Intake box modification

[mgroeger]

I plan on putting a K&N filter in as soon as they are available. I tossed around the idea of a cold air intake but the Mrs., who's Jeep it is, doesn't want a real loud growl.
So I thought what would happen if I opened up the bottom of the intake box? It would allow more air in than the standard box, but not as much as a cold air intake and it will be slightly louder than standard but not as loud as cold air.

Is this a dumb idea?

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[Swanny297]

I plan on putting a K&N filter in as soon as they are available. I tossed around the idea of a cold air intake but the Mrs., who's Jeep it is, doesn't want a real loud growl.
So I thought what would happen if I opened up the bottom of the intake box? It would allow more air in than the standard box, but not as much as a cold air intake and it will be slightly louder than standard but not as loud as cold air.

Is this a dumb idea?

Just adding a CAI isn’t going to make the growl any louder with factory exhaust, a CAI alone doesn’t do much, certainly adding an aftermarket filter to the current air box won’t produce any noticeable sound changes inside the Jeep.

 

[mgroeger]

I respectfully disagree. You can go on youtube and listen for yourself. A CAI will produce a growl from under the hood, independent of the exhaust. The noise is all up front and very noticeable. I also have personally experienced throwing a K&N in a Honda accord coupe and noticed a slight growl increase, my wife noticed it as well and that is saying something.
I don't want the cost and loudness of a full on CAI but I like the idea of that much more air making it into the intake. A K&N helps with more air and a little growl so I thought the happy medium for both airflow and growl would be to open the bottom of the box up some.

 

[Rockmaninoff]

I respectfully disagree. You can go on youtube and listen for yourself. A CAI will produce a growl from under the hood, independent of the exhaust. The noise is all up front and very noticeable. I also have personally experienced throwing a K&N in a Honda accord coupe and noticed a slight growl increase, my wife noticed it as well and that is saying something.
I don't want the cost and loudness of a full on CAI but I like the idea of that much more air making it into the intake. A K&N helps with more air and a little growl so I thought the happy medium for both airflow and growl would be to open the bottom of the box up some.

It's not the cold air or the filter that gives the growl. It's the lack of resonators.

 

[JDP]

I think what he is getting at is that it is louder with a CAI due to most of them not having a completely sealed air box so you hear the the intake of air more than you normally would! Now as far as the air box option you are referring to it really depends on what you are trying to get from it!

If it is just sound then sure if you cut open the box you may hear the intake drawing air louder than you would with a sealed box

If performance is your desire then there are multiple factors involved. Airflow is a big one. What is the flow rate of the stock system and how much can the intake draw without forced air induction.

Hypothetical numbers here as an example.....
If say your intake system can draw and utilize a max airflow of 300 CFM and your airbox plumbing and filter assembly allows 350 CFM flow rate you are already producing more air than you can use! So increasing airflow wouldn’t help performance!

If however your airbox etc only flows a max of 250 CFM then you could possibly benefit from opening up the box to increase max airflow rate. Because the system could handle 50 more CFM if you can deliver it. Otherwise to send more air into the intake it would have to be forced air. Hope this was not to confusing and helps out

 

[VinnyV2]

You could suck up water by opening up the bottom of the airbox, if you are crossing a stream anyway! I believe the inlet is raised higher for that reason.

 

[Rambeaux]

I'm my opinion, the answer is yes.

 

[FrenchSSGTMike]

I'm my opinion, the answer is yes.

Agree with @Rambeaux !
If you do it do it right (aka CAI or even just the filter if you think it’ll make a difference).
Also keep in mind that if anything happens to your engine, good luck dealing with FCA for warranty purposes if you damaged your air intake box... Just my 0.02

 

[PhoenixM3]

It's not the cold air or the filter that gives the growl. It's the lack of resonators.

If you’re talking about increased intake noise, yes an open element filter produces it in spades. When people use terms like growl or rumble, it’s a perspective/descriptive thing.

 

[BillyHW]

I don't like the idea of exposing the air intake to more mud and water. The current design is supposed to be good for 30" of water fording, why mess with that?

 

[Dynomite1371]

I plan on putting a K&N filter in as soon as they are available. I tossed around the idea of a cold air intake but the Mrs., who's Jeep it is, doesn't want a real loud growl.
So I thought what would happen if I opened up the bottom of the intake box? It would allow more air in than the standard box, but not as much as a cold air intake and it will be slightly louder than standard but not as loud as cold air.

Is this a dumb idea?

I Contacted K&N and they told me months, before they have one for JL. I think that's ridiculous, the motor is not new, and I would think that the filter would be the same. But they said 6 months! I may pull merest 2016 GC and compare sizes..

 

[Rockmaninoff]

I don't like the idea of exposing the air intake to more mud and water. The current design is supposed to be good for 30" of water fording, why mess with that?

Wrangler owners "mess" with a lot of things... that's why a lot of us get these in the first place

 

[mgroeger]

Wow! Thanks for all of the inputs guys.

Couple of things...
- Growl and Rumble are descriptive terms, looks like most understood I was talking about the noise from under the hood from the air filter.
- The idea of opening the box was two fold... more air flow and more "growl"
- I knew I would expose the box to the possibility of mud/water/dirt kicking up in there so I would do a serious exam first.
- Oops, forgot about the 100k warranty I got on mine. That alone will mean I won't tweak the air box. I'd go CAI and keep the box set aside should I ever need to put it on for warranty if I want more growl than just a K&N in the box.
- Regarding K&N, yes this engine has been around since 2012 BUT this is a new design engine bay so we can't expect the air box to be identical to the JK. That's my guess anyway. I looked at a 2010 airbox and it did look different than the JL.

 

[Skippy]

I Contacted K&N and they told me months, before they have one for JL. I think that's ridiculous, the motor is not new, and I would think that the filter would be the same. But they said 6 months! I may pull merest 2016 GC and compare sizes..

The gc and wrangler airboxes are on different sides. I also think the gc is longer as well. I will check when I get home and see. i still have the stock ari box from my traded in gc. Also, if you jsut want a slightly louder grunt you can try to remove the curved part of the airbox. I removed mine as a test and it gives the slight sound of the airbox when giving it gas but also a slightly louder (barely audible) grunt that people like. I would bet that adding a simple drop in filter with the water blocker or that extension removed would give you the sound you are looking for still while keeping the mrs. happy.

 

[Revelation17]

Can’t speak to the 3.6 Pentastar but I added a long tube air inlet and a K&N cone filter on my FX35 and it had a significant impact on the exhaust sound. Made it more throaty and loud. I loved it. I’ll most likely do something to my wrangler. Can’t say I’m a fan of cutting a hole in the bottom of the air box though.

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