[Mitchell]

I am brand new to this forum, ive been looking around it a couple days. Im actually new to Acura and Car Modding in general. Im coming from a 97 Honda Accord that I bought for $200, most work I did on it was oil changes and such. I added a drop in K&N. Then I upgraded to a TSX, I am 17.

Ive always been a believer in CAI especially after looking at all the threads on here. So I fabricated my own, I do not have a real job but instead I buy and sell things and do repair work. Its difficult but works, its how I managed to buy my TSX but I dont have much money to throw around at things like Iceboxes ect. But I digress.

So I came up with this. Using a piece of dryer vent pipe and a k&n filter from autozone.

First I removed my bumper to access the Resonator A space.

Then found the resonator.

Added the dryer pipe. I even put a little rubber shield around the part where it goes into the hole.

Then I pressed DEL on the resonator and pasted my K&N filter in. Creates a cute little fastener for it up high to avoid to much dirt and watery mists.

Then I painted my brakes just because thats hot:

I noticed a huge gain in Low End Torque. When I pound the pedal at a stop it brakes traction for 1-2 seconds. Turning VSA off increases this. Way more Mid Range pull and the sound is way more deep versus my previous short ram intake. VTEC loves it.

 

[jvillefinest]

Good placement on the filter :tu:


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[Talon4ever]

I have to say, that for someone who is new to modding cars, you did a good job there. Most newbs would be too scared to even attempt at taking off the front bumper cover. The install looks very neat and considering that you used dryer vent pipe, it doesn't look that bad. Props to you sir.

 

[din9lebeRrY]

logically speaking, it does exactly as intended so +1 to you, as ghetto as it seems.......

 

[JEEOGRAPHY]

Awesome car for a 17 year old! I especially like how you mounted the filter.

For someone who is new to modding, your head's in the right place. This is exactly how most of us "car guys" got started. -Modding on a budget, being hands-on/DIY'ers, and learning from mistakes.

Right-on brotha :thumbsup:

 

[Mitchell]

Thanks for the comments. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy

Here is some more interesting stuff:

This morning I was looking at my beloved intake pipe when I noticed that my dryer vent pipe has a tear in it! Scared me because god only knows what could have gotten sucked in. I thought on an it and investigated some. I drove the car rather hard Friday night and concluded the tear must have occurred then.

I noticed the pipe moves quite a lot when I rev and gets quite hot... and that tear looked heat related. I found some aluminum tape (its like aluminum foil and duct tape combined) and patched the hole. It worked nice but I decided to wrap the entire pipe in it all the way down to the part where it exits the engine compartment into the bumper because that's where it gets hot and moves around.

The pipe stayed way cooler and had a much more ridged and defined shape, because of the extra material.

I was just reading about the throttle body coolant bypass mod (this: http://www.tsxclub.com/forums/1st-gen-engine/27465-throttle-body-pass-pics.html) and how it may benefit temperatures. I figured it would be worth doing because I live in Maryland and it gets hot here often and that could help save my pipe from breaking again plus maybe add some horse power.

My problem is it gets very hot and very cold in maryland and im afraid of adverse effects from the cold throttle body in winter. So I thought why not make a valve to switch between the two easily.

Here is my idea:

a Valve that can route coolant to the throttle body or to a bypass hose to a tpipe that connects the line from the throttle body to the bypass and to the return to engine pipe. The only concern is that would coolant go into the the t pipe and then into the throttle body too? Would it be enough to matter since its out of the main loop? Would this be adverse? Is it to complicated? should I simply switch out the hoses every season? Or is it not even worth worrying about the winter?

Appreciate all opinions!

 

[Litespeed08]

Good job on the intake, especially with the tubing. I was going to mention that the tubing would be easily susceptible to tearing but you already experienced it.

They sell 3-4 inch black, round, plastic flexible tubing at Home Depot in the irrigation section which is very durable. You might want to look at that if your tubing gets more tears or gets crushed.

Also, you might want to look into modding the black trim piece next to and outside of the fog lights to allow more air in if you haven't done so.

 

[madart]

I think the rubber or plastic tubing would be much better for its heat insulating properties too. Metal or metalised ducting will heat up faster than rubber. Something like radiator hose would be ideal.

The only problem I have with this setup is that I would imagine the filter would get dirty very fast there, and it's out of sight and not in the easiest place to service. Clogged filters will kill performance really fast.
How often do you foresee checking it?

 

[Mitchell]

Good job on the intake, especially with the tubing. I was going to mention that the tubing would be easily susceptible to tearing but you already experienced it.

They sell 3-4 inch black, round, plastic flexible tubing at Home Depot in the irrigation section which is very durable. You might want to look at that if your tubing gets more tears or gets crushed.

Also, you might want to look into modding the black trim piece next to and outside of the fog lights to allow more air in if you haven't done so.

I considered modding that piece but I was worried it would invite to much water in. I did some tests with my OBD tool and a thermometer and the entire chamber remains constantly cool. The entire bumper intake spot for the engine cooling pushes enough air into the fender well as it is. So it is already plenty cool enough and I dont have to worry about water.

But lets be honest. Modding the black piece to be an intake would certainly be cool

 

[Mitchell]

I think the rubber or plastic tubing would be much better for its heat insulating properties too. Metal or metalised ducting will heat up faster than rubber. Something like radiator hose would be ideal.

The only problem I have with this setup is that I would imagine the filter would get dirty very fast there, and it's out of sight and not in the easiest place to service. Clogged filters will kill performance really fast.
How often do you foresee checking it?

I saw that exact pipe that you are both talking about (at home depot) but it was to big to work immediately. I was also worried about it becoming brittle and cracking from the very cold temperatures. Maybe it wouldn't, I dunno.

It looks like for now that my metal pipe wrapped in aluminum tape is working. I am quite a fan of how ridged it is in shape now, and there is no flex.

I purposely positioned the filter high up away from the road/flow of constant dirty air. It is positioned where the air will be cooled and easily intakes but where all the rest of the air is pushed out into the fender well. At least that's what I suspect.

As for maintenance:

To INSPECT the filter i just peak my head into that area from the vent in the fender. I can actually see the filter quite well. If I need to maintenance it I either take off the wheel and pull that plastic way (not to difficult) or remove the bumper (annoying but also easy). Its not the most convenient way but it works.

 

[CalgaryTSX]

Not to be a downer as your DIY efforts are so much better than the posers.

That thin aluminum tubing is not good for post filter piping.
It is very thin and easily tears as you found out.
Any leaks post filter will allow dirt and debris directly into your engine.

I still feel that modding the original air box (ie. copying the Comptech air box) is a better way to go.

As for bypassing the throttle body coolant hoses, you have nothing to worry since you are located way south.
I've had our TSX TB bypassed for years plus our Mazda plus all our previous cars with zero issues thru the Canadian winter.
It easily gets to -30F here every winter...

 

[Mitchell]

The dryer vent pipe was not a good idea. Next time I have the chance ill be replacing it with plastic pipe.

As for the throttle body bypass I bought the vale and parts for $15 (owch) and installed it and it worked nice. But I eventually decided it was not needed and to expensive. So I just rerouted the tubing and returned my valve. So it was completely free. The throttle body stays much cooler. Im not sure of any gains without being biased but I like it

I really want to get the reflash but thats $$$$$. Soon... SOOON

 

[tottenham12712]

Not to be a downer as your DIY efforts are so much better than the posers.

That thin aluminum tubing is not good for post filter piping.
It is very thin and easily tears as you found out.
Any leaks post filter will allow dirt and debris directly into your engine.

I still feel that modding the original air box (ie. copying the Comptech air box) is a better way to go.

As for bypassing the throttle body coolant hoses, you have nothing to worry since you are located way south.
I've had our TSX TB bypassed for years plus our Mazda plus all our previous cars with zero issues thru the Canadian winter.
It easily gets to -30F here every winter...

Wasnt going to say anything either but Ill agree to this and also add that the dryer vent is very rough inside and will cause turbulence in the intake pipe.

 

[Mitchell]

I read somewhere on this forum that a certain amount of resistance is good for low end torque, the reason why the stock airbox has certain ribs and slits in it? But I also imagine that the longer intake pipe creates a good pressure wave.

Im a little confused by all this. I saw a thread about how someone made the stock airbox empty but ran the airbox intake down to a K&N in the bumper like I did. Is this idea worth toying around with?