Debaffled Airbox.

[GimmeTheSpeed]

Hey guys I decided to do a quick "do-it-yourself" mod and take some pics and illustrate for those that may be interested in also doing the same... this mod is not rec. for those that intend to drive in the rain, and is debatable whether you even see a power increase... On the other side of the coin, some say you may see 5-10HP... I figured my Viper won't see any rain, it's FREE and I was bored this lovely sunday evening So I got to work lol Here's how it went...

Time: approx 1 hour
Tools used: Rivet gun/rivets and washers, Dremel tool, black high heat spray paint, Aluminum sheet

Remove the air box, w/dremel cut out the center piece of plastic inside the box, this will allow air to flow directly into the filters. I used some sand paper to smooth the edges of the cuts.

Cut a piece of aluminum to fit directly over the top of airbox to seal it in.

Line up and drill your holes to which you will shoot your rivets. I taped the aluminum to the box to keep it steady.

I chose to paint the aluminum with some high heat black paint, inserting the rivets after paint ( I like the look of the silver rivets on black ) your choice though

Now you will go ahead and shoot your rivets into place, I used 1/8 rivets with 2 washers on back to give it an extra snug grip. the Aluminum plate fit right to the airbox air tight.

Here are some shots of the new Airbox installed, and also a shot of the unrestricted path through the front nose. Good luck... later! -Joe

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Good job. I wish mine looked that good but the box was cracked in the middle so it looks a little hacky.

 

[Schulmann]

What will you do when it rains ?
5 min rain will remove all the oil from your filters.
I don't think that you gained much HP.
This is not the best mod ...

 

[v10kingsnake]

rain shouldn't be your only concern. I would be worried about it more when I wash the car. water is sure to get into the filters when washed! I do apprecaite it that you took the time to document this for all to see and its nice to know should others wish to follow in this path. I think I will keep my box stock for now though. Thinking it over I suppose you could be careful enough to ensure no water got in the naca duct during washing but then you have to consider the fact that getting caught in a sudden downpour in the summer is a real likely possibility. I for one do not drive the viper in the rain, but would be a bold face liar if i told you I never got caught in a sudden downpour during a gorgeous summer day.

 

[Matt M PA]

I did the same mod a few years ago, and used a piece of black ABS textured plastic. It looks like it belongs there. I also bought another airbox and put it away in case I ever wanted to return to stock.

I too, just figured I would give it a try. I can't say I saw any huge increase, but it sure can't hurt. My Viper has yet to see a rainstorm in 5 years...so rain isn't a problem.

As far as washing...I don't srpay water directly into the inlet...but I know some runs inside. The box is still shaped the same way...only the hanging down baffle was removed, so it still deals with run-off water the way it did stock.

 

[weed43]

Schulmann, I cut the rain gutter out of mine 2 years ago, been heavy down pours on the x way, no problems. you would half to drive into a wall of water to create a problem.

 

[v10kingsnake]

thanks Matt. You are lucky because I never ever ever ever take my car out in the rain but I do travel sometimes several hours from home in it for shows and track events. In the unpredictable and rather sudden changes associated with summer weather, I have seen some bad downpous in the car a few times. in fact I remember a couple years back, early '03 I went 2 hours away to a mopar show at carlisle, pa. on the way home the skies opened up and pissed all over me for 2 straight hours of turnpike driving. while turning the wipers on, I said to myself," man, I think this is the first time ever these wipers have be turned on since I got the car. its is a 97 so yes it took a long time but it happens to most all of us. if i had this mod to my box, I think I would have been in trouble.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

There aren't any rain problems with this mod. I don't know if there is much HP gain or not, but I did it to my GTS since it couldn't hurt. I think the gains if any, would be at the end of high speed straights.

 

[Greg 99ACR Red and Silver]

I did this mod to seek better performance for One Mile Runs and other high speed stuff. I don't think I would see much improvement on a Dyno, but higher velocity air (at speed) directly into the K&Ns should help.

I already had the rear air box mod with bigger smooth tubes into larger throttle bodies, so why not provide more air?

After I removed the baffle, I tailored a piece of its V-shaped part that I can install into my Naca duct (but easily pulls back out) - just in case I get caught in a down pour.

 

[carguy07]

Just cut a piece of foam as a plug and carry it with you. If it pours just pop it in.

 

[Vic]

There was one girl owner here, years ago, that made a removeable baffle with quick release clips, so if she ran into a rain storm, she could clip the baffle back in mere seconds. Very crafty lady, but I can't remember her name.

 

[GimmeTheSpeed]

guess it's all opinion... I'm not really seeing it as an issue, plus a stormy california summer day is something I'll chance.

could be wishfull thinking but I'd like to say it did feel a tad nicer from lets say 60-110mph... nothing huge

I just love the price of this mod though

 

[VPRVENM97]

Great post with lots of good pics. Now go clean those K&N's, they look pretty dirty.

 

[hemibeep]

I think that the problem is not the baffled box, but the size of the NACA opening. the goal for is 30 square inches of opening. Also the duct is not in a very high pressure area(relatively speaking),,,,it is more of the idea of getting "cool" outside air rather than hot engine air.

 

[Supercharged Vipermad]

There was one girl owner here, years ago, that made a removeable baffle with quick release clips, so if she ran into a rain storm, she could clip the baffle back in mere seconds. Very crafty lady, but I can't remember her name.

Not sure who that was...but I made these back in March of 2002. Two of them, one for each side, acts to deflect the rain....slip onto the leading edge of the top of the airbox:

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[GimmeTheSpeed]

Here's pics of my jumbo barbaric plug that I made today lol... but after seeing Vipermads clip on baffle, mine just went right into the trash! lol... definitely gonna make me one of those puppies. Nice post... thx Back to the drawing board.

 

[Supercharged Vipermad]

Actually...I made TWO....one for either side of the center divider. Gotta pop the hood (just the front portion) to slide them on...they don't move at all once in place.

 

[LETHAL GTS]

There was one girl owner here, years ago, that made a removeable baffle with quick release clips, so if she ran into a rain storm, she could clip the baffle back in mere seconds. Very crafty lady, but I can't remember her name.

Not sure who that was...but I made these back in March of 2002. Two of them, one for each side, acts to deflect the rain....slip onto the leading edge of the top of the airbox:

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I'm sold!
I'll get on it this winter.

 

[Supercharged Vipermad]

Yeah....isn't it amazing what you can do with boredom!?!?!?! LOL!! That was my time BW (Before Work), when I was still a house-husband.

 

[vipergts2000]

I thought you were selling the car?????

 

[Vic]

Great idea.

There was one girl owner here, years ago, that made a removeable baffle with quick release clips, so if she ran into a rain storm, she could clip the baffle back in mere seconds. Very crafty lady, but I can't remember her name.

Not sure who that was...but I made these back in March of 2002. Two of them, one for each side, acts to deflect the rain....slip onto the leading edge of the top of the airbox:

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

 

[Matt M PA]

With this topic goes a reminder. The inlet on the Viper is not a scoop...it provides no "ram-air" effect. A NACA duct is expressly designed to cause little or not drag...without drag...there is no "ram-air" effect.

Plus, according to knowledgeable drag racing guys, "ram-iar" has little to no effect on fuel injected cars anyhow.

The only increase I can see from this mod (which I did on my car) is that the air now has a straighter shot at the intake than it had with the baffle in. I suppose you could say that it allows for considerably less turbulence this way.

(And yes...I too think the "Tornado" sold on late night TV is BS too.)

 

[ViperJoe]

I would try it only if I had a spare to go back to stock. What does one go for on the used market?

(And yes...I too think the "Tornado" sold on late night TV is BS too.)

DANGIT.......I just bought one and a tube of muffler bearing grease to get some better MPG!