I think this is a GREAT idea and I've thought about doing the same thing.
Thank you for the webpage - a great resource.

I was thinking about taking a different approach, namely having the intake in
nearly the same place as the stock  - behind the right tail-light thinking that
this would take advantage of the ram-air effect from that side air scoop. I
think in summer that this might also give cooler air than an under-car intake
as it is hotter the closer you get to the ground.

I think the biggest improvement would be finding a way to eliminate or reduce
the 90-degree bend from the throttle body to the AFM. I also wonder what the
effect of changing the distance from the throttle body to the AFM would do.

Todd
'88 Westy

wayout wrote:

> Hello
> I am thinking seriously about trying to improve the flow of intake air by
> replacing the stock air filter box in my 85GL.
> Mostly using the fabrication guidelines from this webpage
> http://www.teamdelsol.com/howto/coldair/diycoldair.htm
>
> Basically the idea is just running a section of mandrel bent steel or
> aluminum tube from the AFM to the bottom of the passenger side engine
> compartment vent, and installing an appropriate K&N airfilter on the end of
> the tube that hides in that little hole (where the original air filter tube
> went),
>
> in theory this would improve things by:
> - NOT trying to force the air diagnally through that stock square box
> anymore... instead, letting it get a good running start down the section of
> tubing before it goes through the AFM
> - Using a less restrictive K&N style filter
> - it would continue to draw intake air out of the cold(er) air coming down
> the engine compartment vents
>
> Theres a few questions running through my brain about this...
> 1.) How would I figure out the right diameter of pipe to use for this?
> 2.) How to attach the new intake tube to the AFM....I wonder if could have
> the new piece of tubing welded to the AFM? Is there a better way?
> 3.) Is trying to get "cold air" and build velocity by using a long piece of
> tubing routed to the bottom of the vent a worthwhile endeavor on a Vanagon?
> .....Or is this whole thing just retarded, and I should just throw a K&N
> filter in that big bastard, stock, air filter housing?
>
> That stock thing CANT really be a good intake system can it?  It doesnt
> really make sense that air would really flow through it very well.
>
> Thanks for you input folks...
>
> Jason Loewenstein
> Marysville / Tulalip, WA
> 85GL