[gABE]

Well, yesterday I finally had some time and went to the shop to work on my intake and after a couple of tries I got one that satisfied me!
My first attempt was to try and make a CAI (cold air intake) but there was not enough space to run the pipe to the front of the wheel well, I could have done it but that would have involved cutting into the wheel well which I did not want to do and since an intake system is designed to be a bolt on, cutting into the Nitro would make it a little more then a bolt on.

My second attempt was taking the complete stock intake including the resonator box (3.7 L V6 box) out and replacing it with the new intake direct to the TB (Throttle Body). This method did not work to my liking it felt like the engine was being overwhelmed with air and it did not sound right (RPM's would hang).

My final attempt after going through a handful of pipes is what you see below. It's a short ram attached to the box, The air temp sensor and blow back tube are attached to the intake. I left the bottom of the stock air filter box to help the filter get air from the front and help shield it from the heat the engine makes.

You can hear it suck the air in when you rev the engine and I can tell it has a little more power on the low end. I just filled up my tank and will check to see how it affects my MPG. I might switch this one out and make a black chrome one.

Here are the pics. Let me know what you guys think.

 

[NitroTech]

Nice clean job!! Looks great!!

 

[NitroMTL]

RT owner in waiting

having some experience with this I would just suggest you clode the box around air intake. Otherwise r gonna get heated air from engine instead
of pure clean cold air. My 2 cents....

I will do the same with my RT whenevr they build the damn thing...

 

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

Looks good. Just need to clean up the original box somewhat. I know all modifications take time . You are on the right track.

 

[AirJunky]

Right on. Very nice first effort. It will be interesting to hear about any improvement you see in MPG. And if you do eliminate the box & run the tube all the way to the EFI, any improvement seen there too.

And to anyone who tries the next one, it'll be interesting to hear about any improvement seen in acceleration. I assume you could do this by timing what it takes to go 0 - 60 mph....... with the stock air cleaner & with the CAI.

So what diameter is the tubing you used?

 

[jimbo1102]

looks like a good start to me

 

[danpfay99]

Looks good very interesting, Been thinking about the intake & this has my mind going.

 

[gABE]

Right on. Very nice first effort. It will be interesting to hear about any improvement you see in MPG. And if you do eliminate the box & run the tube all the way to the EFI, any improvement seen there too.

And to anyone who tries the next one, it'll be interesting to hear about any improvement seen in acceleration. I assume you could do this by timing what it takes to go 0 - 60 mph....... with the stock air cleaner & with the CAI.

So what diameter is the tubing you used?

Hey guys, well it's been almost 2 weeks and here's my report. My MPG improved just a little since Novemeber when I first got the Nitro I averaged 14.8 - 15.4 MPG I filled up today and calculated 15.62 MPG (all my driving is city).

After my post I removed the intake and put a complete intake tube to the TB (throttle body). I still did not notice a difference over the short version. What I did notice was the tube was getting a little hot on the part that is above the manifold. So I removed it and installed the short one back on. Since the box is made of plastic it doesn't seem to get as hot and also the box acts like a storage unit for stored air sort of speak so I will keep the short ram.

Usually when we do something like this we put the vehicle on the dyno and take numbers over stock and aftermarket but I haven't had a chance at all with the Nitro, based on tests from other cars I assume the gain would be 5-8 hp with the short ram over the stock system. When added with a cat-back system the Nitro should breathe a lot better and perform well.

I can tell the difference in the low end and now the MPG even though it's a slight improvement it's a good little performance add-on for the money.

AirJunkey, the intake tube diameter is 3.5" and is aluminum.

 

[AirJunky]

Right on, gABE. Your info makes the CAI an easy mod. Time to get on it!

 

[Rickster]

Looks good gABE! Thanks for the inside on the tube to the TB. I think I might just dress up the stock box on my install.

 

[gABE]

Looks good gABE! Thanks for the inside on the tube to the TB. I think I might just dress up the stock box on my install.

Thanks, yours looks good also! An idea would be to color match (paint) the box.
I have a couple of these made and I have it in black also so I might put the black one on to match the box for now. lol

 

[danpfay99]

gABE,
did you make that tube or did you order it from some where & did it come predrilled for the sensor & breather. Or is it total homemade.

 

[gABE]

gABE,
did you make that tube or did you order it from some where & did it come predrilled for the sensor & breather. Or is it total homemade.

We have different sizes of pipe for custom installations on turbos, intercoolers, intakes, etc... Most of the pipe/tubes are pre made with various angles and sizes it's just a matter of getting the right angles and size then cutting and welding them to fit. In this case the tube is one piece with no welds.
The intakes are pre drilled for the breather hose and temp sensor. With all the space the Nitro has in the air filter area it was easy to make one for it.

 

[bogeycentral]

Great looking modification! I was curious as to what about the MAF sensor that is located on the stock intake? How did you get around that?

 

[gABE]

Great looking modification! I was curious as to what about the MAF sensor that is located on the stock intake? How did you get around that?

There is no MAF sensor, so that wasn't an issue. There is a temp (air flow) sensor and that sensor just plugs right into the new intake tube.

 

[bogeycentral]

cool, that makes things much easier...

 

[HighVoltageNITRO]

AEM cold air intake

Howellautomotive is advertising an AEM CAI system for the Nitro for $309.95. I assume that it is for the 3.7L engine. It doesn't really say. At least with it, there is no oil involved.

 

[AirJunky]

Ouch. Painful to get though. Wonder if it get the fresh air from the factory duct or thru the fender. The AEM for the Neon goes thru the fender so installation was a bear.

 

[danpfay99]

That bends my pencil, just emailed them 2 wks. ago & they said didn't have one yet & no release date. Now here they are they do always get good feedback on their intakes though. But that is a little spendy.:SHOCKED:

 

[gABE]

AEM has always been pricey. At the price AEM is selling there's mines a bargin.
The intake they are putting out for the Nitro will be a regular short ram intake meaning it will be like mine (except fancy ) sitting inside the engine bay. It will connect to the throttle body.
On a different note, personally I dislike the cold air intakes (outside the fender) it's a pain when it rains because you have to remove the intake or risk getting water in the engine (hydro lock) when going trough puddles. AEM does sell the bypass valve but that doesn't always work.
We used to sell cold airs like hot cakes but they seem to be taking a decline because of the water issue.