Smoothing Airbox - Trumpet Removal (LC 03 plate)

[wisejason]

Just finished smoothing the airbox on my LC and was hoping someone has also done this on an 03 plate Cupra, because...

Can you leave off the trumpet shaped opening that clips in place inside the airbox by the opening to the MAF senser?

 

[D.K]

Yes mate leave it in it wont realy hurt

I'm going to try drilling holes in the bottom of mine tomorrow, i heard one today and it sounded wicked

 

[DPJ]

I'd leave the trumpet-shaped thing in place. It smooths airflow into the MAF.

 

[wisejason]

Cheers lads. Thought that leaving it in would take away some of the effort in smoothing the airbox.

Can't get it back on the car until tomorrow, well I might go out side anyway cause the wife didn't look to chuffed with me smoothing the airbox in the front room this afternoon.

 

[caveo]

Im going to give this a go as soon as i get the car back from jbs. does any one know where to get a good 80mm intake pipe from?????

 

[wisejason]

A decent intake will be my next mod. The standard one is very shabby and if anything looks like it would restrict airflow.

I think I'm gona go for a 100mm intake pipe, but getting it to fit cleanly and get good flow will mean moving the battery over (seen this done on other threads).

For anyone who is going to mod the airbox I would advise getting a decent pair of cutters/snips and with a bit trail and error you'll find cutting the ridges out easy. I found cutting vertical next to a cross section and then at an angle of 45 degrees every 5mm best (most bits just flicked off). Used a dremel type sander to get the left over bits off and then smoothed with 600 grit wet and dry. Plus wear goggles/glasses cause a few bits flick up at ya!

When you start the mod it looks a mess and I almost gave up several times - but 3hrs later it was done and looks pukka.

 

[wisejason]

Yes mate leave it in it wont realy hurt

I'm going to try drilling holes in the bottom of mine tomorrow, i heard one today and it sounded wicked

All fitted back on to the car and the verdict is...

The Forge DV and smoothing has removed nearly all of the lumpyness and some of boost flat spots. I'm p!ssed that Green have let me down on delivery of the panel filter. I wanted to fit it all this weekend and post on here with some pic's and honest review (have to do it later in the week).

D.K. let me know how you get on with the drilling.

 

[D.K]

Will do mate, going out to do it in a minute
Thats if the wife dont find something for me to do first

 

[D.K]

I'v done it and it now looks like its a bit of swish cheese

I know its going to suck in some hot air but the induction noise is worth and the D/V is a bit louder aswell

 

[Jimski]

What size holes have u drilled mate?? and whereabout on the box? all over??

Cheers

Jimski

 

[D.K]

I did take some photos but i cant find the cable for the camera

Basically i used a 10mm drill bit and drilled all over the bottom and a few along the sides of the bottom half of the airbox.
I'v got 47 x 10mm holes

 

[wisejason]

I'v done it and it now looks like its a bit of swish cheese

I know its going to suck in some hot air but the induction noise is worth and the D/V is a bit louder aswell

I'm waiting to see how the green cotton filter makes a difference before I start with changing the air feed.

I wouldn't worry about the hot air being sucked in, I would of thought that it would only be warm anyway. Air movement under the car must pull/push air around the engine bay. Plus there is still going to be less heat soak than a cone filter.

Do you think its effected the performance or is it to early to tell?

 

[D.K]

A bit early to tell i only drove it round the block, it did feel a bit better but i think it may be because it sounds a lot beefier.
I like it a lot

 

[CupraStoo]

is the sound ALOT more noticeable?

thinking about doing it to my beefa

 

[D.K]

Yes mate, i didnt get to open it right up but low down normal town driving it very deep and sort of burbly.
I had an open filter on my old 220 turbo and apart from the exhaust note it sounds as good as that did.

 

[CupraStoo]

sweet, ill look into doing it this week then!
cheers

 

[D.K]

No probs mate, if you want more noise you wont regret it.

 

[CupraStoo]

even if its just a go between before i get a cone filter, a lil bit of noise is better than silence!

 

[dasmith83]

i've done this on mine....i only smoothed the top half of the airbox as the bottom didnt seem too bad anway....i have also drilled holes on the bottom half of the box too...i only drilled about 15 holes though, and they're all near the wing so as not to suck in too much hot air.

It has definately made a slight induction roar in the low revs, but it soon goes away...and the noise is replaced with a mighty sucking whistle from the turbo and then a woosh when coming off boost I couldn't believe how much smoothing the airbox increased the DV noise TBH! I reckon it's better than my old Split R was! lol