3D Printed Snorkel Swap

[Hyperjetta]

Yes you do.

Here is the install guide

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2..._Intercooler_Installation_Instructions.pdf?68

Ahh, I see it now. That shouldn't be too tough to extend out to where the stock baffle meets up with the bumper cover, but I'm not sure how I'd be able to make sure it mated up to the Wagner baffle without having some measurements or something. Let me poke around a bit and I'll see if I can come up with something. If you can get me some measurements(in mm) that would help a lot.

 

[ryan1stinger]

I’m in for a set. Sent you a DM.

I thought I would throw these questions out there in case anyone else was thinking them.

Looks the same now as the original pics you posted?

Doesn’t require any removal of the shroud or other modifications to fit?

The plastic can withstand the heat from the engine bay?

I’m using stock intercooler so no issue there. I’m using Tork’s after market intakes with heat shielding, however I would prefer an airbox from the snorkels to the filter. If you need measurements from snorkel to filter I will be happy to provide when it comes time to create an airbox. I can send a pic for now.

Thanks again. This is sweet!

 

[Hyperjetta]

I’m in for a set. Sent you a DM.

I thought I would throw these questions out there in case anyone else was thinking them.

Looks the same now as the original pics you posted?

Doesn’t require any removal of the shroud or other modifications to fit?

The plastic can withstand the heat from the engine bay?

I’m using stock intercooler so no issue there. I’m using Tork’s after market intakes with heat shielding, however I would prefer an airbox from the snorkels to the filter. If you need measurements from snorkel to filter I will be happy to provide when it comes time to create an airbox. I can send a pic for now.

Thanks again. This is sweet!

It'll look pretty much exactly the same, except the final version will be printed at a much finer resolution so there won't be as many noticeable lines. and the air should flow a little more smoothly.

Yes, removal of the shroud is probably a good idea since you need to be able to cut the ports out to let the air get to the snorkels. You could leave it on though at first so you can trace or mark exactly where it lines up so you can cut out just what you need to.

These will be made with ABS (same stuff as legos) which shouldn't have any problems with heat in that location. I've been using my prototypes for months now with no issues and they're made out of less rugged PLA plastic.

Seeing as how slow things are going with just the snorkels I'm afraid to make any promises on the airbox, but I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[GTA Jay]

Pm’d

 

[Shmands]

I mainly print with PLA at home, at that starts melting around 170 degrees Celsius. As this is pretty much outside the engine bay, except for the mount to the port, shouldn't this resist the heat given off? I also use TPU, which is flexible at melts around 210, this could be a nice vibration insulator to attach at the base, and help combat some thermals. What size printer bed are you working with?

 

[General_Vodka]

I know some plastic gets better heat resistance when you bake it. Anyone tried printing with metal?

 

[xot1]

Do you hear them? Noise wise

 

[Hyperjetta]

Do you hear them? Noise wise

It's hard to say, but probably not much. Since it removes some of the restriction of the stock snorkel it might even make it a little quieter.

 

[xot1]

It's hard to say, but probably not much. Since it removes some of the restriction of the stock snorkel it might even make it a little quieter.

Ok so no vibration noise from the wind hitting against it?

 

[WildBill]

I know some plastic gets better heat resistance when you bake it. Anyone tried printing with metal?

I know PLA will get stronger with baking, I'm not sure about heat resistance. I personally wouldn't make car parts out of PLA. It will hold up for a while but it is not UV stable and is biodegradible (albeit after a long time). ABS would be find but I'd do ASA.

They make metal filament that you can use in a personal machine but you need a kiln to sinter the parts afterwards. I looked at them but they are $30k for a pretty small kiln.

 

[Hyperjetta]

Ok so no vibration noise from the wind hitting against it?

No, they are on pretty snug and use the stock rubber seal where the snorkel meets the frame. I'll try to get some more pictures soon so you can see how I all mates up.

 

[xot1]

No, they are on pretty snug and use the stock rubber seal where the snorkel meets the frame. I'll try to get some more pictures soon so you can see how I all mates up.

Great. I will take measurements for the Wagner intercooler this week end if no one does it by then.

 

[Thorne]

send you a pm I'd love to get one

 

[Hyperjetta]

Here are some screenshots from Blender to help show how it mounts up to the car. Since it is so light I could get away with just the one mounting bolt. Using a caliper I was able to get precise measurements for the little slots along the mouth that the stock rubber seal sits into. Due to the way that the rubber seal joins the snorkel to the frame opening there is a little play that allows it to move around a bit until you tighten the bolt down.

Backside view:


Bottom view:


Once I get a print done of the ducts in ABS I'll put up pictures of the real deal.

 

[ryan1stinger]

I'm surprised to hear that know one on the threads I've reviewed related to snorkels has any issue with removing the the radiator shroud, because from what I've read on the internet, the articles mention that it shouldn't be removed as that can lead to heat being pulled around the radiator rather then through it, to cool the coolant which can lead to an engine overheating while the car is sitting still. With that being said, I'm heading to my mechanic on Friday for an oil change and I will post back what he says to this. Given that @Hyperjetta showed a pic of the shroud being modified rather then removed with the snorkels in place I will throw this out as well. If you can describe or better yet provide a pic showing exactly what was removed from the shroud I will share these details with my mechanic for his feedback.

 

[Gtecko]

Here are some screenshots from Blender to help show how it mounts up to the car. Since it is so light I could get away with just the one mounting bolt. Using a caliper I was able to get precise measurements for the little slots along the mouth that the stock rubber seal sits into. Due to the way that the rubber seal joins the snorkel to the frame opening there is a little play that allows it to move around a bit until you tighten the bolt down.

Backside view:
View attachment 38024

Bottom view:
View attachment 38025

Once I get a print done of the ducts in ABS I'll put up pictures of the real deal.

I am in Canada but would love to try what you just created ! maybe I will wait for the first batch to be done to see if there is any revision but that is some cool looking !

 

[Hyperjetta]

I'm surprised to hear that know one on the threads I've reviewed related to snorkels has any issue with removing the the radiator shroud, because from what I've read on the internet, the articles mention that it shouldn't be removed as that can lead to heat being pulled around the radiator rather then through it, to cool the coolant which can lead to an engine overheating while the car is sitting still. With that being said, I'm heading to my mechanic on Friday for an oil change and I will post back what he says to this. Given that @Hyperjetta showed a pic of the shroud being modified rather then removed with the snorkels in place I will throw this out as well. If you can describe or better yet provide a pic showing exactly what was removed from the shroud I will share these details with my mechanic for his feedback.

I'll definitely put more pics up once I can get back out there and pull everything apart. I was also concerned with removing the radiator baffle/shroud, which is why I chose to go this route instead of the VT snorkels. With these you keep the shroud in place, but you do have to cut two holes on the outer edges to allow air to pass through the shroud and into the intake. Will that divert air away from the radiator? Yes, for sure. Will it have any impact on engine temps? I have not seen anything to suggest that, but its a possibility. I've been running these for several months now and have never had any problems with engine temps. Now that the JB4 reads out trans temps I'm starting to take a look at those as well. If someone wants to log their engine and trans temps under some different driving conditions I'm happy to do the same so we can compare. Data is everyone's friend

 

[ryan1stinger]

I'll definitely put more pics up once I can get back out there and pull everything apart. I was also concerned with removing the radiator baffle/shroud, which is why I chose to go this route instead of the VT snorkels. With these you keep the shroud in place, but you do have to cut two holes on the outer edges to allow air to pass through the shroud and into the intake. Will that divert air away from the radiator? Yes, for sure. Will it have any impact on engine temps? I have not seen anything to suggest that, but its a possibility. I've been running these for several months now and have never had any problems with engine temps. Now that the JB4 reads out trans temps I'm starting to take a look at those as well. If someone wants to log their engine and trans temps under some different driving conditions I'm happy to do the same so we can compare. Data is everyone's friend

Thanks for the details. Spoke with my mechanic today and he said the shroud is there for that 1% of the time where outside temps are high and you're siting in traffic. Unless of course you live in Palms Springs, CA and then it's 10% of the time. LOL. Where I live it gets into the 90's during the summer, therefore he didn't recommend removing it all together, but I like your idea of only making small hole cuts on the outer edges. He would like to see a pic of what you did, if possible. Doing this install and the shroud modifications is pushing my expertise so I will most likely just have my mechanic do it. I'm crazy busy with life in general, anyways. How long do you propose it took for you to remove the front, make the cuts and install the snorkels. I estimated an hour, and given they have all the tools and no exactly what to remove I was hoping it might take less time.

Logically speaking I can see that adding a snorkel would provide more airflow to the intakes, but I would love to see metrics showing that. Has anyone installed an air flow apparatus to measure the airflow to the aftermarket intakes before and after adding snorkels, while driving? I will create a new thread for this question. I'm sure someone has and it would be interesting to see those numbers.

 

[Socalstinga]

I've had my shroud off for almost a year and was putting around Vegas last summer in 110 degree weather. With AC on and Strip traffic, I might've seen the built in temp gauge in our cars go up slightly over 200. But never truly went all that high, and was pretty much what I experienced in socal traffic in the summers (more like 80-90 degrees on average). The fan, however, was more busy in that Vegas weather vs. Socal. But once I got moving (in Vegas) the gauge went back down to 200....The VT snorkels area about 4-5 inches in front of the radiator and face the grill directly where air is sucked in.

 

[ryan1stinger]

As a follow-up to my previous comment, I picked up my car from the mechanic and he made a good point that the most restrictive component to airflow is this highlighted piece, which is the opening to the air box. This is what needs to be increased in size to have the greatest impact on airflow. At the same time, I'm not saying snorkels won't help to increase airflow, but the real question here is will the additional airflow lead to hp performance gains, therefore until I see an increase in HP from a before and after dyno test I think I will stick with the tried and true performance gains such as exhaust, intakes, CPU, piggyback, etc... I'm certainly not here to rain on anyone's parade and I have to admit these snorkels look very cool as do the VTs, but until we have performance data, it may be more about the aesthetics and the hype of potential performance gains without any actual data to prove that. If someone has actual data to prove that snorkels directly lead to an increase in hp, I would love to see it.