Well it didn't take long. The first mod to the EL engine has happened.

Advice from mates indicated that there is some worthwhile gains to be made by removing the restrictive exit from the EL airbox. I don't know what Ford was thinking but it appears there is quite a backwards step in airflow from the EF to the EL.

This is the EL exit pipe



And this is the EF exit pipe - quite a bit larger



And on the inside, there is quite a substantial difference in the design.

EL - internal



EF - internal



The trumpet design according to flow tests by Autospeed magazine flows around 18% better.

So to get the air from the new larger opening I went to Supercheap and purchased a 300mm length of 76mm ID Aluminium Pipe. I cut the end off at around 30 degrees and installed it.

Original EL Intake



Modified EL/EF Intake





Looks pretty darn good I think. One other mod I had to make was to add two spacers under the plastic cross piece over the BBM manifold to lift it all up around 6mm. This is because the bottom of the new pipe was just touching the top of one of the suspension bolts. I have also cut some extra holes on the passenger side of the lower airbox to improve airflow into the box.

Now the big question. Does it make a difference?

Yes. Especially at part throttle in the mid range. There is a really noticeable improvement. In standard form, the car sometimes felt like it had a flat spot or hesitant under normal/light accelleration. If I gave it some more throttle, zoom, away it went. With this feeling has gone away. And with the stronger mid range now traction in the wet is an issue. I must get my LSD fixed

Cheers to all

BenJ

Looks great mate, I also have this sort of thing to look forward to in the next few months or so but I am going from EF to EF-L engine swap so I hope that should be straight forward but we all no how it go's, something will pop up. Hows the power difference??

The power difference from an old but still strong EB to a healthy EL is quite surprising. The real difference is in the delivery due to the BBM.

Just do all the research you can. Do as much pre swap stuff as you can, and accumulate all the extra things you need.

Good luck

BenJ

I think I might do this, already have the EF airbox and piping here, however I'm not sure if I should get some corners etc and replicate the EL style or what... simply because I don't want to pay $30 for some plastic from the wreckers only to have to get some pipe anyway that mates the airbox to the rest of the pipe.

What setup are you running and which inlet manifold?

BenJ

EF setup, bbm, EB Falcon

looking realy good there ben!

i got a alloy pipe to do the same thing
but unfotunatly as i have koni adjustable shocks the adjuster sticks up about 20mm and the damn pipe hits so without bends it doesnt work to well for me....

fit a BA intake and will clear the shock bolts......

Last edited by FordFairmont on Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Thanks TROYMAN. Bugger re the Konis. What about a BA setup? That would have a pipe feeding straight into the airbox, missing the top of the strut tower alltogether. LOL See above pic.

@ knowsfords As far as I understand it, if you have the complete EF setup, then stick with that. It apparently flows very well. The only other options is to get a full 3" pipe made up to go from the airbox to the throttle body.

BenJ

yea i know but i dont like the look of the ba one it looks like it has a big sausage attached to the side of it .
i know it there for a reason but i just dont like it ...

i have cut the restricive end off the plastic one and added a flex hose with a 60 deg bend into the airbox with a pod attached..

but i do like the look of the polished metal pipe...

 

 

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Hmmmmm, that looks good.

The AU pipe from the flexi bend over the manifold to the throttle body looks like a better arrangement than the EL multi pipe one. And it should be a bolt in replacement.

What do you think TroyMan?

And I would like to look at your Pod setup too next time.

BenJ

bit of fact for you guys seeing indirectly you helped me put the au2 in my nc, anyhow had to get a new dip stick when i fitted the blower , el was direct replacement for the ed , small mod to fit log manifold , changed engine but didnt change the stick , the au2 stick is shorter , full mark higher than the el etc. , outer tube into block is the same

thats what i did after i realised the pipe wasnt going to fit to good..
and the au pipe from the throttle body to the flex pipe is a direct fit the mounting points on the el manifold.. im using a el manifold so the au one will fit straight on.
i guess it does the job but it just doesnt look as good as the polished set up..
but it is a super easy mod to cut the au one back and fit the flex hose to the front and join it to the box.
ive also got the ef multi pipe one but it takes up to much engine bay space and makes the 4ltr look like its wearing a hat

ben next time we meet up ill show how pod is set up

Has anyone ever fitted a pod filter directly to the BBM inlet manifold?

me thinks . . .

Positives:
less air restriction
simplicity
much less stuff cluttering engine bay, better access to other parts
less chance of getting water in

Negatives:
sucking hot air
may not be enough room
induction noise
paper filters are better than cotton

I have seen one done. It was on an EF? I think, and he had a 45 degree bend from the throttle body so the pod faced forward along the rocker cover. Then on the bonnet he had the top of a hornet bonnet scoop mounted as a cold air intake. The pod sat half in the scoop when closed.

On another car, an AU, a guy is building a shaker type scoop with a traditional chrome round air cleaner, that is mounted to the throttel body, and will allow the scoop to 'shake'.

I also believe there are 'legal' questions regarding both of these ideas.

BenJ