Routing intake through cab?

Iron Squirrel

Iron Squirrel

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I searched around and didn't really find what I was looking on this so if it's been discussed before I apologize - but has anyone ever routed their air intake through the cab? More specifically, just a portion of the tubing - not the whole thing. I am looking at ways to re-route my intake to a higher, cooler and drier location but do not really want to drill a hole in the side of my flatty fenders and would rather have it like the River Raider intake, or like a Hummer intake style. I could route the tube through the cowl as I have seen others do, but I'm looking at the real estate on my firewall, engine bay and under my dash and I don't see why I couldn't just run a rigid pipe through for example, where my old AC lines were (just a homemade block-off plate there now), and then straight up from there through the cowl. The only part of the piping that would be in the cab would be the 90 elbow. Since I pulled all the AC equipment out, I kind of already have existing holes in those locations, it would just require some enlarging.

But I've never seen this done that way before. I'm thinking a rigid 90 with flanges at the firewall and under the cowl to facilitate connections, of course sealed with silicone to prevent air/dust/moisture from coming into the cab. I'll take some photos when I get back to the house later of the area I am thinking of in case it makes my idea clearer.
 
If you want a higher, cooler and drier air intake location running into the cab through the old A/C line holes in the firewall isn't going to do it. It will be lower then original intake location as you'll be under the dash. Not likely cooler temperatures under there either compared to moving outside air. Maybe drier, but how wet does yours get now under the hood? Also lots of wiring and components blocking your proposed route.

Curious, what are you wanting to accomplish by re routing your present system?
 
I have seen this done on a TJ that was used for desert racing for sale on Race Dezert. It had the whole works with a fuel cell in the tub, helmet supplied air, co-driver nav, etc. I presumed they had routed it this way to avoid dust intake. Not sure how it was done but just thought id mention it has been done before.
 
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Mac57 said:
If you want a higher, cooler and drier air intake location running into the cab through the old A/C line holes in the firewall isn't going to do it. It will be lower then original intake location as you'll be under the dash. Not likely cooler temperatures under there either compared to moving outside air. Maybe drier, but how wet does yours get now under the hood? Also lots of wiring and components blocking your proposed route.

Curious, what are you wanting to accomplish by re routing your present system?
Click to expand...

Sorry - I should have been a bit clearer. Only the elbow would be going into the cab, it will exit out the top of the cowl and have an extension I can either put a short tube on (maybe 2-3") with a mushroom cap or a taller one (12" or more) if I want as a snorkel. I don't want to crimp or cram an accordion hose into the cowl if I don't have to, so the flow is a smooth 4" all the way down to the box. So the actual intake inlet will be higher than the stock location, and won't be the 1.5" hole facing into the engine bay sucking up all the heat that little 4 banger can put out. I just figure I'm going to be working on the engine and probably upgrading the exhaust manifolds while I'm at it, might as well turn some attention to the intake and get it up into the cooler outside air, and future proof it in case I do want a full snorkel.
 
Run it into the cowl like the windstar setups then a 90 out the cowl and put a heavy equipment intake cap on it.done. no need to run it into the cab 🤔
 
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Not my photo but this more clearly shows the area I'm contemplating:
1709845632796.png


That keeps the pipe to the side of the fuse box and battery (as well as the computer). The hole leads directly to the cab, but if you go straight up from there with a hole saw you'd come out right on the cowl panel somewhere around here:
1709845788085.png


I could even run farther to the left with a length of pipe and another 90 to go up where the AC intake hole is already cut out of the cowl (I have a silicone sealed plastic license plate from a dealership blocking mine off right now lol).
 
Rickyd said:
Run it into the cowl like the windstar setups then a 90 out the cowl and put a heavy equipment intake cap on it.done. no need to run it into the cab 🤔
Click to expand...

yeah probably overthinking/overengineering it here but I'm known for that unfortunately...

There's also this guy here which, when it's all said and done, might actually come in cheaper... plus it has the added benefit of doing away with the stock box and piping (but I would imagine it'd ingest a healthy amount of rain =(
https://trailheadoffroad.com/product/wrangler-tj-lj-cowl-intake-97-06/
 
Couple of things come to mind:

-if you are after more power, there will be no noticable affect
-you will definitely hear more engine noise with it just in the cowl, let alone if you pipe it in to the cab. Whether or not that's an issue it's up to you.
-if just keeping the intake dry use your goal, keep in mind lots of other stuff will not like water besides just the intake when you start getting that deep
 
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SkylinesSuck said:
Couple of things come to mind:

-if you are after more power, there will be no noticable affect
-you will definitely hear more engine noise with it just in the cowl, let alone if you pipe it in to the cab. Whether or not that's an issue it's up to you.
-if just keeping the intake dry use your goal, keep in mind lots of other stuff will not like water besides just the intake when you start getting that deep
Click to expand...

If I'm being 1000% completely honest with myself here, some part of me just wants another cool and unique part on the Jeep... Ever since I got the chance to work with a USMC HMMWV for awhile I have been in love with the style, raw utilitarianism and everything about them period. No way I'm ever going to be able to afford one of those though, so my "little hummer" will have to suffice lol. Plus I'm looking at a way to just simplify and unclutter the engine bay/vehicle, as well as making changes that I can live/grow with as needs change.
 
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Running the engine intake into the cab is a weird thing to do. Unless you extend it into the seat cushion for some extra power when you fart. That would be something interesting to show off!
 
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Iron Squirrel said:
Not my photo but this more clearly shows the area I'm contemplating:
View attachment 507488

That keeps the pipe to the side of the fuse box and battery (as well as the computer). The hole leads directly to the cab, but if you go straight up from there with a hole saw you'd come out right on the cowl panel somewhere around here:
View attachment 507489

I could even run farther to the left with a length of pipe and another 90 to go up where the AC intake hole is already cut out of the cowl (I have a silicone sealed plastic license plate from a dealership blocking mine off right now lol).
Click to expand...

Welcome to the Forum. That pic of your cowl tipped me off to the fact that you have a 97. If so, just FYI that your engine is the 2.5, not 2.4, as your profile says. Check out the 97 and 2.5 threads in my signature, and let us know if you have anything to add to them.
 
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Iron Squirrel said:
If I'm being 1000% completely honest with myself here, some part of me just wants another cool and unique part on the Jeep... Ever since I got the chance to work with a USMC HMMWV for awhile I have been in love with the style, raw utilitarianism and everything about them period. No way I'm ever going to be able to afford one of those though, so my "little hummer" will have to suffice lol. Plus I'm looking at a way to just simplify and unclutter the engine bay/vehicle, as well as making changes that I can live/grow with as needs change.
Click to expand...

IMG_8481.jpeg
 
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