Modifying Air Box...

Gordz

Caught The Mod Bug Again!
May 31, 2007
1,325
1
North East
I'm wanting to modify my air box for my 1.4 8v 2001 ibiza (the air box with two panel filters in it) and basically I was wondering what the best thing to do is?

I've already got the idea of adding cold air feeds to it etc, but what should I do internally to improve air flow???

cheers.
 

Mat

Guest
remove the airbox. Then remove the engine beneath it. Then in its place, put a 1.8t 20v engine. That will improve things :D

seriously tho, I'm sure it's been done plenty of times, and a good search should fin you the answer ;)
 

Gordz

Caught The Mod Bug Again!
May 31, 2007
1,325
1
North East
remove the airbox. Then remove the engine beneath it. Then in its place, put a 1.8t 20v engine. That will improve things :D

seriously tho, I'm sure it's been done plenty of times, and a good search should fin you the answer ;)

Ha, yeah that would be a better idea! Unfortunatley I only have the money to mess around with my air box and that's it!

Did have bit of a search, but only things I could find for 1.4s was everyone saying "get an induction kit", which I have, but i prefer the air box, actually think the induction kit decreases performance (ever so slightly!) on mine!!
 

Mat

Guest
I agree. My induction kit made it sound a little nicer, but at the same time, didn't feel right. Then again, my car has got problems lol
 

Gordz

Caught The Mod Bug Again!
May 31, 2007
1,325
1
North East
I agree. My induction kit made it sound a little nicer, but at the same time, didn't feel right. Then again, my car has got problems lol

Yeah it sounds amazing, but i reckon it's all show and no go, lol.

Since i've had induction, especially when it's hot weather i seem to get problems, which is prob from heat soak.

Plus with induction kit I have worse top end speed, I could go much faster with air box on, literally an extra 10mph or more!!!

Hence why i'm going back to air box, but not sure where to start with gutting it out, or what I should and shouldn't rip out of it? Or do you reckon just a nice big cold air feed would be fine???
 

Gordz

Caught The Mod Bug Again!
May 31, 2007
1,325
1
North East
smooth out inside of airbox as much as possible - alot of peeps use a dremel to start
get a green panel filter - proven to work good and cheap (available from badger5)
fit approx 80mm/100mm cold air feed

good writeup with pics and results here
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=65944&highlight=smoothing+airbox+pics

hope this helps

That was a really good link cheers! Is quite a bit different to the cupra air box my 1.4 one, but still same principle!

Today i've smoothed out the inside and taken out some obstructive plastic, put the original panel filters back in, then led a large cold air feed from drivers side bottom of wheel arch area up to air box and the difference is really suprising!!!

Quite a lot more responsive and faster than the induction kit & somehow it still has quite a sporty sound, not as loud as induction kit was, but still nice sound!!

Planning now to get a couple of green panel air filters (when i have the money as is quite expensive to buy two panel filters!! Unless anyone knows any cheap websites?? hint hint ;) ) and add another 1, possibly 2 more cold air feeds.
 

Gordz

Caught The Mod Bug Again!
May 31, 2007
1,325
1
North East
sounds like a good idea i have a green cotton induction doesent do anything!

the induction kits on the 1.4s just make loads of noise and make no difference to performance, well they do, make it slower!!! Does sound amazin though!

i think an induction kit could make a difference... if you could locate it down in the wing... but that's too much effort and money into getting the right tubing and pipes etc etc. what i've done is just a cheap alternative which i reckon is just as good, if not better!

even with standard panel filters in at the moment i'm getting better performance out of my (at the moment, slightly moded) air box. Can't wait till i get green cotton panel filters in there!!!
 
Jul 4, 2007
1,674
0
bristol
if it was a year ago i would be doing the same. im gettin a cupra soon becuase i can aford to finerly insure one. got mine lowered shocks and springs with sum wide alloys on handle like a go cart lol have you lowered yours yet?
 

Gordz

Caught The Mod Bug Again!
May 31, 2007
1,325
1
North East
if it was a year ago i would be doing the same. im gettin a cupra soon becuase i can aford to finerly insure one. got mine lowered shocks and springs with sum wide alloys on handle like a go cart lol have you lowered yours yet?

I can't even begin to think about a cupra for atleast another 2years till i've finished uni! Even then it might even have to be a tdi coz of price of fuel etc.

Another reason why i've taken induction kit, hopefully might save a few more pennies on fuel now!!!

Not lowered yet... but gettin some springs delivered soon, should be lower by about 40mm.
 
Jul 4, 2007
1,674
0
bristol
cool seriously its worth the money to get socks and springs mines 35mm i think. gmax set up really stiff but makes the pannals vibrate and make a lot of noise on crap roads... also got m3 mirrors and colour coded.
 
Mar 16, 2007
620
0
SouthWales
Best cold air feed is from the fog lamp cover like mine or you could have it coming from above the fan because its in the direct wind from the grill. Use 2 cable ties job done
 
Jun 26, 2008
849
0
Sunderland
Best cold air feed is from the fog lamp cover like mine or you could have it coming from above the fan because its in the direct wind from the grill. Use 2 cable ties job done

how difficult is one to fit from fog light cover, what diameter pipe should i use and where should i get the pipe from.?

cheers :D
 

Gordz

Caught The Mod Bug Again!
May 31, 2007
1,325
1
North East
Gordz, im thinking of doing the same to my air box on my 1.4, is it worth it? plus how did you attatch the cold air feed?

Cheers :)

Yeah I reckon it's worth it, I've just smoothed out the inside, put performance panel filters in and connected up a cold air feed that was from my old K&N induction kit and attached that to the side of the air box where the original hole is.
I've got my cold air feed located just straight down the front of wheel arch kind of thing and that seems to be just fine, although i am thinking of moving it to where fog lights should be as I don't have any!
So yeah it is worth it, especially with price of petrol, getting similar noise / performance from my air box as I did with induction kit, in fact i'm getting better performance as now my engine isn't sucking in hot air like it was with the induction kit!
 
Jun 26, 2008
849
0
Sunderland
Yeah I reckon it's worth it, I've just smoothed out the inside, put performance panel filters in and connected up a cold air feed that was from my old K&N induction kit and attached that to the side of the air box where the original hole is.
I've got my cold air feed located just straight down the front of wheel arch kind of thing and that seems to be just fine, although i am thinking of moving it to where fog lights should be as I don't have any!
So yeah it is worth it, especially with price of petrol, getting similar noise / performance from my air box as I did with induction kit, in fact i'm getting better performance as now my engine isn't sucking in hot air like it was with the induction kit!

Nice one you got any pics by chance? did you just attatch the feed to where the little shtty trumpet shaped air intake is on the engine cover??
 

Gordz

Caught The Mod Bug Again!
May 31, 2007
1,325
1
North East
Nice one you got any pics by chance? did you just attatch the feed to where the little shtty trumpet shaped air intake is on the engine cover??

nah no pics unfortunately of when i smoothed it out, if i have chance though i'll take some pics of where i located air feed.
and yeah i just took off the little snorkel / trumpet plastic thing and attached cold air feed to that hole.