Bascially I want to cut out the bottom of the stock air box and fender, this would expose the filter to cool air, while shielding it from engine heat, and would have popcharger/hybrid piping. I think the stock panel filter is enough to feed the three inch midpipe, but if you disagree I could always mount an Apexi to the port in the air box that goes to the throttle body

Reasons why I think this design would be superior

-Performance-
-Popchargers have little piping BUT get hot air
-CAI gets cool air BUT has bends that is reported to make top end suffer
-Porting the stock air box - has as much piping as the pop/hybrid, AND gets only outside air like the PRCAI without the restrictive piping.

-Cost-
- Less than 20.00 to make the midpipe (let me know if you want easy to do instructions) and you could still hook up nitrous to this set up.
- If it is needed, a new apexi filter
(That would be it, if you agree that the panel filter would feed enough to the three inch midpipe, then total cost would be 20.00)

-Still retain stock form
- Unless you told someone they would think that your intake was stock (if your into shiny intakes I can see how this would be a draw back, but you could always polish or paint the midpipe)
- If you wanted to sell the car and change back to stock, buy the bottom portion of the air box from a salvage yard (I will retain at least some of the mounting points inside the box and on the fender) but again if you popped the hood, no one would be the wiser until you went WOT.

Please let me know your opinions, I have already fabricated and installed the midpipe, I have also ran a ram air scoup in place of the resinator under the battery. The last thing is to cut the box, and install an Apex filter if I need to. If I ever get a digital camera I will post picks of the set up once complete.

 

I seen this done a couple years back but I never followed up about the performace of it. Tyr it out and please report with some feedback

 

I will, I think that this is a pretty sound idea. What I will do is cut one or two three inch holes through the bottom of the air box and fender while still protecting the mounts for the box. In these I will install one or two three inch pipes (just long enough to go through the box and fender) that serve to clean up the install look, and smooth air flow. It should be nice once I do it. My cousin owns an audio install institute where he teaches stereo installs, fiber glass moldings, and box fabrications from a variety of materials like carbon fiber. Right now they are putting together an H2 hummer for a show in a couple of days in Kansas city. After they do this I should be able to get in their and rap up this install (thats where I do most of my fabrications) I'll try and snag a digital camera and take picks.

 

my friend has a frankencar mid-pipe w/the stock air box...he did not, however, cut any holes in, getting colder air....he did however say he felt a HUGE gain down low, and didnt lose any from up top...its a 5spd, which I thought that 5spds never really felt a loss down low from pop chargers, which is where im confused....well, maybe you can afford 2 dynos

 

I'd say placebo effect. The resinator between the throttle body and box is not very restrictive (I made my midpipe two days ago and noticed little if anything), it is all the twists and turns the air has to go through, as well as the small snorkel mouth. I bypassed my first resinator by putting ram air under the car and surprisingly I did feel the Y-pipe's top end advantage more (pulls like a **** after 5,000 and the intake manifold is always cool when it's below 60 no matter how hard I drive it.)
This intake will be the best of both worlds once I get it complete. My sources of air will be the one or two three inch holes (that provide the air the PRCAI gets) as well as incoming air from the stock port on the box (which is fed ram air from the front of the car, and underneath the car where a ton of air is flowing)
I doubt that my car will need/use the air from the stock snorkel since it gets it from the least restrictive source, but if the two ports in the box don't give it enough on the top end, it will always have that fresh air coming from the front and underneath the car if it wants it, all with the piping of a frakencar, it should do fine.
Anyone want the how too's on midpipe fabrication, you could try a hybrid intake tommorrow after you pick up the filter, no waiting and the satisfaction of doing the work yourself, save the money for the MEVI, your going to need it.

 

i might the midpipe myself, and well, it was worth the whole 12 dollars it cost or whatever....A) i could just spin my tires off the line like nothin after i installed it, B) much noticed gain/regain of lost power on low end, C) EVERYONE just absolutely loves the sound of my intake now....sounds mean