My version of a cowl snorkle

[dukie564]

Originally posted this on JeepForum, thought i'd get your opinions and share it with you guys also. http://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/my-version-cowl-snorkle-67919/

I used 3" Inside Diameter PVC

I used (2) sharp 90* "street" bend pipes - they have a female end and a male end on the same pipe bend.
I needed about 6" of straight pipe - Home Depot had 2' sections cut.

For the cowl attachement i grabbed another stock air tube from the JY, and cut one end off. It fit perfectly inside the 3" pvc. I made a 3" hole in the cowl using a drill bit many times, knocked out the circle, and cleaned up the edges with an abrasive cylinder for my dremel.

I mounted the airbox inlet higher than i would have liked, partly on accident, but it worked out fine - i just trimmed some of the air filter above the pipe so it would fit.
I used black RTV to seal it up.

I used the blocking piece that is normally in front of the airbox inlet on the front clip support as the cover for the inlet - worked great and i didn't have to buy flat PVC/plastic. Again i used Black RTV to seal and 2 self tapping sheet metal screws to hold the piece in place.

Anyways...pics:

Then i took it on it's maiden voyage:

Worked VERY well - lot's of power, no issues, kept the air filter nice and dry while fording lots of mud lakes.

 

[REWSTER]

Way cleaner than my $2ghettohackfab cowl looks nice

 

[muddeprived]

Very clean install. Good job.

 

[srimes]

nice! :cheers:

 

[DieselSJ]

Very nice.

 

[srmitchell]

I think Im the guy you got that from on JF. Nice job. I've had mine for about 2 years.

 

[dukie564]

yessir!

 

[intothewild]

I like that! Snorkels look tacky, and if you're above the cowl in water, you could have bigger problems anyways lol.

 

[Built2Flex]

I like that! Snorkels look tacky, and if you're above the cowl in water, you could have bigger problems anyways lol.

If your above the front chunk (in water or mud) you could have HUGE problems. Snorkels or cowl air intakes are not a free ticket to romping through the deep stuff. Water is for boats. OP nice work!

 

[Flyer182]

This mod looks great and I'm going to be doing it to my xj as soon as I can. I was just wondering do you think it gets as much air flow as something like the K&N cold air intake kit like this one: http://www.knfilters.com/search/product.aspx?Prod=57-1518
I relies that your system is way way more cost effective and its not a question if I'm going to do it or not I was just wondering if k&n kit is any better that your set up? It would seem to me that your set up gets colder air than the kit, but maybe just a little less air flow, comments?

 

[dukie564]

the only real benefit of a k&n filter as far as i'm concerned is the ability to wash and reuse the filter. The so called "power increase" has been proven to be a marketing gimmik. Regardless of this though, I have one that I use when I'm not wheeling, and in the wintertime. Performance is the same, if not a little better with the cowl intake. I think it's because 1) the air is cooler and 2) the inlet tube is bigger than a k&n inlet.

The stock airbox and filter is more than sufficient to supply the amount of air a stock 4.0L needs. A K&N filter will flow a bit better, but you lose filter efficiency.

 

[srmitchell]

I had the K and N kit, switched to this, and noticed no difference.

Much better than stock though.

 

[Mighty.Mighty_XJ]

the only real benefit of a k&n filter as far as i'm concerned is the ability to wash and reuse the filter. The so called "power increase" has been proven to be a marketing gimmik. Regardless of this though, I have one that I use when I'm not wheeling, and in the wintertime. Performance is the same, if not a little better with the cowl intake. I think it's because 1) the air is cooler and 2) the inlet tube is bigger than a k&n inlet.

The stock airbox and filter is more than sufficient to supply the amount of air a stock 4.0L needs. A K&N filter will flow a bit better, but you lose filter efficiency.

IIRC - the K&N tube is 3" & that is what the OP used. I have the K&N FIPK and it's been in the XJ for going on 7 years or so. The biggest difference between the 2 (IMO, mind you), is the fact that this mod raises the inlet aperture by another ... what ... 6"? That could mean the difference between hydrolocking & driving your rig home.

K&N claimes that airflow is improved not only by volume (which is debatable if all tubes are the same size) but by the absence of "turbulence". The factory corrugated tube impedes "smooth" air flow; the setup above introduces at least 2 additional 90* angles plus more whirled tubing through which the air must pass before hitting the TB. K&N has just the one angle going to the TB - hence more direct flow. We won't debate filters. Now I'm not an engineer (and I prolly talk too much ) BUT I do know that this mod is in my 2011 future in spite of my FIPK. I do have a 62mm TB, so clearly I believe the hype about air flow. But I also like an engine that is free of water. I still have the factory box somewhere so maybe I'll interchange like Dukie.

Which begs the question: How would you plug that additional hole in the cowl when you're running the K&N? Is it necessary? And I'm wondering if the change will be adversely affected by my bored TB - or the other way around?

 

[dukie564]

you know i thought about plugging it just for the sake of plugging it, but it's not really necessary. If anything it lets heat out of the engine bay (new form of hidden engine bay cooling perhaps ala hood vents??). I just have been leaving the rubber intake piece in the cowl because it's a bit of a PITA to get in there in the right position.

 

[Blue 97 XJ]

that mod looks nice and all but what about snow/ice? i know that here in Boone the cowl gets covered in snow and a lot of the time frozen over with ice; wouldn't that block if not stop air flow?
and yes i know you can scrape it but you can only get so much out.

But for what its worth, looks good!

 

[dukie564]

that mod looks nice and all but what about snow/ice? i know that here in Boone the cowl gets covered in snow and a lot of the time frozen over with ice; wouldn't that block if not stop air flow?
and yes i know you can scrape it but you can only get so much out.

I got this question on the other forum also. This is how i responded:

Even if the cowl screen is blocked, you'll still have enough airflow to idle the truck through the drain holes and other gaps in the body. I just make sure to clean off the drivers side of the screen before putting my foot down.

I had a 1/4" of ice covering every inch of my jeep this morning and it started and idled fine.

I haven't had any problems whatsoever with it raining really hard. The tube is far enough above the bottom of the cowl void that it can't flow in. Also by using the stock corrugated intake tubing at the cowl, the ribs stop any water that get past the opening. Even if water did happen to make it past the ribbed elbow, the air tube dumps into the bottom of the airbox, and any water that made it that far just drains out the bottom holes, leaving the filter and your engine perfectly dry.

I tested it with a garden hose when i completed it (directly in the cowl) and not a drop made it to the airbox.

I suppose if the ice built up in the cowl you'd have issues, but then you'd you'd also have issues getting fresh air into the vehicle and operating your wipers. I've never had an issue with ice/snow getting into the cowl void, the black screen thing does a good job of keeping non-liquids out. Also the void that you are pulling air from is so big that a few small blocked sections of cowl opening won't make much difference, at least not enough to impact engine performance.

 

[Mighty.Mighty_XJ]

I've never investigated the other side of the cowl, can't remember what's under the screen, but I'm thinking you could replace the non-perforated screen with one like the driver side & have full width flow. Is this feasible? Does it even make sense?

 

[dukie564]

the other side of the cowl is where the wiper motor resides, thus the non-perforated screen "roof" over it

 

[Mighty.Mighty_XJ]

Hmmm ... I thought it was more towards the center. And it does have a rubber boot over it ...

Anyway, I can see where this wouldn't work. Anyway, like I said on CF, I'ma have to step back a bit. I do have an ABS module that will cause problem with this mod. Double bummer ... but I'll still be looking for a way.

 

[ehall]

There are large drain channels on both sides of the cowl, as well as the intake for the A/C blower. Drawing air into the cowl is not a problem. The holes on the drivers side of the screen is to feed cool air to the cabin blower during summer and are not the only source of airflow.