• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Explorer ST Forum and Explorer ST community dedicated to Explorer ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Explorer ST Forum today!


More goodies: FenFabrication Cold air intake and IC Piping

OP
K
Messages
294
Reactions
226
Points
37
Location
Grosse Pointe, MI, USA
Thread Starter #21
More mock up. I’m not an expert here but think I got this right. As of now he’s doing 4" intake into 2.75" into turbo inlets (merge pipe pic below) then 2.5" from turbo outlets into intercooler then 3" to throttle body.

411E6F78-AB40-4AC9-9880-B38F21657974.gif 21C0BA5C-705A-4927-BDFA-74313D9FC4C5.jpeg
 

OP
K
Messages
294
Reactions
226
Points
37
Location
Grosse Pointe, MI, USA
Thread Starter #22
I'm super interested, my biggest concern is heat soak. There's a reason most intakes aren't solid metal, like back in the day, and are now some sort of composite, because they're better at dealing with heat. I'd like to see IAT on a similar day, with and without CAI...that being said, looks awesome so far.
I know, it would obviously be ideal to have all these comparisons! I asked Brett about your comment above.

His reply: This shouldn't be an issue, this is why you use aluminum for intakes and intercooler pipes. We use aluminum to eliminate any chance of the system rusting, and it's lighter than steel. One down side to plastic is that it absorbs some of the sound energy people like to hear. Whether or not an inlet system is made from aluminum, steel, or plastic, the thermal conductivity of the duct material has little effect on engine power. The rate at which air travels through the inlet path under open throttle, when one is asking the engine for maximum power, negates the effect of material heat soak, regardless of the material.
 

Messages
122
Reactions
94
Points
27
Location
Toronto, ON, Canada
#23
Polish that up it will look fantastic. I think you have it right. The factory charge pipes don’t look great I was thinking to replace everything. I was thinking to do exactly what your doing lol
 

OP
K
Messages
294
Reactions
226
Points
37
Location
Grosse Pointe, MI, USA
Thread Starter #24
Polish that up it will look fantastic. I think you have it right. The factory charge pipes don’t look great I was thinking to replace everything. I was thinking to do exactly what your doing lol
The more the merrier!! We are powdercoating everything a textured black that holds up well.
 

Messages
49
Reactions
15
Points
2
Location
Wylie, TX, USA
#26
I know, it would obviously be ideal to have all these comparisons! I asked Brett about your comment above.

His reply: This shouldn't be an issue, this is why you use aluminum for intakes and intercooler pipes. We use aluminum to eliminate any chance of the system rusting, and it's lighter than steel. One down side to plastic is that it absorbs some of the sound energy people like to hear. Whether or not an inlet system is made from aluminum, steel, or plastic, the thermal conductivity of the duct material has little effect on engine power. The rate at which air travels through the inlet path under open throttle, when one is asking the engine for maximum power, negates the effect of material heat soak, regardless of the material.
Is there any plan to try and use the existing inlet snorkel and having the filter as close to it as possible?
 

OP
K
Messages
294
Reactions
226
Points
37
Location
Grosse Pointe, MI, USA
Thread Starter #27
Is there any plan to try and use the existing inlet snorkel and having the filter as close to it as possible?
This snorkel right? I believe he’s not intending to use that. The cone filter will sit right where that was...right in front of the opening behind the grille. We want the filter as low and close to an opening as possible which is where the snorkel was. That being said he’s still investigating all options to make the best decision so more to come.

C82BC5BD-3DB9-4030-B225-D98AD9EFDE49.jpeg
 

Last edited:
Messages
250
Reactions
123
Points
37
Location
Jacksonville, FL, USA
#28
+1 for the CAi and possibly the full shebang depending on pricing
 

OP
K
Messages
294
Reactions
226
Points
37
Location
Grosse Pointe, MI, USA
Thread Starter #29
Is there any plan to try and use the existing inlet snorkel and having the filter as close to it as possible?
Looking through grill, inlet to snorkel...

4769DCBE-2357-40F5-8DE6-62A00E9C5E44.jpeg

View of snorkel inside...

003F2B30-F4C8-4C3D-A0E1-3C1EB28398AA.jpeg

Snorkel removed...

33E30902-B5DA-4F5A-8AB9-839B10008642.jpeg

You can see the fitment problem. Retaining the snorkel would put the filter closer to hot engine bay air. We think it’s better to put the filter right in front of the opening getting the most fresh/cool air possible.
 

OP
K
Messages
294
Reactions
226
Points
37
Location
Grosse Pointe, MI, USA
Thread Starter #30
Mock up continues. Merging to the 4” intake heading down to the fresh air

30BF5F49-E06C-4064-9CAD-300D4D12356F.jpeg AEEDA679-546D-4B5C-914D-3C78561F239E.jpeg 9736EFEB-C535-4E86-938C-29822DE3EE41.jpeg 278B4940-7CAB-47C6-ADB0-5613E46AC200.jpeg
 

Last edited:
OP
K
Messages
294
Reactions
226
Points
37
Location
Grosse Pointe, MI, USA
Thread Starter #31
Coming along

4F2A1A99-D2A2-4DAC-A9A6-C93D050DDE35.jpeg A1987B00-5467-4451-84FB-F5E375D34C58.jpeg 397D9394-CB35-40D7-A07E-7A284FAFDAA0.jpeg 025EA238-B620-4338-BEBD-A65B46D98A11.jpeg
 

Last edited:

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,592
Reactions
5,368
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#32
Everything is so damn convoluted on these things. I don’t know how you even build a jig to do these production line style.
 

Messages
49
Reactions
15
Points
2
Location
Wylie, TX, USA
#33
Everything is so damn convoluted on these things. I don’t know how you even build a jig to do these production line style.
To be fair, for a longitudinally mounted V6 with twin turbos, doesnt seem that bad, how would you pipe it much differently?
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,592
Reactions
5,368
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#34
To be fair, for a longitudinally mounted V6 with twin turbos, doesnt seem that bad, how would you pipe it much differently?
I’m talking about the oem design. Easy to build replacement parts with a car to test fit each piece. Pain in the ass to build production line jigs to get kits out the door AND make sure they fit.
 

Sch0227

Member
U.S. Army Veteran
Messages
78
Reactions
34
Points
17
Location
Dallas, TX, USA
#36
Design 2 definitely wins aesthetically
 

OP
K
Messages
294
Reactions
226
Points
37
Location
Grosse Pointe, MI, USA
Thread Starter #37
Design 2 definitely wins aesthetically
Agree! Which will matter when I open the hood almost never but at least I'll know it's prettier under there :)
 

Messages
194
Reactions
79
Points
27
Location
San Rafael, CA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#38
I'm just shocked (no pun intended) that you don't have the Redline hood struts yet! :D

In all seriousness....looks good....this place does great fab work.
 

OP
K
Messages
294
Reactions
226
Points
37
Location
Grosse Pointe, MI, USA
Thread Starter #39
I'm just shocked (no pun intended) that you don't have the Redline hood struts yet! :D

In all seriousness....looks good....this place does great fab work.
Lol I swear I was just thinking about that last night and forgot until I just read this. I need to get that ASAP.
 

F=MA

Active Member
Messages
947
Reactions
625
Points
232
Location
Wichita, KS, USA
#40
Can't wait for you to take it back to the dealer for some "under the hood" servicing. They will think the ST has a central vac system installed !:ROFLMAO:
 



Top