Fresh Air Mod for stock Air Box

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Ram Night

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2016
Posts
443
Reaction score
203
Location
Southwest, Michigan
Ram Year
2017
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I know these mods have been posted a few times before, but I found a stock looking application to get cool fresh air into the stock air box. I used a left intake duct for a Mercedes GL550 that will fit between the radiator and frame support, and a 3 inch PVC street elbow, plumbing pipe clamp and 6 inches of 3 inch PVC. I also made a bracket that bolts on the air duct to hold it on the frame. After looking at how restrictive the fender air inlet is, I wanted more unrestricted cool air getting into the engine. I have a total of $40.00 in the entire mod, and I can feel the difference when into the throttle. The only thing I had to do is cut two cable ties to move the light wiring harness over an inch and drill a 3-1/4" hole in the bottom of the air box. I also took a 1 inch piece of PVC and cut it to fit inside of the duct outlet for added support for the clamp the glued it in as shown in one of the photos.
 

Attachments

  • Left Inlet Duct Hose for Mercedes GL550.jpg
    Left Inlet Duct Hose for Mercedes GL550.jpg
    45.8 KB · Views: 141
  • Intake Duct with 3 inch Fitting.jpg
    Intake Duct with 3 inch Fitting.jpg
    70 KB · Views: 137
  • Intake Installed-1.jpg
    Intake Installed-1.jpg
    104.8 KB · Views: 143
  • Air Ram System Installed.jpg
    Air Ram System Installed.jpg
    120 KB · Views: 148
  • Airbox with Fitting-2.jpg
    Airbox with Fitting-2.jpg
    129.8 KB · Views: 142
Last edited:
OP
OP
Ram Night

Ram Night

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2016
Posts
443
Reaction score
203
Location
Southwest, Michigan
Ram Year
2017
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Nice work, but why not just go with the lower Eco airbox and scoop.

The stock set up pulls cold air from the front of the truck as it is.
The main reason is I like do it yourself projects that actually work, especially when it costs 100s of dollars less. I agree 100 percent that the oem setup works very good, especially when comparing it to a so called CAI that actually draws in some
hot air from the engine compartment.
The next time you are under the hood of your truck, remove the stock air filter box, which will pull out without removing any fasteners, and look inside the hole in the fender. Look down to where the air comes on and you will see how small the opening is. It will really restrict the air flow when you are into the throttle. :)
 

Wild one

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Posts
13,723
Reaction score
23,390
Ram Year
14 Sport
Engine
5.7
The main reason is I like do it yourself projects that actually work, especially when it costs 100s of dollars less. I agree 100 percent that the oem setup works very good, especially when comparing it to a so called CAI that actually draws in some
hot air from the engine compartment.
The next time you are under the hood of your truck, remove the stock air filter box, which will pull out without removing any fasteners, and look inside the hole in the fender. Look down to where the air comes on and you will see how small the opening is. It will really restrict the air flow when you are into the throttle. :)
There's actually 2 feeds to the stock box,next time you have it out,shine a light up from the bottom under the piece of plastic that runs down under the box,it's also open at the bottom,and picks up air from the high pressure area in front of the tire,that's where the majority of dust inside the box comes from.I wouldn't doubt it's also where S&B probably got the idea for their extra scoop,they used to offer for the bottom of their boxes
 
OP
OP
Ram Night

Ram Night

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2016
Posts
443
Reaction score
203
Location
Southwest, Michigan
Ram Year
2017
Engine
Hemi 5.7
There's actually 2 feeds to the stock box,next time you have it out,shine a light up from the bottom under the piece of plastic that runs down under the box,it's also open at the bottom,and picks up air from the high pressure area in front of the tire,that's where the majority of dust inside the box comes from.I wouldn't doubt it's also where S&B probably got the idea for their extra scoop,they used to offer for the bottom of their boxes
True, but no way will this supple as much clean fresh cool air as my 3" addition with air being pushed into the air box straight behing the grill when going down the road. Who knows, maybe it will push out the dusty air from the wheel as you mentioned. :)
 
Last edited:

Wild one

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Posts
13,723
Reaction score
23,390
Ram Year
14 Sport
Engine
5.7
True, but no way will this supple as much clean fresh cool air as my 3" addition with air being pushed into the air box straight behing the grill when going down the road. Who knows, maybe it will push out the dusty air from the wheel as you mentioned. :)
You're right a direct path is the best,i was just pointing out that there is actually 2 paths for air into the stock airbox.I've been running a front facing 3" air duct for several years on my modded CAI box,it's not as nice as your set-up though,you did an excellent job on your duct.:waytogo:
 
OP
OP
Ram Night

Ram Night

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2016
Posts
443
Reaction score
203
Location
Southwest, Michigan
Ram Year
2017
Engine
Hemi 5.7
You're right a direct path is the best,i was just pointing out that there is actually 2 paths for air into the stock airbox.I've been running a front facing 3" air duct for several years on my modded CAI box,it's not as nice as your set-up though,you did an excellent job on your duct.:waytogo:
Thank you. I did a similar thing with my challenger. I installed a new oem Hellcat bottom part of the air box and ran a inlet tube through the radiator support. Because the Hellcat's have a large hole in the center of the inner left headlight that the ait tube connects to.
 

Wild one

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Posts
13,723
Reaction score
23,390
Ram Year
14 Sport
Engine
5.7
Thank you. I did a similar thing with my challenger. I installed a new oem Hellcat bottom part of the air box and ran a inlet tube through the radiator support. Because the Hellcat's have a large hole in the center of the inner left headlight that the ait tube connects to.
I run both the upper and lower Hellcat boxes with the headlight duct and bottom scoop on my wifes 1320,lol.The lower scoop isn't worth the money though.This scoop isn't worth buying

 

Zoe Saldana

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2020
Posts
914
Reaction score
764
Location
california
Ram Year
2016
Engine
6.4l
I know these mods have been posted a few times before, but I found a stock looking application to get cool fresh air into the stock air box. I used a left intake duct for a Mercedes GL550 that will fit between the radiator and frame support, and a 3 inch PVC street elbow, plumbing pipe clamp and 6 inches of 3 inch PVC. I also made a bracket that bolts on the air duct to hold it on the frame. After looking at how restrictive the fender air inlet is, I wanted more unrestricted cool air getting into the engine. I have a total of $40.00 in the entire mod, and I can feel the difference when into the throttle. The only thing I had to do is cut two cable ties to move the light wiring harness over an inch and drill a 3-1/4" hole in the bottom of the air box. I also took a 1 inch piece of PVC and cut it to fit inside of the duct outlet for added support for the clamp the glued it in as shown in one of the photos.

Did you close off the original box intake?
 

Hemi395

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2013
Posts
8,965
Reaction score
15,598
Location
Cape Cod MA
Ram Year
2013
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Do you have a PN for that Mercedes duct? I really like how that fits near the grill
 
OP
OP
Ram Night

Ram Night

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2016
Posts
443
Reaction score
203
Location
Southwest, Michigan
Ram Year
2017
Engine
Hemi 5.7

Attachments

  • 20220215_124145.jpg
    20220215_124145.jpg
    86.5 KB · Views: 13
Last edited:

Richard Kim

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2018
Posts
183
Reaction score
260
Location
Houston, Texas
Ram Year
2016
Engine
5.7 hemi
Ram Night,

Any increase intake noise or butt dyno? Just curious. Thinking of doing the same thing.
 

Zoe Saldana

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2020
Posts
914
Reaction score
764
Location
california
Ram Year
2016
Engine
6.4l
No I did not. The stock inlet already gets some air from outside the inner fender, and my mod is a kicker to supply a lot more cold air into the filter box.
You should close it.

There are two things you are trying to do:
1. Get cold air into it.

2. increase the air pressure in the box and thereby get more air into engine.

With the original opening open; you are pushing air in the front and out the original opening.
 
OP
OP
Ram Night

Ram Night

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2016
Posts
443
Reaction score
203
Location
Southwest, Michigan
Ram Year
2017
Engine
Hemi 5.7
You should close it.

There are two things you are trying to do:
1. Get cold air into it.

2. increase the air pressure in the box and thereby get more air into engine.

With the original opening open; you are pushing air in the front and out the original opening.
No sir. A 3 inch inlet is smaller than the throttle body's opening. And the with the restricted oem inlet, this will still pressurize the air box a little.
 

CaliRamDude

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2022
Posts
14
Reaction score
10
Location
San Diego, CA
Ram Year
2017
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I know these mods have been posted a few times before, but I found a stock looking application to get cool fresh air into the stock air box. I used a left intake duct for a Mercedes GL550 that will fit between the radiator and frame support, and a 3 inch PVC street elbow, plumbing pipe clamp and 6 inches of 3 inch PVC. I also made a bracket that bolts on the air duct to hold it on the frame. After looking at how restrictive the fender air inlet is, I wanted more unrestricted cool air getting into the engine. I have a total of $40.00 in the entire mod, and I can feel the difference when into the throttle. The only thing I had to do is cut two cable ties to move the light wiring harness over an inch and drill a 3-1/4" hole in the bottom of the air box. I also took a 1 inch piece of PVC and cut it to fit inside of the duct outlet for added support for the clamp the glued it in as shown in one of the photos.
Hey there! Going to do this mod this weekend. Can’t seem to figure out what I am looking at in the air box itself… did you take the 6” of pvc and make that the entry way into the box? And then the pvc street elbow attaches to that? Also what kind of adhesive did you use? Appreciate the help!
 

CaliRamDude

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2022
Posts
14
Reaction score
10
Location
San Diego, CA
Ram Year
2017
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Hey there! Going to do this mod this weekend. Can’t seem to figure out what I am looking at in the air box itself… did you take the 6” of pvc and make that the entry way into the box? And then the pvc street elbow attaches to that? Also what kind of adhesive did you use? Appreciate the help!
So think he went dark gentleman…. But I’ve purchased all the components and I can say the measurements stated are incorrect. Nor is the Mercedes attachment align with a 3” pipe. Saw another thread about using a clean out cap 4”. Will pursue this route and report back.
 
Top