Here is a relatively low cost mod to those who decides to keep the oem intake but wants a little better performance.

Parts used:
- Stock intake airbox (04-06 TSX has the same box)
- 06 TSX intake tube
- A length of 3" dia aluminum intake pipe (ebay)
- K&N drop-in filter
- Two large dia. hose clamps

Tools used:
- 10mm and 8mm sockets to remove stock intake and cover.
- Dremel tool to shape airbox interior and front vent

The process involves with replacing the intake tube, air filter, removing airbox interior ribs, and installing an air tube. The pictures should be self explanatory.

Stock lid before The Comptech Icebox lid would probably work even better


Stock lid after I only remove the large cross bar


Bottom before


Bottom after I removed as much plastic ribs as possible to create a larger space


Air tube comparison 04/05 on the left. The slightly larger dia. 06 on the right


















Some basic testing results
- The post mod with stock air filter has lowered the intake temp slightly when comparing to a completely stock setup.
- Throttle response with stock air filter and stock air tube seemed slightly sluggish when comparing to the K&N CAI.
- Throttle response with K&N drop-in filter and 06 air tube is actually pretty good, and very close to the K&N CAI.
- The air intake temp is about a few degrees warmer than the K&N CAI setup.
- Interior sound level is quieter with the stock intake mod at various rpm range and throttle inputs.
- Sorry, no dyno for this one.

 

Wow, looks nice, I'll have a look into this.

 

i've already done the resonator delete. might as well look into this.

in addition to the crossbar, how about shaving the remaining ribs?

 

Nice! Another fairly cheap option is to purchase the Icebox lid ONLY.

Jtso, you must be bored or just looking for things to modify

 

Looks interesting. Who wants to step up to the plate and offer a dyno comparison for this one?

 

I wonder if modifying the bottom would further beneit Icebox users? Higher volume bottom to go with high volume lid

 

very interesting..

 

Jtso: Which dremel bits did you use? Some of those angles and areas look tough any tips for those that would like to do this?

 

Any thoughts on benefit of 06 intake tube for 04/05 with Icebox?

 

I used a flex shaft and a few attachments. The flex shaft allows close cutting to the ribs inside the airbox. The mini diamond cutting disc is very tough and able to cut and shape the plastic very easily. I then used the sanding drums to make the final smoothing.

 

The 06 TSX seems to benefit from bigger TB, valves and intake tube, so I guess it can't hurt to match it with the larger Icebox lid.

 

Any chance I can borrow the flex shaft?

Or can I swap bottoms? You send me the dremeled one and I'll send you mine

Just out curiousity

 

I don't really understand the reason for shaving off the ribs...is it just to increase the air volume inside of the air box by a miniscule amount?

Please enlighten me

 

Nice JTso!

 

Very nice!

 

Looks nice!

Do you notice any difference in low power in this setup vs. the K&N CAI?

Since you're looking for stuff to work on for the winter ....Are you still working on a rear upper strut tie bar or something similar?

 

The ribs enhance turbulence in the airflow, which improves low rpm torque. However, at high RPM, the turbulence impedes maximum airflow. So this mod makes your airbox flow better at high RPM, while maintaining low and medium RPM torque of the engine (and avoiding low RPM torque loss that is commonly associated with CAI).

 

Thanks for the clarification aaronng

 

good work w/pics jtso!

my friend engineered this mod a year back, he basically stick it on a vise and dremel and file down the ribbs on the air box, then installed it back w/o the resonator.

 

nice writeup

 

You can get the flex shaft off ebay at a pretty good price. Just search for "dremel flex shaft".

 

What is the difference in size between the 06 vs. 04/05 intake tube?

 

Nice write up and DIY... but I butt dyno results are needed..

 

you should use a velocity funnel at the front end of the pipe

 

04/05 has a 60mm TB

06 has a 64 mm TB

So the 06 has a larger tube to fit the larger TB

 

I thought about connecting the pipe inlet to an air duct and mount in in the spoiler vent. Just need to find the proper size duct.

http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/naca.htm

 

you of all people not having one already.

these are all 3" pipe ones, but i'm sure you can find other sizes;

http://www.k20a.org/forum/showthread.php?t=18692

this one you can go to pepboys and buy, 3" also

spectre

 

I ordered some parts today to do this mod.

I got a K&N drop in from summit, 3" dia piping from eBay, and a velocity funnel.

 

What's the K&N part # again? Maybe a link to it on summit?

 

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

 

Actually, I have been using another filter for my K&N CAI setup which has a similar front inlet like the shape of the velocity stacker ring. I wonder what kind of improvement the ring has for the TSX.

http://www.knfilters.com/search/prod...x?Prod=RX-4870

 

lol i have a k&n xstream filter just like that except mine has a 3" neck. I like the little bit extra surface area on top for more flow. Yeah it has a velocity funnel built in, but all decent filters do. The AEM dryflow does also.

I'm pretty sure the velocity stack/funnel is significant, an open pipe like that is almost certainly some amount of turbulent condition. I'm sure you've seen on race cars/open individual throttle bodies, they all have velocity funnels.

 

take a look;

 

I might just have to get the ring and try it out then.

 

well i did some more reading into it instead of just going by "everyone is doing it"



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velocity_stack

It says it's worth a 10% improvement in flow versus an open pipe. Not incredible, but at the same time, fairly easy 10% to pick up also.

 

lol.. that's awesome.. i was just thinking of doing that the other day... but i guess this will have to wait till spring, cus winter is coming up in a hurry!

 

My airbox lid ('05) doesn't look like the above photos, from what I recall. One of these days, I need to take a photo of it.

How much does the '06 intake tube cost? I assume you'd have to order it through a dealer (online, at least). With the difference in size, any problem making it fit onto the smaller TB?

I was entertaining this idea: instead of just replacing the resonator with a chrome pipe, such as in the original post, I'd like to try to connect the stock inlet back to the airbox. (Basically, just taking the resonator out of the loop.) This way would keep the longer tube and have a high inlet to, hopefully, reduce chance of hydrolock. I took a quick look, and couldn't see exactly what parts I should get; I need more time to fiddle with it.

 

I've done this. All it does is make the induction louder, without the booming sound which you get when you omit the tube between the stock inlet pipe and the airbox. Throttle response felt a little worse than stock.

 

I think I remember -- you were able to re-use the stock tubing, once you sealed up a couple of holes or some such?

Sounds like you don't think that mod was worth doing.

I guess I was hoping that keeping the long path would help the higher-end HP, but I'm not sure what to make of the throttle response.

One mod I already made was removing the "cover" on top of the intake (the opening). Yeah, I'm sure it helps keep things from falling in, but it seems very restrictive. Without it, I swear the intake is a bit louder. Maybe that alone is worth 50% of the restriction.

 

I performed this mod to the bottom of the airbox over the weekend. Noticed a slightly louder growl from the intake.

I also took it a step further and removed all the ribs on the bottom.

It was fairly easy to do

So now my intake set-up is Icebox + K&N Filter + modified bottom