Topic: Cowl intake on a YJ

[AGUHR]

Has anyone done a cowl air intake on a YJ? my cowl is part ot my tub so it does not come off to install a cone in it, but I've seen one write up on a Hummer style air intake cap on the drive side cowl.
Im curious ot know if anyone has done this or if they have any thoughts on it.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f12/hummer-intake-yj-write-up-many-pics-615089/



Thanks for any opinions and comments.

[Jeffy]

I don't like it.

You have to punch a hole through the firewall then through the cowl and you better seal off both or you're going to get leaks.  It doesn't look like he'll be able to remove the cap since the 90* bend below isn't really secured to anything.  The other problem I see is that if you're looking to have a snorkel for water crossings, your stock location will probably be just as good as that since the initial plunge will still have an airspace even if water is going over the hood.  You could also easily route the airbox so it's not up against the grill sort of like what he did but without cutting and you'd still be better off.  I would have either drilled a hole through the fender or notched the hood to route a proper snorkel.  You can't even lower the windshield anymore and if you extend the tube, like on a HMMWV, the stack is going to be blocking your view.

[oldjeep]

Looks silly and over complicated.  Also makes it so that you can't fold the windsheild down any more.

[AGUHR]

Good points, but I'm not really worried about water, if it gets that high, i've got more issues than that.

its more to get my air flow outside the engine compartment to pull cold air. The snokel option is out because I run through to many wooded areas, it would be knocked off.

I've never taken the windshield down, I have offroad lights there, so thats not an issue for me.

The cap is ugly, they make a simpler one that is just a metal cap, like off of a M35.

[neale_rs]

It would be better to just run it into the cab.  Then use the air conditioning (if you have it) to provide cold air intake! 

[AGUHR]

Any idea how to do it? sounds in theory like a great idea. But the intake is on the driver side the ac unit is on the passenger side.

[chrisfranklin]

There's photos in this old post of an intake setup I installed in mid 2008. I was looking for a little cold air but couldn't justify a snorkel.  This setup is obviously not intended for water crossing.  http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php/topic,4744.msg38064.html#msg38064.  And you can still drop the windshield obviously

You have to drill a hole in the grill and buy an enclosed in-line filter -- K&N sells these now and I've seen a few used with snorkels.  A couple of years ago the only enclosed filter variety I could find were the civic racer type deals, but this one did the trick.  Using some thermotec rap for the intake tubing, and even the intake manifold, is another option.   

[AGUHR]

nice idea, still not sure what I'm going to do.

I do see a lot of water, but nothing that would require a snorkel. (I live in Florida) 

What ever I do, I'll post pics.

thanks guys.

[jfrabat]

Good points, but I'm not really worried about water, if it gets that high, i've got more issues than that.

its more to get my air flow outside the engine compartment to pull cold air. The snokel option is out because I run through to many wooded areas, it would be knocked off.

I've never taken the windshield down, I have offroad lights there, so thats not an issue for me.

I run through wodded areas also, and have not had any issues with the snorkel being torn.  Also, you have the option of turning the scoop to the side or even rearwards to protect the little plastic grill (I have yet to do either one of those!).

Here's a pic of my Jeep with the snorkel, and the wooded areas we go through:



Notice that the snorkel is tucked in even more than the mirrors or flares; just a tad higher than the top.





As you can see, in my case, the snorkel does not make the Jeep any wider, so I just take the same care I would so as not to break the windshield.



Notice the snorkel on the ight hand side of the pic...



Check where the flare is on the last pic; should give you an idea where the snorkel was going by compared to the foilage...



The woods are so close in this trail that I even managed to have some leaves hang on to the front bumper, yet the snorkel did not take a single hit.

I should mention that on YJ's (not the case for TJ's), you cannot use windshield light mounts with the snorkel (I had to relocate mine to the hood because of the snorkel).

Felipe

[neale_rs]

Any idea how to do it? sounds in theory like a great idea. But the intake is on the driver side the ac unit is on the passenger side.

The cold air from AC is just a wild idea I've had for a while (my Jeep has no ac anyway) but the intake in the cab I really do like (best protection from water, less dust, well away from engine heat).  For the cleanest setup, you would have to modify the dash.  Maybe it would be a good excuse to convert to a metal CJ style dash. Once the intake tube is past the firewall it can be routed as desired and a cone filter could be used inside the cab, doing away with the stock air box altogether.

Another alternative is to make something through the hood like on the military version of the JK, J8 IIRC.

[jfrabat]

Another alternative is to make something through the hood like on the military version of the JK, J8 IIRC.

In that case, why not use a scoop on top of the hood to feed the stock airbox, similar to the intercooler scoop on top of the Toyota's Fortuners and HiLux, and the Mitsubishi Montero Sport / Nativa...  Just something to think about (although you need to study the aerodinamics to make sure the air actually makes it IN to the scoop; you dont want too much turbulence if you really want clean, cold air; but that is as simple as taping yarn strips in a grid a couple of inches apart, and driving down the highway with no top and a video camera recording the movements of the yarn...)

[sharpxmen]

Good points, but I'm not really worried about water, if it gets that high, i've got more issues than that.

its more to get my air flow outside the engine compartment to pull cold air. The snokel option is out because I run through to many wooded areas, it would be knocked off.

I've never taken the windshield down, I have offroad lights there, so thats not an issue for me.

The cap is ugly, they make a simpler one that is just a metal cap, like off of a M35.

that cap is actually a fairly expensive spinner - it is meant to spin out the dust and debris by centrifugal force. I looked at that when i made my snorkel and i decided to just go with a simple truck intake cap that was $20 or so instead of the top spin one (and like you i hated the looks of it). This is what i did, it's a bit overkill but so is everything else that i do usually :)





i should take some new pics as the brackets have been welded on since, in these ones i have electrical tape holding it in place. 

[jfrabat]

i should take some new pics as the brackets have been welded on since, in these ones i have electrical tape holding it in place. 

I thought that was a bit too redneck for you...  Good thing you pointed this out!

[sharpxmen]

I thought that was a bit too redneck for you...  Good thing you pointed this out!

[oldjeep]

Must not be any trees where you guys wheel.  On the trails around here we have a hard enough time keep ing windsheild frames and glass in one piece.  Those snorkles wouldn't stay attached very long.