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Vehicle Owner

Member ID: LastBoyScout

Location: Gallatin, Tennessee

Vehicle Info

1995 Nissan Maxima

Modifications

Performance Parts

Interior

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Last updated: Aug 09, 2004

Hits: 9,313

Last BoyScout’s Nissan Maxima:
“Shaft”

  • Currently 2/5 Stars.
6 guestbook comments

Hacked Air Box Mod
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The First thing you will need to do is to get the proper tools
1: Phillips Head Screwdriver
2: 10mm Socket
3: Socket Wrench
4: Pliers
5: Flat Head Screwdriver
6: Dremel and Cutting Wheel(s)
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GOAL:
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To allow better air flow to your air filter and attempt to free up some minute HP while adding a deeper, throater

Estimated Time: 10 minutes

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First things first.....Pop your hood.
Once under your hood, you will want to loosen the clamp holding the acordian joint to the Throttle Body

Next you will want to move the following clamps out of the way, and then discconet the tubes and tuck out of the way.

Now disconnect the sensor plugs located on the air box

Now you can disconnect the latches holding the 2 air box half's together

Now you will need to unbolt the resonator from the front cold air scoop

Now lift off the whole assembly and set to the side. You will have a clear view of the Throttle Body and will be able to see if it needs to be cleaned. If so, click on this link for a D.I.Y. guide:
TB Cleaning Guide

Next you will want to unbolt the lower air box half

Now that you have the lower air box unbolted, you will need to lift it up and out of the engine bay. As you can see from the picture below, the cold air scoop simply fits over a lip on the lower air box

Rotate the lower air box on its end and this side is the part we will cut

Take your dremel and begin "hacking" away at your lower air box. If you look at your cutting area before you begin, you can very easily follow the basic contour of it. One you have cut it, it the "waste" plastic should fall out. If not, take a hammer and help it fall out.
You will end up with a lower air box looking like this

Now reinstall everything and this is what you would see when looking at your air box from the engine bay

Now take your Max out for a spin and hear the difference! You now have a deeper, throatier growl that you can hear in the first 3 gears as you push towards wide open throttle. As for 4th and 5th gears, anyone around you will hear it. (I didn't hear it because my windows were down. If the windows are up, you will hear it in 4 & 5 gear as well) If you drive normally, you will not really hear the growl.

As far as gained HP, small amounts of gained HP are generally not noticed. However, one thing i did notice was a willingness to head towards the redline a little faster. Nothing huge now, but it all adds up eventually.....right?

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Side Note
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On thing that i will try is to see if there is noticable difference in running with the cold air scoop, and with out the cold air scoop. There should be some slight yet un-noticable gains in running the hacked air box with the cold air scoop. The reason for this being is as follows.

Cold Air Intake (CAI) generally have good lower RPM HP response.

Hybrid Air Intake (HAI) generally have good mid RPM HP response

Middle East Variable Intake (MEVI) generally have good high RPM HP response

That means that the hacked air box is a Semi-Hybrid Air Intake which should give you a fair low and mid RPM HP response.

If you were to take of the cold air scoop, you would essentially be running a Hybrid Air Intake.

Hope this clears some things up, and helps you on your way!

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Vehicle Owner

Member ID: LastBoyScout

Location: Gallatin, Tennessee