I'm drenched in confidence today, although that might be baked on sweat because it was 90 degrees outside. I just performed my first modification on my darling Eclipse and fitted her with a cold air intake!
This is probably pretty commonplace around these parts, but for me this is only my second time turning a wrench. The first time was changing my spark plugs earlier this week, so I was pretty nervous about removing my intake system; especially because I have to do my car work in the public pool parking lot across the street since I don't have a garage and I'm not allowed to do car work in my apartment complex. Any mistake or lack of preparation means leaving my car in a weird parking lot.
I'm very pleased to say that I did the damn thing.
I was dreading the resonator because everyone said it was a PITA, but I ended up following Sabertooth's advice and going in under the splashguard below the foglight assembly. Had to stick my ham fists up in there with a tiny ratchet, but it was really no issue. Working on the splashguard also helped me identify a rattling issue, which is being caused by a missing bolt down there that I can now fix.
Unfortunately, it didn't all go smoothly. The screws on my MAF sensor stripped immediately and were rusted so bad that even locking pliers couldn't budge them. I hope I don't need my stock intake ever again, because I ended up using a razor to saw the MAF sensor off of the air box. :crunk: Even then, still fused to tiny chunks of mauled air box plastic, the screws would not move. I tried again with the locking pliers on them and WD-40, but BOTH mounts snapped.
Miraculously, I was able to mount the MAF sensor anyway with the little C-shaped nubs of mount that are still on it. No code, so I assume no leak, and it seems to be mounted firmly. I may wrap it in electrical tape and plan a visit to a junkyard to replace it, unless someone has a better idea for mounting it.
Also, whatever those wire hose clamps are they use to clamp the intake to the manifold resonator and throttle body; they suck big time. The one on the resonator twisted itself into oblivion and is still on the resonator (which I left off, because fuck it). Thank God the throttle body one eventually came loose with some creative torquing.
Anyway, the CAI is on there and I'm proud of myself. I went from never having done an oil change to doing (what I consider to be) a big boy job on a car. I followed the instructions for resetting the ECU, excepting the final instruction not to open up the throttle. Sorry bout it, but the first time I opened it up a little and heard the intake gulping air, I had to hear the rest of the song. It already sounds amazing and I can't wait to hear it adjust over the next few days.
Butt Dyno Report:
1. Definitely seems to be smoother accelerating. Everything feels smooth like butter from 0-60.
2. I was really feeling the engine work before to get up to 80mph+ at highway speed, but I looked down and was surprised to see I had gone up to 85mph without noticing. This might be a side effect of the ECU reset, considering the age of my car. It doesn't feel like a supercar or anything, but it feels tangibly faster which is more than I was expecting. I wonder what the RRE under pulley will feel like?
3. Sound is already noticeable and awesome. It sounds so good that it convinced me I need a catback to go with it. I think I may have opened a box I can't close.
4. Got a "hmm, okay yeah" look from a guy in a 370Z when I was accelerating from a stoplight; so I have that going for me, which is nice.
I know this is an essay, so I'll call it here. I just want to say thanks for all the awesome resources here. I never would have had the confidence to do this upgrade without the many, many accounts, reviews and advice littered across this site. You guys rock.
Next up is replacing my valve cover gasket and plug o-rings (and maybe deleting that resonator behind it while the getting is good). I've got a slight leak in two of my plug wells. Wish me luck!
This is probably pretty commonplace around these parts, but for me this is only my second time turning a wrench. The first time was changing my spark plugs earlier this week, so I was pretty nervous about removing my intake system; especially because I have to do my car work in the public pool parking lot across the street since I don't have a garage and I'm not allowed to do car work in my apartment complex. Any mistake or lack of preparation means leaving my car in a weird parking lot.
I'm very pleased to say that I did the damn thing.
I was dreading the resonator because everyone said it was a PITA, but I ended up following Sabertooth's advice and going in under the splashguard below the foglight assembly. Had to stick my ham fists up in there with a tiny ratchet, but it was really no issue. Working on the splashguard also helped me identify a rattling issue, which is being caused by a missing bolt down there that I can now fix.
Unfortunately, it didn't all go smoothly. The screws on my MAF sensor stripped immediately and were rusted so bad that even locking pliers couldn't budge them. I hope I don't need my stock intake ever again, because I ended up using a razor to saw the MAF sensor off of the air box. :crunk: Even then, still fused to tiny chunks of mauled air box plastic, the screws would not move. I tried again with the locking pliers on them and WD-40, but BOTH mounts snapped.
Miraculously, I was able to mount the MAF sensor anyway with the little C-shaped nubs of mount that are still on it. No code, so I assume no leak, and it seems to be mounted firmly. I may wrap it in electrical tape and plan a visit to a junkyard to replace it, unless someone has a better idea for mounting it.
Also, whatever those wire hose clamps are they use to clamp the intake to the manifold resonator and throttle body; they suck big time. The one on the resonator twisted itself into oblivion and is still on the resonator (which I left off, because fuck it). Thank God the throttle body one eventually came loose with some creative torquing.
Anyway, the CAI is on there and I'm proud of myself. I went from never having done an oil change to doing (what I consider to be) a big boy job on a car. I followed the instructions for resetting the ECU, excepting the final instruction not to open up the throttle. Sorry bout it, but the first time I opened it up a little and heard the intake gulping air, I had to hear the rest of the song. It already sounds amazing and I can't wait to hear it adjust over the next few days.
Butt Dyno Report:
1. Definitely seems to be smoother accelerating. Everything feels smooth like butter from 0-60.
2. I was really feeling the engine work before to get up to 80mph+ at highway speed, but I looked down and was surprised to see I had gone up to 85mph without noticing. This might be a side effect of the ECU reset, considering the age of my car. It doesn't feel like a supercar or anything, but it feels tangibly faster which is more than I was expecting. I wonder what the RRE under pulley will feel like?
3. Sound is already noticeable and awesome. It sounds so good that it convinced me I need a catback to go with it. I think I may have opened a box I can't close.
4. Got a "hmm, okay yeah" look from a guy in a 370Z when I was accelerating from a stoplight; so I have that going for me, which is nice.
I know this is an essay, so I'll call it here. I just want to say thanks for all the awesome resources here. I never would have had the confidence to do this upgrade without the many, many accounts, reviews and advice littered across this site. You guys rock.
Next up is replacing my valve cover gasket and plug o-rings (and maybe deleting that resonator behind it while the getting is good). I've got a slight leak in two of my plug wells. Wish me luck!