Was sitting around musing about air intake mods for the XJ. I don't really like how snorkels look, am not interested in the cabin noise from a cowl filter, and I don't like the routing of drivers side cowl ducting to the stock airbox.

So I was thinking, maybe something like this would be fun to try and not too harmful if it suxxx.

Thoughts?




It is worth noting I expect it to be very unlikely I'll encounter deep water any time soon.

 

Looks like it would accomplish your mission if your not expecting high water.

I don't like the snorkel thing either. Looks like total dork work to me but....who am I to say. If water gets that deep, you would have more issues than just a snorkel intake. Just saying.

Cool fresh air would help anyway you could get it.

Neat idea.

Happy Jeepin'

 

Thanks! I think it would be fun to fabricate, anyway! My feeling is that if I hit deep water, the flap door would open, and air would draw from that orifice and no water could get sucked up.

I'd have to test that, but I could HYPOTHETICALLY hit any water depth the stock airbox could handle.

 

So I worked up a quick proof of concept:

https://streamable.com/9bfvl

I also was poking around and decided I could integrate one of these inline near the air box:

https://www.aemintakes.com/air_bypass_valve.htm

The angles work out that you'd need a 1" duct from the air box, near the front of the passenger side. From that, a 45° coupling angled down and toward the front of the vehicle would connect to a ~12" duct, another 45° coupling and another 12" duct and you are at the frame rail, right behind the front bumper. There are some large holes already there.

It passes near a radiator hose and the path wouldn't interfere with any suspension or steering travel.

 

Well, there you have it in working theory. Now you have to build it.

We call that southern engineering down here. Usually those ideas come from to much beer and time on our hands. lol

I'll keep following the post to check your progress.

Happy Jeepin'

 

That's about the sum of it

Thanks for the encouragement!

 

Another thought if you do have problems with water intake, use a light spring and hollow ball (similar to what is on cheap snorkels, the kind you wear in the ocean). If water rises it floats the ball into the end of the pipe and seals off the opening.

 

I like the hollow ball something that floats thought. That would help make SURE no water got in. The idea behind the flap door in the original intake position is that it would force draw from the 'CAI' unless that becomes clogged. BUT the one thing I am considering is how much spring tension that would require, likely very little. I was looking at HVAC flap doors from the grand cherokee, which seem to be approximately the right size.

 

Why not just do either a cowl snorkle/cowl induction or the like and bring in cooler air PLUS not have to worry about water at the same time?

2 birds, 1 stone

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

If I ever do this on my 85 I will probably just put an extension tube on the carb up through the hood and add a tractor/military style domed intake and filter on top just above the hood.

 

Not into it:

I'm not 100% sure I'm gonna do this yet, will probably rebuild my motorcycle first. But mostly am thinking it would be a fun project

I do like how those look, but it's a bit more permanent than I am willing to do at the moment.

 

So...don't like how actual snorkels look, "not into" cowl options, but yet you'd put a giant mushroom on top of your hood?





Makes complete sense.





Do your mod if you like, but I really don't like the idea of lowering the intake at all...lots of stuff gets kicked up off the road, water, dirt, small rocks...putting the intake lower to all that stuff just seems like a bad idea to me. And the trap door with a spring thing, unless it's done to perfection, could be a hindrance more than a help...if that thing doesn't open all the way up, you're going to decrease the flow of air, starving your engine.

My advice? Leave it alone. Or if you're hellbent on doing it, get a second air box from the junkyard...so when you run into issues, you can go back to stock....

 

Opinions are like ********...

I do plan on getting a second air box bc I need it anyway.

Thanks for the pleasant, positive attitude!!

 

Well, I was having a discussion about it, just because I disagree with you, doesn't mean you need to get all butthurt about it. By the way... if you mis-qoute me again, and put words in my mouth that I never said, I'll shut you down quicker than you can blink. Cut and paste my post and try to make me look like an *******, when I was having a civil discussion? I won't tolerate that. At all. This is your ONLY warning.

I don't agree with your thinking or methods. That's okay, and why I stated to go ahead and do it if you like...and to have a backup ready to go so you're not down longer than needed.

Sorry for my positive 'tude. Good luck to you.