I just installed my Frakencar tonight... I've had it for several weeks but just got the time (and nerve) to do it today.

All I can say is WOW!! I read about how it changes the sound of the car but I had no idea how dramatic the change would be. At first it has this whurrr sound kinda like a sc. It sounds relativly normal when driving at low RPMs but when you get on it there's this psssss sound like blow off valves then this monster ROOOAAAAR very much like a V8. When I hit it the first time it was such shock that I screamed WOAAA! and just started laughing. Man, what a trip!

The install process was easier than I thought with just a couple of hang-ups. It took me about 45 minutes because I was taking pics of the process and I spent a bunch of time searching for a screw. (see pic) Lesson learned: mount the adapter to the maf before mounting the maf to the midpipe. (easier to hang on to the screws)

This is where the screw fell. I had to use a bent clothes hanger to knock the screw to the ground.


Question: Is the filter supposed to be this close to the body of the car? I had to tweak it to get it in.


Sorry for the long post

 

It will be fine there, but you could slide the midpipe in another couple of inches. Also, where is your mounting bracket?

 

Good point a/b sliding it in another couple of inches. I'll try that. The kit didn't come with a mounting bracket but I have something similar to what you would use on a stereo that I can use. I didn't bother to put it on tonight b/c the filter is in there so tight there's no way it could possibly move. Thanks for the advice .

 

Pir8 97,What part number is your K&N filter??? I sure didn't get that kind K&N filter with my FCP intake ...

 

Hmmm... Looking at the box it says RC-4700. That's the # above the barcode. Does that sound right?

 

I just got my FrankenCar last week, and I too LOVE it.

I have the same filter, and mine is snug, but not quite a snug as yours... I did have to reposition the midpipe to get it so that it wasn't rubbing. Just lossen the clamps on the mid-pipe and then wiggle it around a bit. I did notice that in all the other pics I had seen of the FrankenCar that the filter was significantly smaller.

Mine did come with the mounting bracket thingie.

 

when its gonna get hot out, you'll guys hate it, the pull would be less then stock and you'll have no power below 3k especially if you have a couple of people in the car

that's what i am experiencing right now, and i want to go back to stock

 

I guess its different on 3.5 as I dont notice much of difference from stock or on hot weather, except my butt dyno tells me I got 10000+hp at woot! But again can't notice significate difference with stock or on weather change.

Bottomline tho, LOVEIN' IT!

Peter

p.s. for the record, I did felt more pull on the day I picked up the car when it wasn't hot like today.

 

Can you do me a favor PLEEEEEASE?

1)Count the number of pleats.
2)Measure the depth of a pleat(put a ruler as deep as possible into the pleat and measure the height.
3)Measure the length of the pleat. ONLY the pink area, don't include the black 1/2" or so by the endcaps.
4)Measure the diameter of the BASE of the filter. Just try to eyeball it the best you can to only include the filter media.

Thanks.

 

manual trannys have more pull to being with, but i bet it is the 3.5.

 

Yeah my K&N filter is smaller too compared to K&N filter FrankenCar is using now. The smaller ones were one of the first intakes FrankenCar produced.

I know there was a discussion about smaller and larger cone filters. Smaller cone filter people said will feel better(more power) at lowend compared to larger cone filers, but will also give less power at highend compared to larger cone filter.

I have never really noticed any lowend power loss with FrankenCar intake. 2002 Max is a torque monster.
Once I was driving and came to a stop sign and couldn't really get into 1st gear and really wanted to go before this car would come from another side. So I just threw into 2nd and floored it and wheels just started spining and spining. I was suprized how easily they were spining, definetly lowend power is there.

 

1) ~50. Hard to tell in the car... can't pull it out at work.
2) 1/2"
3) 6"
4) 18 3/4"

 

Thanks man!

 

So what kind of airflow will that thing be able to provide Ice?

 

Hmmm. Notice I didn't saying anything about the increased power . I didn't, however, notice any decrease either... but I haven't had a ton of time to drive it. BTW, its in the 90's today (had to roll up the windows and sunroof at lunch).

Has anyone else experienced a loss in the heat?? I'd hate to think I spent all that time and $$ for a noise maker.

How about you guys with hybrids... same thing... pros/cons??

Thanks

 

I'd need to know EXACTLY the number of pleats, but probably the same as a PR CAI filter since they have approximately the same surface area.

I'm only comparing surface area though, so don't expect some CFM numbers. I'll leave that for the ME's to hash out, since it bores me.

 

I think anytime it gets hot enough, you're going to lose some power, no matter which intake you have. I have the GAB, without the OSCAI and I notice a drop in power.

We had a discussion about this awhile back, and some of us came to the conclusion that the GAB with the OSCAI was the route to go because you avoided the low end torque loss of most WAI, and the high end loss of a true CAI.

I have no idea how we arrived at this, but it made sense at the time

 

I don't notice any loss in low end. It still has enough power to break the tires loos at almost any speed in first and chirp second.

 

*** I think this is more of a problem with the autos than the manuals. Having enough torque to break the tires lose in a 5 or 6 spd isn't really a problem unless you are running on 3 cylinders.

 

lolz! I haven't used that term in like 15 years. Since last time I rode on my BMX! I had a single playing card on my front brake that made noise when it rubbed against the front tire.

Haha!

You get older, your noise maker get abitty expensive.

Peter

 

would it be totally wrong to buy a intake without an exhaust?

 

Unfortuantely for you, I have heard that exhaust mods (like a y-pipe) aren't much good on a 2002-2003.

 

Hot air is hot air, whether you got a WAI, CAI, GAB, or stock. I don't see any reason why a modified intake would suffer in the heat more than the stock one.

Regardless, I'd even be willing to sacrifice a HP or 2 for the snarl the FrankenCar gives me.

 

Only possible reason could be running the A/C makes underhood temps hotter giving the advantage to CAI or stock since they pull air from outside the hood. Maybe 10-20 degrees difference> Hmmm, where's the temp sensor for outdoor temp? I might move that to intake locations to measure the difference, or maybe just get a couple of battery powered ones and run the remote thermocouple out there to check.

 

The whole issue of power loss on hot days has to do with air density: hot air is less dense that cold air therefor changing the the gas/air mix ratio (leaner?). Our cars have a MAF (mass air FLOW), not an air density meter. BTW, I left the original air box feeder in place to provide fresh air to the K&N.

If you look at the Frankencar site you'll see that they have pics of a prototype to isolate/insulate the air filter from the engine heat. I've been thinking about fabricating an insulation box for the new K&N setup, but have not resolved a cold air source (thought of drilling a few holes in the wheel well wall, but concerned about the amount of dirt from that source - prefer to get cold air from the front).

Anyone converted their WAI to CAI? Pics and 'how to' please.

 

Well, I just took it out for a nice long drive. The throttle response seems to be a bit better than stock w/ K&N replacement filter. It feels about like the car does in the low to mid 70 degrees (89 outside while I was out). Nice and crisp... don't even have to force a downshift to quickly go from say 50 to 60. Nice. The air temp cooled to about 77 toward the end of the ride (especially when I was around the waterfront), which made the ride that much more enjoyable.

I gave her a little extra throttle leaving a stoplight, not to the floor but enough to make some guy in an Acura whip his head around . Verdict: So far, I really like it. We'll see what time will tell.