(DIY) Custom Intake BE/BH

[HFSDevil]

(In case you were wondering DIY = Do-It-Yourself)

So I like the stock "ram air" my Legacy came with, but hated the piping because of all the air leaks, so here is my response to it....

:THINGS NEEDED:

- 2 1/2 pipe custom bent to go from the stock airbox to the stock inlet (Went to Mieneke and got it for $30. Make sure the pipe butts up to the back of the inlet and the front of the airbox. You DO NOT want it overlapping, just flush.)

- 3 inch universal radiator hose (Get the kind without the steel-threading, the fabris-threading is the best. It sells by the foot, so just buy 1 foot of it.)

- 4 hose clamps(Make sure the clamps will fit over top of the hose)

- Whatever tool needed to tighten the hose clamps because it all depends on what kind of clamps you buy (Screwdriver, socket, etc.)

- :OPTIONAL: Scuff pad, primer, and paint if you want to paint the pipe. (Rattle can paint is fine. The high heat engine paint is your best bet.)


:TOTAL SPENT: $45


:INSTALLATION:

:OPTIONAL: Scuff the whole pipe with your scuff pad, then take a piece of strong string through the inside of the pipe and hang it to the ceiling. Spray 2 layers of primer, then 2 layers of paint and let it dry.

Cut 2, 2 inch long pieces of the radiator hose off. Place the hose OVER top of the stock inlet piece and place the clamp on top of it leaving just a TINY little bit of the hose showing (less then 1/4 on an inch) Tighten the clamp down. Place the pipe inside the other end of the hose. Slide another clamp down the pipe, overtop of the hose, then tighten it down.

Take the other piece of hose you cut off and 1st put it over top of the airbox plastic pipe, and clamp it down, then place the steel pipe in the hose and clamp that side down also.

Done!

:PICS:

I haven't painted it yet because I wanted to make sure everything worked out. I am going to paint it later tonight and afterwards I will post more pics. :)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2005/08/intake-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2005/08/intake2-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2005/08/intake3-1.jpg

[Wiscon_Mark]

looks very nice HFS :smt023

I wish the 2nd gens had that ram air vent thing like you do, I'm thinking of doing a sort of ram air thing like Bakergtt has, with piping going to the front grille and still using the stock airbox :)

[badbasser98]

Sweet, Let me know if you experience any differences with that pipe. I was wondering what could be done with that cluster f*ck of tubing that Subaru used for the intake on the BE's...

Does it sound awsome like the BD's do with the snorkus removed? If so, that alone would make me do it!

-BB98

[scottzg]

where's your air filter?

[Wiscon_Mark]

where's your air filter?

You got a K&N in there or something?

[HFSDevil]

Yes I have a K&N air filter in there (hence the badge on my airbox :lol: )

Badbasser: If anything, now it is louder then the BDs when they don't have their snorkus.

Here are the pictures after the painting...

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2005/08/i-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2005/08/j-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2005/08/k-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2005/08/n-1.jpg

[Reason]

where's your air filter?

On those 3rd gens the air filter box is "above" the throttle body.

[scottzg]

where's your air filter?

On those 3rd gens the air filter box is "above" the throttle body.

no kidding!

further proof i don't know anything beyond 2000! :lol:

[Wiscon_Mark]

I thought he meant, where's your "good" air filter.... (shrug)
Sounds louder, eh? Cool :smt023

[Plays_with_Toys]

Looks real good in there. Is it just a coincidence that we were talking about what to do with the piping in there at lunch the other day? :lol:

[pdawg]

That looks great. Did you use a special paint or just regular ol Krylon?

[HFSDevil]

I do have a K&N filter in that airbox, hence the sticker on it.

I just used the 1200 degree engine enamel to paint everything, because it does get quite hot in there.

Plays: It was a spur of the moment thing because my friend and I went to Import Sports to price a few things and after we left, we just went to the Mieneke right next door to them and got it done.

[badbasser98]

Badbasser: If anything, now it is louder then the BDs when they don't have their snorkus.


OMFG! I guess I know what I am doing soon! Thanx HFS :-D

I did this mod a few days ago. I purchased 2 45 degree 2.5" inside diameter rubber elbows meant for intercooler piping and then used a straight piece of 2.5" exhaust piping (an elbow on the airbox inlet and the other on the snorkel outlet). If I decide to keep it I'll eventually replace the steel pipe with aluminum. It is pretty throaty around 3000 rpm (wot or near wot only) and seems to get progressively quieter beyond that. At less than 3/4 throttle it doesn't seem to make any noise at all. Performance gains => well none but I wasn't expecting any either. Just a lil note to the engine under hard accel.

[badbasser98]

Did mine, will get pics up ASAP. BTW, its not anywhere near as loud as my BD with the snorkus removed and having the filter box open up right into the fender. (yet another reason I miss my BD). That one was loud anywhere in the RPM range. My BE only is loud near 3000 RPM and quickly quiets down after that. It is alittle louder if I am at WOT. Seems to have made a slightly deeper idle note from the exhaust and when its running in fourth gear at about 30MPH.

-BB98

here are the pics...
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2005/08/intake1-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2005/08/intake2-2.jpg

[badbasser98]

bump for pics...

[HFSDevil]

Are you running a new air filter? If you are running the stock filter, that would be a big reason why you aren't seeing much change.

You should consider going out and buying a K&N filter. It is like $55 I believe.

Looks good though :-D

[badbasser98]

currently i am running a Fram air filter, i am looking into getting one of those Green filters or a K&N... not sure which yet.

-BB98

[Wiscon_Mark]

get the green, they hold up better after recharge...performance wise, they're almost identical.

[Sarra]

I've seen people do this on NASIOC as well.

If you don't want to use the plastic intake over the radiator, you can also bend the other way and get a soft rubber 3" diameter connector and do a CAI instead. :)

(I have a 3rd gen Legacy, so this will make sense when you reard it). I'm thinking about taking the air box and hacking the inlet tube off, where it comes in the side of the air box. I'm going to make the hole wider, and glue in a piece of 3" ID PBC or ABS pipe, then running 3" all the way to the fender well. I don't want to hack up my only airbox, so I'm going to have to find a complete 3rd gen air box (I need a new MAP sensor too if someone has a good one laying around!).

[badbasser98]

Where is the MAP located on the third gens, or do that have one?

[Wiscon_Mark]

Between the filter box and the Throttle Body, I believe...

[BuruKid]

Why does the ramair/intake pipe go all the away against the fender and then back again? To aviod heat maybe?

[Wiscon_Mark]

Why does the ramair/intake pipe go all the away against the fender and then back again? To aviod heat maybe?

That might be part of it, but you're forgetting that there was a whole bunch of complicated plastic tubes and such that were in that space before HFS shortened it to a metal pipe, so it may have just been convenient to have the outlet over towards the fender.

[jey]

Between the filter box and the Throttle Body, I believe...

Wow, that's amazing! If I had a 3rd gen I'd just remove everything past the filter box, get a Baja hood, duct the air in from there and call it a day.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Between the filter box and the Throttle Body, I believe...

Wow, that's amazing! If I had a 3rd gen I'd just remove everything past the filter box, get a Baja hood, duct the air in from there and call it a day.

yep.

If my ECU could read a MAP sensor, I'd get the whole assembly and swap it in my car :)

[ooberdoob]

Between the filter box and the Throttle Body, I believe...

Wow, that's amazing! If I had a 3rd gen I'd just remove everything past the filter box, get a Baja hood, duct the air in from there and call it a day.

ah yes. reference to ye olde gravelsports intake.

[badbasser98]

Wow, that's amazing! If I had a 3rd gen I'd just remove everything past the filter box, get a Baja hood, duct the air in from there and call it a day.

Damn, you're onto me.... :twisted:

-BB98

[HFSDevil]

Well I modified mine a little bit more :P

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/01/enginebay-1.jpg

[Reason]

Are you running 2 filters now?

[HFSDevil]

Hells no! I took the K&N panel filter out so that box is empty and I got the K&N cone filter.

[voorhees]

I have a 99 Anniversary edition with the same filter location, how is the new set-up working for you? my car freaks me out it is single port(headers) buy it has a strange intake setup, like a cross between BD/BE I'll post a pic soon

[HFSDevil]

It works good. Better then using just the pipe. Cone filters take in more air then panel filters anyway :) Now I just gotta figure something out for that air box. Maybe I will get creative with a welder one of these days :P

[Reason]

Did you see my post about the short ram for the BE/BH?

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?t=2127

[HFSDevil]

I did see that, but I am confused on how that will look in my engine bay. Will it just be straight "up" from my throttle body?

If that is it, there is no way I can justify spending $230 on that.

I'm probably gonna buy some pipe and weld up something and see how it turns out...

[Reason]

Will it just be straight "up" from my throttle body?

yes

[Wiscon_Mark]

you can make your own for a lot cheaper. However, the hood will cost ya.

[rougeben83]

Here's my take: hacked pieces from a 97-00(?) Honda Prelude intake from ebay. $23 plus 2.5 - 3" reducer and 3" coupler from Home Depot. The hanger clips onto the coupler and gets bolted to the factory hanger location for the pipe. $30 and a louder growl with the KN panel filter (even louder than my 2.5" STI catback).

http://homepages.nyu.edu/~bgn200/HPIM0267.JPG

[Khanhfucious]

Here is what I did..
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2007/01/IMG_0144-1.jpg

I ordered a 2.5" U-Bend from Summit, and will end up with something similar to what the person above me has..

[Suby00GT]

What is the black box that is connected to and sits underneath the stock pipe? And does it not affect anything when you take it out? Thanks

[badbasser98]

it helps quiet the intake as well as drop any larger particles and water so they do not reach the filter, IIRC... :eek:

[bobbyjimmy]

Here's my BH Outback;

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k213/bobbyjimmy/EngineBay1.jpg

[subaru_terrence]

I have my custom pipe to connect with the stock airbox (with K&N air filter) for couple months now.

So far, I dont feel a big difference except I can clean my engine bay easier :P I am just wondering can I get better performance and louder intake sound if I get a cone filter just like the setup below?




https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2007/07/enginebay-1.jpg

[badbasser98]

It will be somewhat louder, don't expect anything performance wise. If anything you might loose some torque and a few HP due to the hotter air entering the intake...

[subaru_terrence]

so should I take out that direct pipe and the stock airbox and then get a real intake?

such as the ebay one with K&N filter or cobb intake...

by the way...the direct pipe with K&N air filter is pretty loud at WOT :P

[badbasser98]

so should I take out that direct pipe and the stock airbox and then get a real intake?

such as the ebay one with K&N filter or cobb intake...

by the way...the direct pipe with K&N air filter is pretty loud at WOT :P
To get any benefit of an intake you have to make sure it is getting as cold of air as possible. The most popular place is in the side fender where most of the 'good' aftermarket intakes draw from. Buying an aftermarket intake can be expensive, especially compared to the minimal gains you would obtain. You could probably piece one together for cheap and get similar results. An intake on your NA car is mostly for cosmetics and sound unless you are going for major mods on your engine.

Just go for something you like and you don't mind spending the money on. Don't expect huge gains from any intake by itself.

[chipLRX-SLI]

i like this mod has anybody figured out how to do this to a 98 wagon
i was just thinking of welding up my own cai and getting some fittings

[dubkeith]

Impreza intakes are super cheap on ebay. the pipe with the almost 180* bend in it is what your after. I got mine to canada for $40. you just have to drill a 3/4" hole for the air temp sensor and swap the gromet from the airbox.

[Reason]

i like this mod has anybody figured out how to do this to a 98 wagon
i was just thinking of welding up my own cai and getting some fittings

Theres threads here on how to CAI installs on 2nd gen Legacy. Search key should work now.