91TPU

ok so i recently installed a K&N FIPK, i know many hate many love it, but thats beyond the point.

now comes to my question, we do a lot of offroading in mudd and water, and obvioulsy an open filter would not be good for this. thus i was thinking of fabbing up an aluminum box that would still let air in and probablly some water, but not a whole splash of water.

now we dont go river crossing with my truck, but we tend to drive thru 1-1.5 foot deep puddles which splashes water everywhere, and i dont want a hydrolocked motor.

any ideas?

91TPU

sorry, my wireless jumped in and out, and i posted this thread twice, mods please delete, sorry for the inconvience

CJM

The box would have to be watertight. I think a plexyglass box would be lighter than alum and be better sealed. No telling how you would really attach it unles sit was a clamshell design and had mounting points through it that a bolt would go into.

91TPU

i have a decent amount of room around the filter, but i dont wanna make it airtight cuz i still want it to breathe, it will never be submersed in water, fully or at all, im just worried about the occasional splash of muddy water onto an open filter.

didnt think about plex, but i like that idea, much easier to work with too. and seal up

91TPU

bump for a good idea

04 Rocko Taco

Do a plexiglass box, all solid, and once its built, decide on which side is LEAST likely to take the BIG SPLASH, and cut you some louvers in it. say 4 or 5, 1/4"X4" or so depending on the length of your box on that side, that would breathe nice. Short of cutting louvers, you could just drill holes also...that would be easier. Let us know how it goes, I might even have to try this for my rig...

EDIT: Here ya go....

Just a little design idea...
You could do all your louvers on one side, or just around the top of all your sides, or drill holes on whatever side, either way, I do think its a pretty slick idea...Sorry for the bad "plans" but I only had a minute with Paint. lol.

91TPU

my thoughts are a plexiglass box, cut in half, with some sort of gasket, weatherstripping etc, on the inside to prevent leaking in, it will latch and stay closed. then on the fender side i was gonna drill three holes, and fit in the small breather filters, then on the bottom drill small holes to drain water if any gets in.

04 Rocko Taco

Check my EDIT. - I think more small holes would be better than less big holes, I know a bigger hole will flow more than two smaller holes, but I think it will get plenty of air through many small holes, but not as much water perhaps.

91TPU

exactly what i was thinking, im gonna work on it this week, ill post pics when im done with it. im also gonna mount brackets on the bottom, and make the top removable so i can leave the bottom on at almost all the time

04 Rocko Taco

Sounds good, but may want to consider a drain hole in the bottom half so you dont just fill it up with mud and water at time when the top is off.
EDIT: re-read your post, looks like you've got the drain holes covered.

Elton

i had one on my 22re and i wheeled it every day and i hit water about 1 foot deep doin about 20mph and water and stuff never had any problems

04 Rocko Taco

Elton, I knew you would turn up over here...I dont know how, but I knew it!

91TPU

i dont think i would have any problems, i just dont wanna wind up with one. i cant afford to pay for a new motor, nor can i afford to not have a vehicle. also isnt the 22re have a lil more protection then the 3vze, mine sits right behind the drivers side light, and water seems to get driven straight up and into it when i go thru water.

Elton

its in the same spot

95RunnerSR5

i took mine off my 3vze cause it was always dripping water..even a 5" deep puddle on the road at 15mph would seem to find its wat there...

91TPU

this was another worry of mine, but its been raining for days here and i have been checking it, never once does it seem to be wet, a little damp, but nothing out of the ordinary.

anyone every heard anything about a hydroguard that slips over the filter, someone mentioned that to me today, i guess it would consist of a waterproof neoprene material that breathes but does not let water in, any ideas? ive never heard nor seen it before, i know of water bypass valves, but nothing of this sort of thing

04 Rocko Taco

something that lets air through, but not water?? I've never seen it. Hehm...I dunno, but I bet it would be exspensive, and the box is just such a cool idea, anyway. lol.

91TPU

agreed i think the plexy would look pretty neat under the hood

04 Rocko Taco

I'm stoked about this box...

Rockdustfab

www.outerwears.com makes guards that slip on over the filter, you would probably have to call to get the correct one though. I know one for a huge filter I have on my 99 F-250 is only about $30, so they are not too pricey