3.3TT DIY intakes w/Heat shielding drop about 0.2sec off 0-60

[Grewzuff]

Thanks StungBlue ! I can back up the .2 with dragy slips if needed.....checked the elbows just now after Wifey drove it...yeppers the tape has got the filters rock solid ! The trim tape (3m) needs 24 hours to harden up the adhesion....I double layered the lil 2 inch pieces....rock solid today!.....total cost 78 bills and 8 bills was for the 3m adhesive.....filters only 19.95 each from Amazon....2 elbows 30 bills....Heck Yes ! Wash

Where did you get the black elbows?

 

[turboAWD]

I see some filters with a "closed top", others with what appears to be an opening in the top. Those that are open - do they have more filter material to filter air coming in that way? Some of the pictures make it seem like it's a fully unfiltered 1-2" hole passing right through the middle, which seems like it would be bad? Or is that just an illusion?

 

[StungBlueGT2]

I see some filters with a "closed top", others with what appears to be an opening in the top. Those that are open - do they have more filter material to filter air coming in that way? Some of the pictures make it seem like it's a fully unfiltered 1-2" hole passing right through the middle, which seems like it would be bad? Or is that just an illusion?

Yes the open top version has considerably more filter area and in turn more airflow. And no they don’t have an unfiltered hole, its completely covered in filter material just more of it.

Hope that helps and the more airflow the better.

 

[turboAWD]

So the lighter-colored inside part is an internal cap, right? It's been a long time since I looked at filters - stock airbox wasn't a limitation on the Legacy GT until > 350 chp, so I just stayed stock for 15 years..

 

[StungBlueGT2]

So the lighter-colored inside part is an internal cap, right? It's been a long time since I looked at filters - stock airbox wasn't a limitation on the Legacy GT until > 350 chp, so I just stayed stock for 15 years..

Yes there is a small cap inside the inverted part of the filter so it’s completely sealed.

I understand as I had and Impreza RS & WRX & Legacy myself.

Luckily in the Stinger we’re already close to 400chp stock, but unfortunately that does make the airbox a big restriction and why intakes are a big power gainer(~15-25whp peak and up to 44whp near redline).

For only ~$100 it’s easily the most “bang for the buck” you can get on our Stingers.

 

[Skraight]

Does anyone have an updated list of best part #'s that fit?

 

[StungBlueGT2]

Does anyone have an updated list of best part #'s that fit?

The whole thread has part numbers that already fit, and for multiple different DIY versions. Mine is listed on the first few pages, and others added theirs as they discovered different styles. Just browse for the version you want and save a bunch of money on intakes.

 

[Revvdmedia]

I originally ordered the filters with the extra filter material on the inverted center portion, but I returned them when I saw a few (like 3) negative reviews, one of which included pics of a damaged turbo because the chrome cap got sucked into the intake tract and hit the intake side of the turbo. Even if the frequency was very low and likely a manufacturing defect, I didn't want to take the risk and exchanged for closed top AEM Dryflow filters. They have a little less filter material not having the inverted portion, but I feel safer with the closed rubber top on the filter instead of a glued in chrome cap.

 

[turboAWD]

Wow, Revvdmedia - that's crazy, but good to know. Definitely going with closed top filters..

 

[Gtecko]

@Revvdmedia - Care to share which brand/model they were so members reading the earlier thread would have a reference of which you are talking about.
Cheers !

 

[StungBlueGT2]

I originally ordered the filters with the extra filter material on the inverted center portion, but I returned them when I saw a few (like 3) negative reviews, one of which included pics of a damaged turbo because the chrome cap got sucked into the intake tract and hit the intake side of the turbo. Even if the frequency was very low and likely a manufacturing defect, I didn't want to take the risk and exchanged for closed top AEM Dryflow filters. They have a little less filter material not having the inverted portion, but I feel safer with the closed rubber top on the filter instead of a glued in chrome cap.

I appreciate your concern, but you’re talking about 1 in a million chance and your more likely to get struck by lightning.

I think I read that same unique bad review, but that was on a 800hp+ Big turbo V8 running 30psi+ and believe it was proven it was installers fault.(used too small of a filter without enough CFM and caused the filter to collapse on itself)

I don’t deny manufacturers do have occasional defects, but I know many more people have had defective differentials on our Stingers and they came directly from Kia/Hyundai itself.

If you look hard enough you will always find some horror story about a defective product(AEM included), but 9/10 times it’s users error and is nothing to be concerned with.

Nothing personal and to each their own, but it’s sad that fear mongers create “boy in a bubble” syndrome and cause people to unnecessarily miss out on the finer things in life, like MORE POWER!

 

[Revvdmedia]

@Revvdmedia - Care to share which brand/model they were so members reading the earlier thread would have a reference of which you are talking about.
Cheers !

The K&N RG-1001RD universal filters were the ones I bought and returned. Both Amazon Canada and USA had a 1 star review with damages turbos and pics as well because the cap was sucked into the intake tract. Not sure if I saw this on the Spectre but since they are designed the same way it is possible. Seems like a low instance rate and we might not be pulling enough air for this to happen but not a risk I was willing to take.

 

[Gtecko]

good to know, thanks for sharing.
I personally bought the Spectre from other recommendation on it, no one has mentioned ant cap sucked in so we are hopeful it is only a design issue with K&N

 

[Revvdmedia]

I didn't mean to strike fear into anyone running the inverted cap style filter. It is true that the ones that have failed are likely manufacturing defects (not enough adhesive used) or more likely poor filter selection / installation error. I personally went with the "safer" looking filter just because I'd be constantly obsessing over the possibility of failure, no matter how likely, so I went the safe route to keep myself sane. Considering how small our turbos are and the fact I think the highest boost I've seen on this forum is 22psi, I don't think we are pulling in enough air to rip a cap off a filter, unless there was a manufacturing defect on the filter itself. The filter I chose which has a similar external surface area as a Spectre for the OD I believe calculated to about double the surface area of the factory panel filters, so we probably have more than enough CFM on the filters we are using to support a lot of extra boost.

 

[StungBlueGT2]

I didn't mean to strike fear into anyone running the inverted cap style filter. It is true that the ones that have failed are likely manufacturing defects (not enough adhesive used) or more likely poor filter selection / installation error. I personally went with the "safer" looking filter just because I'd be constantly obsessing over the possibility of failure, no matter how likely, so I went the safe route to keep myself sane. Considering how small our turbos are and the fact I think the highest boost I've seen on this forum is 22psi, I don't think we are pulling in enough air to rip a cap off a filter, unless there was a manufacturing defect on the filter itself. The filter I chose which has a similar external surface area as a Spectre for the OD I believe calculated to about double the surface area of the factory panel filters, so we probably have more than enough CFM on the filters we are using to support a lot of extra boost.

I apologize and was not directing that statement at you. I was saying it as a blanket statement and that angry people/trollers can easily make others believe the “sky is falling”. I understand your concern and the idea of taking a “safer” route. Some people take it to the extreme and won’t modify their car at all because of fear of something going wrong, but brand new vehicles have recalls all the time anyway.

It’s simply being educated, informed and weighing you own “risk vs reward”. Some people are willing to put Nitrous on turbocharged cars to get the most reward, while others are happy with dropping 0.2secs off 0-60 & 1/4m times with a simple DIY intake.

I agree and don’t think any of us have to worry about a filter collapsing, or sucking in a cap under 800hp+, and the difference between our filters is probably unnoticeable.

I just didn’t want people to jump on the bandwagon and scare people from trying the DIY intakes in general.

 

[Sabz]

Anyone have issues with the whoosh sound sounding strange sometimes ... I feel it’s the way the filter is with that cap there... almost like a spitting sound which is hard to explain instead of the regular blow off sound....

 

[Team Tonka]

OEM Blow off sound with DIY intakes kinda sounds like a Bullfrog on occasion to me.

StungBlueGT2, you mentioned you used a 3" O.D. x 2" long coupler, any link to a rigid one - I haven't been able to find one anywhere!

 

[StungBlueGT2]

Anyone have issues with the whoosh sound sounding strange sometimes ... I feel it’s the way the filter is with that cap there... almost like a spitting sound which is hard to explain instead of the regular blow off sound....

Never had that issue with mine and is always consistent. Only the amount or volume of the whoosh changes depending on amount of boost it’s blowing off. Are you using the straight version like me or the 90 bent piping?

Also the cap would have nothing to do with the sound since the sound is actually coming out from the sides of the filters where it’s open the most.

I’ve heard people describe a spitting or fluttering type of sound when a wastegate doesn’t open properly, but that was an issue with the wastegate itself not from intakes. I guess intakes could possibly make that sound much more noticeable but unrelated to the intakes themselves.

 

[StungBlueGT2]

OEM Blow off sound with DIY intakes kinda sounds like a Bullfrog on occasion to me.

StungBlueGT2, you mentioned you used a 3" O.D. x 2" long coupler, any link to a rigid one - I haven't been able to find one anywhere!

Interesting description and haven’t heard anything like that myself. Are you using the bent pipes too?

And I didn’t use a soft coupler, I used solid plastic intake tubing from Spectre. 87081 Spectre Intake Tube Straight It’s rigid and made from durable ABS co-polymer that helps insulate heat from the intake track. It was 4” and I just cut it in half and used one 3”x 2” tube for each side. It fits perfectly between the OEM tubing and the filter so it sits directly in front of the OEM air inlets. You can see part of the 2” plastic connector in this picture.


Hope this helps and happy tuning.

 

[Sabz]

Never had that issue with mine and is always consistent. Only the amount or volume of the whoosh changes depending on amount of boost it’s blowing off. Are you using the straight version like me or the 90 bent piping?

Also the cap would have nothing to do with the sound since the sound is actually coming out from the sides of the filters where it’s open the most.

I’ve heard people describe a spitting or fluttering type of sound when a wastegate doesn’t open properly, but that was an issue with the wastegate itself not from intakes. I guess intakes could possibly make that sound much more noticeable but unrelated to the intakes themselves.

So I use the bent elbows with mine... so how do I fix this wastegate issue ? Does it cause any problems ? Not like I can go to a dealer and say hey my aftermarket intake is sounding strange can you look at it haha .... I never heard it under stock box as you don’t hear the blow off sound