702ccd59)
Now you have two gutted pieces of box. Clean up the insides to get rid of all plastic shavings. Put the front part on first by popping it on the stud and screwing in the screws the stock panel filter still fits from fram to K&N remember to put your filter back in you didn't make a magic box.
Attach the back part to the tube and screw the two pieces together and you now have a gutted air box.
Things that will change:
Better throttle response
Front left noise will increase.
Other spec changes are under review I'm assuming gas mileage may increase too and possibly KR will decrease.
Hope this is easy to follow any question can message me Nighthwk12
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Wonderful, good job!
I have a few questions:
Couldn't one just use a knife to cut right on those melted tabs? Are the tabs all that'* holding on the two plastic plates, or is the whole edge melted to the walls?
And also would this allow for the cone filter everyone replaces the stock filter with, and negate the need for making a new air box?
And yeah I noticed that, increase KR that doesn't sound good, lol. Not being able to edit your post later is so annoying.
I have a few questions:
Couldn't one just use a knife to cut right on those melted tabs? Are the tabs all that'* holding on the two plastic plates, or is the whole edge melted to the walls?
And also would this allow for the cone filter everyone replaces the stock filter with, and negate the need for making a new air box?
And yeah I noticed that, increase KR that doesn't sound good, lol. Not being able to edit your post later is so annoying.
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You could use a knife I guess I don't know how hard that would be I love my dremel. And it is only the tabs not seal all the way around. If you put a cone filter in you would have to fabricate a tube that runs into the box, and your cone size would be limited. K&N drop in works well after gutting from what I heard. Another thread would have to be started to start that discussion.
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in the front part of the box the tube comes out without cutting? sry im misunderstanding what hes saying there
and the stock air filter can be reused without it shifting out of place?
and the stock air filter can be reused without it shifting out of place?
Last edited by Geforce; 06-04-2009 at 11:12 PM.
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Thanks for the support purple and dan I'm stoked to get into the how to section. Yes the stock filter still sits tight and you do not have to cut the tube out when I did it the tube came out with the panel I showed it like that just in case the tube did not come out.
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gutted mine after seeing this tutorial , thanks Nighthwk12 !!
Iv notice more throttle responds from 0-60 sweet..., also saves me from buying an after market cold air intake
BTW this should be stickied somewhere as a future reference....
Iv notice more throttle responds from 0-60 sweet..., also saves me from buying an after market cold air intake
BTW this should be stickied somewhere as a future reference....