I borrowed my friend's Dremel this week with the intention of doing the FRA mod this weekend, but I've been searching the forum here and some people object to this mod.

Before I cut my plastic, some of you please shed some light on whether or not I should do this. I have no problem changing my filter early, I do it every other month anyway. Thanks.

 

I did it and I have no complaints.

The only negative is what you already stated; the filter just gets a lot dirtier, a lot quicker. <--- That just tells me that it works.

 

There are No cons only Gains !!!!

 

I live in Florida, and it rains everyday during the summer. Plus I live near flood areas. Which means I sometimes drive through large puddles (read lakes!!!!)

This is the only concern. I have had this mod for 9 or 10 months, and have never hydro locked the engine, however I do know of someone that did.

So if flooding or rain isn't a concern, then hell. Go for it!!!!! Just drive slowly through water if you can.

 

How's does removing that plastic make you more prone to hydrolocking the engine?

Does water get sucked into the intake slit when it rains?

Please elaborate a little more for me, I'm not sure I follow what you're saying.

 

no problems what so ever in the rain.

It's puddles. Deep puddles.

Once you remove that plastic piece, you have a straight shot into your enigne, which is exactly what you want.

The hidden factor (and the problem) is actually the air dam under the car. If you go into a puddle that is deep enough to allow water to hit the air dam, there is a possibility of water being forced straight into the engine.

Let's see... I know I'm not explaining this right...

puddle - water hits air dam at above 10 miles per hour or so - the air dam forces the water straight up towards radiator - if your going fast enough the water hits that area you just cut away (underneath the air box, if you did the FRA mod correctly, then you basically cut the bottom of the air box as well) then the water enters the air lid, and the force of the engine pulls the water into the engine.

I hope that explains a little better.

Honestly as long as you watch out for puddles, you have nothing to worry about.

Sorry if I didn't explain it right.

 

I live in Florida and I did it. just go slow over puddles. I do anyway because of the nittos.

 

Had the mod on my 98, 99, and now on the 02. Never any problems.

 

I know of a person that hydrolocked their 99 Firehawk, too. But from what I hear he was moving pretty fast through a very deep puddle and had the SSRA (Super Sucker Ram Air) installed - with the block-off strip for real "ram-air" effect. It worked. It rammed the puddle right through the K&N and into the intake.

I've never had a problem with mine except for debris getting stuck in the filter and in front of the radiator core itself. This usually happens if I drive through tall grass. Otherwise no problem.

 

Ok, I see, thanks for clearing that up guys.

I always avoid deep puddles.

So I guess the only way I can get water in my intake is by going fast through a puddle, having water shoot up through the bottom of my car and risk having the engine suck it in through the intake slit.

 

drive through tall grass? you take your camaro off roading.

lol, just curious as to why you would drive it through tall grass.

 

So the SSRA will suck up water from a puddle as well? I mean i try to avoid puddles but sometimes u cant ya know. I have hit many a large puddle. Its newengland here after all.

 

I did, no problems. I own a 2001 SS. Go ahead and cut out the middle bridge too.

There's no cons at all............. But you will feel "guilty" while your cutting up your new Blackwing. Grab a beer to calm your nerves.

 

The truth is that the gains from it are so small that it is possible to argue if they even exist. If there are any gains it wouldn't be until freeway speeds and you'd have to have the stock inlet sealed off. The mod is not worth how dirty the air filter gets. A dirty air filter will end up costing you more then the arguable hp gains. Yes, you can get a reusable filter and charge it.

Basically if its worth the hassle of recharging your air filter every oil change for a arguable hp gain; then this is the mod for you.

 

I cut about all the plastic possible out of mine, and my filter dosent even get that dirty. I have a rechargeable K&N, and i just take it out and knock it off everynow and then and it hasent been abnormally dirty. Then again, i dont really take it down dirt roads or anything either if i can help it, the terrain in which you drive also plays a role in how dirty the filter gets more then removeing the plastic baffles does.