AEM install - opened bumper duct & keeping filter dry (pics).

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Oct 21, 2001 | 09:07 PM

Phantom

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Joined: Oct 2000

Posts: 1,804

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From: Houston

I am pretty impressed with the quality and fitment of the AEM for our cars. The install went pretty good...it took a while because we took our time. A saw like the one below ($3.99 at Home Depot) and a dremel came in handy. Here are the two places that need to be cut on the underbody splash guards.

1. A hole to the bumper area...

2. A passage out of the engine bay to the wheel well. I am putting the peice back on...

I really wanted to use the fake brake duct as an air duct for the air filter (I later plan to air seal the bumper area in attempts to create a ram air system). But, the filter sits just inside the right of the duct where rain water can be blown onto the air filter. So, I used a $3.00 black rectangular/oval plastic trash can from Home Depot to channel air/water around the air filter. I basically cut a sled like piece taller than the air duct...

And used some epoxy (the kind you mix hardener and resin together and sets in 5 minutes) and welded the "ramp" on the inside of the duct with the curve pointing away from the air filter...

You can still see the air filter at a certain angle...but it should be safe from water.

http://www.digicomp.cc/grandtouring/pix/aem/aem002.jpg

Here are some random pics of the AEM (ITR took a million pictures, I will post more tomorrow at work)...

http://www.digicomp.cc/grandtouring/pix/aem/aem013.jpg
http://www.digicomp.cc/grandtouring/pix/aem/aem012.jpg
http://www.digicomp.cc/grandtouring/pix/aem/aem011.jpg
http://www.digicomp.cc/grandtouring/pix/aem/aem003.jpg

After the install, I went and did some 2nd gear pulls with ITR and moyopoyo (both stock)...did I gain on them? Not really. Our synchonization was kinda off, and the freaking ground was too wet to get any good runs. We will get some better runs next time.

The AEM growls at high rpm's like crazy...I can even hear it over my JS Racing exhaust...but I don't feel any high end gains. I will tell you though that I do feel the 3,500 rpm resonnance spike though. I hear the resonnance at 3,500...I don't notice the increase in torque comming onto the spike too much, but I do feel the car comming off of the spike at ~ 4,000 rpm (dip in torque after the peak of the spike).

Thanks for all the help ITR & moyopoyo!

Oct 22, 2001 | 03:55 AM

cdelena

Joined: Oct 2000

Posts: 9,210

Likes: 7

From: WA

I opened the ducts on my car for brake cooling. A couple of things to note.. 1) the way to cut round holes is a hole saw that attached to a 1/2" drill. 2) the reason I put grills on my ducts is because the amount of stuff it scoops up.. insects (including many big Texas grasshoppers) and leaves.. and it will pickup water and stones.. I doubt it will ever get up the pipe in quantity but don't expect long filter life.