on my '92 3.0 there is (was) a tube at the bottom of the air box where the air comes in through, iguess it was there to quiet everything down.

I took the air box apart to put a new filter in and I decided to pull it all the way out to see if I could open it up more, and let the van breathe more freely. I always thought that tube was molded into the plastic. It isn't, it just snaps in, well i took it out and put the air box back in and tightened the nuts back down that hold the bottom half of the box down, then put the air filter in and put the top back on. So then I take it out to run it, not much difference, however I noticed a very slight increse in "off the line power" or pick up as some may call it. once I put a K&N filter in it I bet i'll see even more of an increase. It isn't any noisier than it was before either.


Also, a friend showed me a very neat trick that I would have never thought of for those old carb'd cars. flip the factory air cleaner lid up-side-down, and put the wingnut back on. now, instead of it breathing through that little tiny hole, it has the whole air filter.
I did that on my old work car which is a Buik Electra with a 5.0 V8, and man I have to tell you it made a big difference. not only in power but noise also... it is loud, but hey it's worth it!

Make sure before you run the car that the filter is sealed between the bottom and top covers, some air cleaner lids may not be formed in such a way that this tip will work and you could destroy your engine if dirt gets in there.

Just thought that was interesting info. and wanted to pass it on.

-Mike-

 

OK so what you did is take the airbox off and the little part that has a tube type thing in it you took althe way off. and now I'm guessing you have that square wide open..... not a bad idea, i know what ill be doing tomarow. But I think ill put a screen in front of it to keep out the big stuff. That and does anyone have a good ram air idea??? I cant find a place to run it under the van..... i could put a hood scoop on it but that would give away my sleeper look.

93'Aerostar XLT. Cherrybomb glasspack, dual 3" tip, K&N drop in, Super white blikers, fog lights, and headlights, Street Glow kit under it, mutiple neons inside, 1st van in Alababma Custom truck club, oh yeah i run a 11.5 1/8 and mid 16's on my 1/4.

 

I did something interesting with the Ram Air idea! I cut a hole in my air box and the metal under the air box, both about 4 inches big. Then I got a 6 inch brushless fan that puts out about 500cfm, and mounted it above the 4 inch hole I made. Then wired the fan to a relay which switches off and on when car starts. MY GOD I LOVE IT! The van picks up nicely with less throttle and when I get pass 35MPH it picks up very quickly, when I release the throttle it just feels like its floating. lolol "Ram Air Charger"

Here a picture of it (I wish I had a Digital Camera...) Ill try and get pictures of it up
http://www.angelfire.com/hi/rahc3/ab.jpg

 

Oh my goodness this is what i'v been tring to do but i'm thinking of running a pipe from the airbox though the metal and then have a scoop go down under the front bubmper. But I never thought about the fan...... might have to try and which works better.

93'Aerostar XLT. Cherrybomb glasspack, dual 3" tip, K&N drop in, Super white blikers, fog lights, and headlights, Street Glow kit under it, mutiple neons inside, 1st van in Alababma Custom truck club, oh yeah i run a 11.5 1/8 and mid 16's on my 1/4.

 

Is that one of those "muffin fans"? What's the psi?? I've been looking at using a regenerative blower but it only puts out about 50 cfm and 5 psi (does cause the intake charge to rise about 175 degrees tho). If I remember, for every boost of 1 atmosphere, you increase the H.P. by 100% Been too long since skool, but I think an atmosphere is about 15 psi. Hmmm, 5500 rpm X 183 cid divided by 3456 (1728 X 2 ) would equal about 300 cfm needed for 5500 rpm, so I'm intrigued by your 500 cfm fan setup. Let us know more, okay?

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 20-Sep-02 AT 05:35 PM (EST)]Yes it is one of those "Muffin Fans/Flat Fans" im not actually sure what the PSI on it is, but I think its 1650 RPM and draws .36 amps.

 

I seriously doubt that you're moving half of 500cfm

http://www.digikey.com/scripts/us/dk...6&Cat=30802566

A cursory search shows that a fan drawing a full amp (three times the power of yours) can push about 212cfm, but the pressure differential across that fan is negligable -- well under three or four inches hg, nowhere near one PSI. The amount of HP gain you could get from that is not anything you'd feel. Plus, TANSTAFFL (There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch, R.A. Heinlein) -- you have to generate those watts, from your alternator, which takes -- you guessed it -- HP.

Basically, you're just turning more hydrocarbons into heat, and nothing more at the wheels.

Summary: If adding a small electric fan did anything, Ford would have already put it on.

[Turbochargers use "free" waste energy -- and generate a pressure differential of several PSI even in light-duty applications.]

Regards,
Al S.