Which Intake for my Legacy Outback?

[Al_Smokemcrack]

I've been toying with the idea of getting a better intake for my '97 Outback for quite some time now. My dad got himself an intake yesterday for his '04 Pontiac Grand Prix GT and the results were impressive. Needless to say, this has pushed me a little harder toward getting that intake. The problem is, I've been having some difficulty locating intakes that will fit it. Thus far, I'm operating on these assumptions:

• Since I have the 2.5L, my car is essentially the same as the GT, as far as the powertrain goes. Everything in the engine compartment is the same as in my friend's '98, as far as I can tell.
• Since the Legacy got the Phase I EJ25 from '97 to '00, I should be able to use any intake for an EJ25 during that period.
• Every picture of the RS's engine bay I've seen makes me think that there's something very different about its intake. I'm guessing the Phase II engines have a different intake and that intakes meant for these will not work for a Phase I.

I haven't looked terribly hard, but I have only found one so far, a WeaponR Hyper Intake Kit that Rallitek sells (linky). In all honesty, I'd really prefer an intake that utilizes the stock airbox or even replaces it with a better-ish one. I'm not above a short-ram CAI, but I'd prefer something else. It'd rock even more if I could keep using my existing K&N panel filter. I was hoping that K&N makes an intake for this application (Tornado or Aircharger or whatever they call them), but they don't seem to.

I may even make myself something to replace the bellows section with the silencers. I'm not sure, though, what I'm going to do about that giagantic box-chamber thing right before the entrance to the intake manifold (what is that thing for, anyway, besides causing a huge pressure drop and tons of turbulence?).

I was just interested in what you guys have purchased and how you like it.

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[Outback STI]

Try Boxer4racing com
they have a real nice Injen CAI...

I can understand about not wanting to replace the K&N because I have one too...but as soon as I have a couple bucks and a few more suspension mods that I want to do first that will be the intake for me...

[Charlie-III]

Al, most aftermarket intakes include a filter of some sort, they replace all parts from the front opening to the throttle body.

The later intakes are for MAP engines which has a sensor near the throttle body and don't allow for the MAF housing.

Do the "snorkus mod" and be happy. Anything else may mess with the MAF readings.

[Al_Smokemcrack]

Snorkus mod, eh?

<hits the search button>

[Patrick Olsen]

I have the Injen intake on my car. You want the one that's made for the '98 2.5RS, since that was a DOHC/MAF car like ours. (And for what it's worth, the Phase I only went to '99, not '00). The intake fits perfectly, allowed me to pick up some power (dyno proven, unfortunately I don't have the graphs to show it), and from what I can tell causes no loss in the lower end. The Injen setup puts the intake into the fender well, as opposed to the various short ram intakes that are sucking hot air from the engine bay.

Pat Olsen
'97 Legacy 2.5GT sedan

[Charlie-III]

Al, you've been here this long and never heard of the Snorkus mod???????????

As to getting a CAI, there are a few, but some have been known to screwup the MAF readings. The COBB CAI is one that does not create problems (at least, I never heard of any) and from Pat's comment I guess the Injen is OK as well.

[Al_Smokemcrack]

Originally Posted by Patrick Olsen

I have the Injen intake on my car. You want the one that's made for the '98 2.5RS, since that was a DOHC/MAF car like ours. (And for what it's worth, the Phase I only went to '99, not '00). The intake fits perfectly, allowed me to pick up some power (dyno proven, unfortunately I don't have the graphs to show it), and from what I can tell causes no loss in the lower end. The Injen setup puts the intake into the fender well, as opposed to the various short ram intakes that are sucking hot air from the engine bay.

Pat Olsen
'97 Legacy 2.5GT sedan

I noticed yesterday that Boxer4Racing sells those Injen intakes. I'll toss them an email about them. They look really nice. Where does the filter go on that guy, though? Is it up inside the fender or is it one of those inline jobs that go in a cannister?

Incidentally, I'm like 90% sure the Phase I DOHC EJ25 went to '00 in the Legacy. I'll have to check my source, which is on another computer downstairs and not handy at the moment (a Subaru Tech's Boxer Engine Module which I'll of course make available), but I'm pretty sure they ran the Phase I in the Legacy from '96 to '00 and the Phase II in the RS from '98 up until they released the Phase III ('04?).

Originally Posted by Charlie-III

Al, you've been here this long and never heard of the Snorkus mod???????????

As to getting a CAI, there are a few, but some have been known to screwup the MAF readings. The COBB CAI is one that does not create problems (at least, I never heard of any) and from Pat's comment I guess the Injen is OK as well.

I've heard of it, but only briefly; nothing specific enough for it to even pop into my head as an alternative. Even we Specialists learn new things here quite often. Hell, even the Gurus learn alot.

[Charlie-III]

Just ribbing you a bit Al, nothing serious.

[spdracr00]

if you do some searching you'll find tons of info on intakes, You'll also find that a CAI (cold air intake) doesnt really help our NA cars much, better for a turbo. a short ram will give better results. I'm waiting to pick up a weapon R short ram for my 99LOB till i move into open class in rallycross next season. bernie from rallitek runs a shortram on his 2.5 impreza with a cold box and he likes it a lot.

[Al_Smokemcrack]

Originally Posted by Charlie-III

Just ribbing you a bit Al, nothing serious.

I know, but I like to be sure about my statistics. I'm still going to check and make my source available. It's an interesting piece of bathroom reading at the very least.

[Charlie-III]

spdracr00: short rams pull in hot engine compartment air, the exact thing we are trying to avoid.

I believe yours is a MAP engine as well, quite a bit different needs compared to the MAF engines.

Us MAF guys have to be very careful on what we install in the intake tract so we don't mess with the airflow through the MAF itself.

But, a MAF engine gets more out of engine/intake/exhaust mods than a MAP engine does.

[Al_Smokemcrack]

Agreed on all counts, Charlie-III, at least from the engine configuration/flow dynamics stuff, as I understand it. But get this...AT models of the Legacy, at least the MAF models, have a MAF and a MAP. How's that to break your brain?

Anyhoo, apparently, the tranny uses the MAP for something; it's not used to calculate fuel trim.

[Huffer]

Do a google search on DIYMS (DIY Mod Squad) and you'll find my buddies in NZ with home made intakes for much less money. A bit of time, but more power and more factory looks than an aftermarket.

[Charlie-III]

Can I go home now?, my brain is full.

hehe

[Al_Smokemcrack]

Huffer: I'll do that...after I get home from work.

Charlie-III: I just looked at that document. It seems my statistics didn't come from there. I'm not sure where I got them now. I'm still 90% sure they're right, but it's bugging me that I don't have a source to cite.

[spdracr00]

Thats why you need the "cold box" sucks air though the fender, i get too muddy and dirty to run a CAI. It would end up bad for my motor, i have a hard enough time keeping the mud and grass outa my engine bay.

[AFBeefcake]

I was helping another member when I found this.

http://cheaphondaparts.com/shop/Prod...roduct_ID=2212

It is a OBX cold air intake for MAF Subaru's. and is only $120.00

One of my buddies got this same intake off ebay for $100.00 and I installed it on his 1998 2.5 GT legacy and it was a great fit. It is a copy of the Injen CAI.

Just thought I would share this alliterative to the $250.00 Injen CAI.

Here is the intake installed in his car.


Due to a WRX swap 75% done. This intake is now on my 1.8 Impreza and works great.

[Al_Smokemcrack]

Hmm...I'm not above knockoff intakes. I was thinking about fabricating my own. I'll take a look at that one and consider what it's worth to me.

You guys are being a great help, btw. I just thought you'd like to know.

[Patrick Olsen]

That "knock-off" one does look just like my Injen. The only thing I would be wary of is that some of the difference in price is probably due to a cheaper air filter.

Speaking of air filters, the Injen setup puts the filter inside the fender well, forward of the front wheel. If you remove the passenger side foglight and look in, you can see the filter - it probably ends up a 3 or 4 inches above the foglight opening.

As for Weapon R vs. Injen, on the dyno I saw ZERO gain with the Weapon R on my car. I picked up 7.5hp or so with the Injen. That's proof enough for me.

Pat

[Kraziken]

I have the Rallitek GP Moto intake. The butt dyno feels like there is more power, but I'm not positive.

It definately feels like the motor breathes better at higher RPM. Some low RPM range torque is lost however. At a complete stop, if I just romp on the gas, without revving a little, there's a pretty big hesitation.

The car definately sounds different, at WOT it is pretty ferocious.

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/att...achmentid=1028

[mranlet]

Originally Posted by Al_Smokemcrack

I'm not sure, though, what I'm going to do about that giagantic box-chamber thing right before the entrance to the intake manifold (what is that thing for, anyway, besides causing a huge pressure drop and tons of turbulence?).

It also allows Subaru to have a nice big place to put a logo, and to distribute vac to the other 2 hoses (PVC and Brake booster, IIRC) that aren't attached right behind the MAF.

I'm not a fan of CAI's since I live in an area that is notorious for flooding and hurricanes. I'd much rather have a short ram and build myself a intake box, since the OEM box is pretty small. If you use the OEM box and retain your K&N, I'd imagine that pretty much any short ram intake would work witha little modification to mate up to the MAF. All of that would be pointless without piping more air in to the OEM box (since the snorkel is less than the size of the intake piping). Here is a link to getting more fresh air in there (the document is for a BC Legacy, but will work on the BG/BD models as well:
http://www.legacycentral.org/library...e/rod/af/1.htm

[Huffer]

The link right above is exactly what my DIYMS buddies have done. They used Nissan bellmouths on the stock airbox, replaced the snorkel in the fender with the plastic piping. Much more direct flow of air, without needing to worry about changing the filters. They stuck with A'Pexi dry panel filters, had immediate gains.

[Al_Smokemcrack]

Interesting.

[RallyLegacy]

Will the Injen CAI for the MAF 2.5RS's fit the EJ22 as well?

[Huffer]

If you have a MAF, it'll work.