I recently installed a ghetto (I cannot emphasize that enough...) huge (4") intake duct on my 9#, I/C 1.7L-equipped GT that replaced the OE ducting from the MAF to the throttle body. I use a 3.5" to 4" 45-degree elbow from the MAF to this fiberglass duct and at the throttle body, a 90-degree elbow to turn to the throttle body.
On paper this is a far less restrictive intake than using the original Ford corrugated rubber duct.
One thing I've noticed once or twice though is the distinct smell of rubber in the cabin after a few moments of heavy throttle. LOL...it's not tire smoke I'm smelling. If you've ever used a vacuum with a "power head" you might have smelled the rubber drive belt getting quite hot if it slips in heavy pile. That's the sort of smell I'm picking up once in a while. Not really hot enough to "burn rubber" but hot enough to smell nonetheless.
I'm getting the impression the 6-rib belt is slipping, perhaps as a result of the compressor requiring more torque due to it ingesting more air. The car feels faster to me though I lack a boost gauge at the moment to know how much, if any, the boost may have risen.
If this is true, well, cool! It means the intake actually works. The downside is I don't want to break or throw the belt because of slip. Here's my current idler set-up:
There is some room for moving the passenger side idler up a notch but I wanted to see what others had done with theirs before making any changes.
On paper this is a far less restrictive intake than using the original Ford corrugated rubber duct.
One thing I've noticed once or twice though is the distinct smell of rubber in the cabin after a few moments of heavy throttle. LOL...it's not tire smoke I'm smelling. If you've ever used a vacuum with a "power head" you might have smelled the rubber drive belt getting quite hot if it slips in heavy pile. That's the sort of smell I'm picking up once in a while. Not really hot enough to "burn rubber" but hot enough to smell nonetheless.
I'm getting the impression the 6-rib belt is slipping, perhaps as a result of the compressor requiring more torque due to it ingesting more air. The car feels faster to me though I lack a boost gauge at the moment to know how much, if any, the boost may have risen.
If this is true, well, cool! It means the intake actually works. The downside is I don't want to break or throw the belt because of slip. Here's my current idler set-up:
There is some room for moving the passenger side idler up a notch but I wanted to see what others had done with theirs before making any changes.