Big mouth snorkel install, retain radiator shroud ?

[socalvn]

So finally getting around to installing snorkels. I noticed everybody is removing the radiator shroud or guard. Really want to keep that for directional airflow as much cooling as possible. Is anybody cut it to fit and retain that all YouTube videos remove it? Thanks

 

[StingerMG]

So finally getting around to installing snorkels. I noticed everybody is removing the radiator shroud or guard. Really want to keep that for directional airflow as much cooling as possible. Is anybody cut it to fit and retain that all YouTube videos remove it? Thanks

I added a mesh front lower grill to great improve cooling. I think most people (including me) trash the shroud because the added work of measuring and cutting. I doing remember a old post where a owner cut his shroud and I looked very clean.

 

[Thomby]

I did not remove my shroud. The rough cut is pretty straightforward because it sits right in the rear/low spot of the "ears" on each side, but I imagine if you're trying to get a close fit it might take a few test mounts.

Paint pen and dremel should work if you're taking it off the car. Since I did it on the car, I pushed an old soldering iron through each of the corners, traced a divot connecting them, then sawed along the line -- it's a thick/tough plastic so dremeling it on the car might be messy.

This left a rough edge which I used a file to clean up, even though you can't see it. Probably took me an hour vs. half hour if I'd had the shroud off the car.

 

[Buzzman12]

Looking at modding the intake of my car in the spring (mid winter here now. Car is tucked away in garage).
I'm reading up on these snorkels, which look really neat, versus a CAI.
CAI is more expensive, but doesn't require removal of front facia.
That snorkel looks awesome through the grille though.
Is there any performance difference between the two?
If I go CAI, what is the general recommendation? I'm leaning towards K&N.
Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[StingerMG]

Being able to take in more air is always a good thing. I think ram air ducts like snorkels won't show any gains on a dyno because the air isn't moving fast enough. Intakes are a personal choice since they don't matter that much because the turbos will heat up the intake air before the intercooler cools it back down. A low cost option will be to install snorkels and change the stock panel air filters for some aftermarket reusable panel filters (like aFe).

 

[Buzzman12]

Being able to take in more air is always a good thing. I think ram air ducts like snorkels won't show any gains on a dyno because the air isn't moving fast enough. Intakes are a personal choice since they don't matter that much because the turbos will heat up the intake air before the intercooler cools it back down. A low cost option will be to install snorkels and change the stock panel air filters for some aftermarket reusable panel filters (like aFe).

Thanks for the info.
I'm actually leaning towards snorkels. I realize that CAI's and snorkels don't really add horsepower, at least not enough that I would notice.
For me it's more about giving the car more breathing room, less intake restriction.
I removed the restrictive and complicated air intake baffles on an old Nissan Pathfinder, and it made a difference.
Not necessarily in power, but better in throttle response, plus the engine revved easier.
So, to do those snorkels, do I really need to remove the front bumper?
Also, slightly unrelated: I noticed there are bars running across the air boxes. Do I have to remove them to replace the air filters?

 

[StingerMG]

The front bumper will have to came off to install the snorkels and the braces have to be removed to change the filters. I will warn you that adding bolt-ons like intake mods and exhaust mods can cause over boost issues with the car. I you do end up getting over boost issues, the only fixes is either a JB4 piggyback tune with wastegate wires or an Lap3 ECU tune.

When you over boost, the car will disable the turbos. It'll feel a little scary at 1st but nothing is broken, just turn the car off and on again to regain boost.

 

[Thomby]

Yes you have to remove the bumper to do snorkels, but it's about a ten minute job. Half dozen nylon rivers, half dozen 10mm bolts

The two metal bars are even faster, just two bolts each.

 

[StingerMG]

Yes you have to remove the bumper to do snorkels, but it's about a ten minute job. Half dozen nylon rivers, half dozen 10mm bolts

The two metal bars are even faster, just two bolts each.

I keep tons of extra clips. Trust me, they come in clutch lol

Amazon.com

 

[Buzzman12]

Thanks everyone.