Thinking of swiss cheesing....

[Robb12]

I came upon the "swiss cheese" mod and I'm just curious if anyone has had any problems, I've searched around and it seems ok. I live in Utah and we're about to get a ton of snow so I might apply mesh to make myself feel better about water getting into the airbox. Anyway, where is the best place to drill the holes? Some have done it on the bottom into the wheel well and some in the front by the headlights...pros and cons? TIA

[djwimbo]

screw swiss cheese, all it does is whistle. Pull out your lower airbox and gut it, meaning cut out all the ribbs in there. Get a hole saw and drill a 3" hole in the front, lower portion. Grab some drier ducting and run a 3" flex tube from the lower air dam area (behind the passenger fog light) up into the airbox hole.

CAI's are weaksauce, homebrew FTW.

If you still have your SAI pump that may be an issue... my bad.

[oldblu]

screw swiss cheese, all it does is whistle. Pull out your lower airbox and gut it, meaning cut out all the ribbs in there. Get a hole saw and drill a 3" hole in the front, lower portion. Grab some drier ducting and run a 3" flex tube from the lower air dam area (behind the passenger fog light) up into the airbox hole.

CAI's are weaksauce, homebrew FTW.

If you still have your SAI pump that may be an issue... my bad.

Dude. Please Elaborate. Can water get in if I do that?

[AudiXS4X01]

please do elaborate..diy..pics?

[djwimbo]

please do elaborate..diy..pics?

Pics would require some disassembly and it's cold, dark and rainy outside.

Next time you're dinking around under the hood of your car, look infront of the airbox, behind the headlight. You can see straight down to the A/C accumulator and for facelift cars the SAI pump.

Basically all you do is run a "pick up" down there. You can choose to block off the factory one off the grille, or leave it open. The reason you use the drier ducting is b/c it's flexible, and cheap. Maintaining the 3" diameter from the airbox to where ever you make it end is near impossible w/o removing the A/C and if optioned the SAI pump.

EDIT: Leaving the factory intake off the grill area would help prevent water getting into your intake. If the lower is blocked from water, the stock one would have the least resistance for air to travel and will let air through easily.

[Robb12]

so thats a "no" on the choice of swiss cheese..?

[oldblu]

Do what djwimbo said and take pics+DIY write up so we can do it too. (Please)

[djwimbo]

so thats a "no" on the choice of swiss cheese..?

Not worth the effort, I'd go on a diet first.

[onemoremile]

swiss cheez it:
Save your time. It does nothing to improve performance. Don't fix what ain't broke.


duct it:
Has the potential for gains but the airbox really isn't enough of a restriction to worry about.
There are four pictures of this mod in my picture poster. The hose was corrugated on the outside but smooth inside. I ran it this way for years before replacing the box with a stock one. I didn't notice any difference downgrading to a stock box.

[oldblu]

Save your time. It does nothing to improve performance. Don't fix what ain't broke.

Whoa!! "Don't fix what ain't broke" in all its forms is definitely copy-written by me lol

See

...Yeah i'm just kidding

[djwimbo]

I guess I can't say exactly if the butt dyno approved of the airbox mod or not. I did the testpipe, downpipe, gutted air box and DV at the same time. I don't even think the chip had fully learned it's parameters yet, that or the temporarily open downpipe was that big of an improvement.

[biketsai]

I did this a LONG time ago on my car, and IMO its not worth it. After doing it I didnt really notice any increase and now I am left with a hacked up fender liner. Everytime it rains I get scared of water (although I dont think its going to get in there), I am still just paranoid of water getting in there if I drive in a puddle. Save your time and pass on this mod.

[dingguhlbary]

if i ever would do this mod, i'd just get an s4 fender liner. they come with vents and stuff.

[biketsai]

if i ever would do this mod, i'd just get an s4 fender liner. they come with vents and stuff.

X2, I think Im just gonna go order or buy a S4 liner

[Json_187]

X3, I got one for $25 on ebay.

[onemoremile]

Still pointless and potentially dangerous.

[audiFUEGO]

I had a complete evoms cai on my car with a true heatshield vented with the stock snorkel... but with my 3" maf it made my car idle horrible and run rich as hell. So I put the stock box back in and problem solved. The only difference in power is maybe a TINY bit of throttle lag compared to a cone filter... so basically, the airbox can move air... unmodified.

[Insomniac]

you know.. there's already a hole in the air box. For water to get OUT if it gets in. Soo more holes mean more water in and more drainage out and more whistle and no hp gain. Nice.

[le91688]

There is a big spring loaded flap on the bottom you can take off... makes your intake louder, and gets a little more air... plus its totally reversible.

[4A Play]

Anyone know what the above mentioned flap is for?

[biketsai]

Anyone know what the above mentioned flap is for?

Water?

[Silverstreak98]

Ya I've seen him mention that in a few posts.

It has to be for something right....hmm

[somebody5788]

I was told its there in case your pre filter screen gets clogged. That would open and let air in but idk. I took the flap out noticed a tiny bit of noise nothing worth while. I have thought of doing further cutting just to unlock some of that engine growl but idk.

[Jibberific]

If you want the sound, just do a cone filter of the MAF.

Then, if you decide you want to switch back.... you wouldn't have completely destroyed your airbox by drilling holes in it. The filter will be cheaper than a new airbox.

[dj spiel]

I been running swiss mod for 3 years. It's ok with me

[D's Avant]

I been running swiss mod for 3 years. It's ok with me

Three years for me too now with no, no problems.

[andyrew]

I basically cut my whole bottom of my box out. Theres just as much risk running that as a cone filter...

Swiss cheeze all you want. But you might as well just get a hack saw and go some serious cutting. Just leave the mounting points there. and bam you instantly have an "intake"

[dab_master]

I basically cut my whole bottom of my box out. Theres just as much risk running that as a cone filter...

Swiss cheeze all you want. But you might as well just get a hack saw and go some serious cutting. Just leave the mounting points there. and bam you instantly have an "intake"

Thats exactly what i did and it works great. no problems and a little louder.