K&N Apollo Intake - My Install

[hyundaiLKsunday]

This past weekend I jumped onto the K&N Apollo bandwagon. I actually purchased this a few months ago, and had been indecisive about how I was going to install it. I opted to go with an aluminum elbow setup, replacing the stock platic tubing. Since I'm working from scratch, I purchased a 2.75" 45-degree mandrel bent (http://www.verociousmotorsports.com/Shop-by-Category/Aluminum-Mandrel-Bends/45-Degree-6061-Polished-Aluminum-Mandrel-Bends) aluminum intake tube from Verocious Motorsports (http://www.verociousmotorsports.com), which was the best deal I could find on this kind of tube. I'm going to have to trim most of the tube off on both ends, but I couldn't find any smaller aluminum elbows at a decent price.

The best deal I could find anywhere for silicone couplers and t-bolt clamps was siliconestop.com (http://siliconestop.com/) although I found out later that this was the website for the ebay storefront I purchased them from. The upside is that, not only were these couplers cheaper than anywhere else, but they are 4-ply silicone instead of the usual 3-ply. I ordered three 2.75" couplers and six 3.12" clamps. I did run into a problem though...1 of the couplers they sent was larger than the others. The consequence of that is that I couldn't install the intake using the tube I had purchased. I ended up just using the stock pipe. I'll post an update once I get the correct size coupler and finish the install the way I intended.

So without further adeu...a few pics:
http://www.wasteofbandwidth.net/gallery2/d/213-1/intake.jpg
Air Filter

http://www.wasteofbandwidth.net/gallery2/d/222-1/intake-inlet.jpg
Air Inlet from the bumper

There are more pics of the install here: Air Intake Install (http://www.wasteofbandwidth.net/gallery2/v/air_intake/)

First Impressions:
I'm definitely no expert, so I can only use my butt dyno. This makes a huge difference in the engine response from stock, and really "smooths" out the entire power band. The added torque is especially nice upshifting into second, and providing a little bit more response in the upper end for passing power. I also notice the engine handles the 1k-2k RPM range a lot better when in 2nd or 3rd gear, not "chugging" quite as much in stop & go traffic when downshifting. As for the sound...I didn't really buy it for that, but it sounds nice enough to my ear. Gas mileage...I haven't noticed a difference yet. The trip to my parents house (where I do most of the work on the car) is an 80 mile trip, 65 mph for a 3/4 of the trip. I got pretty much the same mileage on the trip down with the stock airbox as I did on the way back with the Apollo.

All in all, I'm happy with the purchase. I just need to get the new coupler, trim the tube, and get it installed the way I intended.

[cbogg]

lookin good already. I like the style of the apollo, it'll def look real custom when you're done. you'll have to let us know how it sounds with the aluminum pipe installed. alot of the sri or cai setups make a humming or whistling noise at idle and above. I'd like to know if the cover helps that.

[RotaMan99]

So its rare for me to say but.

Good Job!

I like the Apollo Intake my self.

[SuperGLS]

Looks good. The opening is in a perfect location.

Question... isn't the part that has the K&N logo bad for air flow? Does it open up like that on the inside, wouldn't that cause the air to "open up" before going further? Or on the inside does the pipe stay the same?

[2003GT]

Nice So that would be Considered Ram Air right because its a sealed System. I kinda like the looks. Cybogg you dont like the humming sound. It sounds so cool. BOB

[kylemorg]

I like it. The only thing I'd suggest would be to put some mesh or screen over the tube just inside the bumper skin to keep larger stuff like leaves from getting sucked all the way up to the filter.

[moonlite5hadow]

i just wanna see what ppl say about the sound

[hyundaiLKsunday]

SuperGLS - not sure. I guess I'll leave that up to the design guys at K&N :) I'd sure hope they ran it through it's paces. Here's a picture of the opening to the filter:

http://www.wasteofbandwidth.net/gallery2/d/225-1/intake-filter.jpg

2003GT - Personally, I think it looks pretty cool. That didn't hurt in my decision.

kylemog - I had that thought myself. I kind of worried about bugs and such getting sucked in too, but there's not much I can do about that besides hope the filter does what it's supposed to. I do have some mesh from when I attempted to mesh the air dam...I might use some of that.

moonlite5hadow - I wish I could give a good answer on this. But this is the only intake mod I've ever done on this car, or any car, so I don't really have anything to compare it to. It does have a nice sound around 4k though. I don't have any exhaust mods.

[hyundaiLKsunday]

The Apollo proved it's versatility yesterday. As some of you may or may not know, Wisconsin got pounded with some major storms including some tornados. I drove from Eau Claire to La Crosse (80 miles, 1 hr 45 mins) through some pretty torrential rains. When I got to La Crosse, I hit some pretty deep flooded sections of street too. Before I started the trip, I disconnected the tube and drove in "SRI mode".

Based on this experience, I'd have to CAI mode is far superior to SRI mode. I lost quite a bit of power in SRI mode, especially climing hills, which I've never had problems with. Even with the throttle wide open and roaring, I was losing the battle with the hill. Passing power was pretty diminished too. That being said it's still better than stock, I'm happy to have the capability to switch it when needed. I'll definitely be sticking with CAI mode whenever possible.

[kylemorg]

^ Very clever. Better to run with a little less torque (due to having no backpressure on the intake) than risk sucking up water.

[2003GT]

I ran A CAI set up yesterday and i think your right. You do have a little more power. The pipe also stays cooler so the air doesn't get as hot. You get that other pipe form the intake in yet.

[hyundaiLKsunday]

I've had the pipe...just waiting on the replacement coupler, which as of yesterday is on it's way :D

[SilverElantra]

intake looks good and from what you have said performs well too. keep it simple, i love your car.

[RotaMan99]

Better to run with a little less torque (due to having no backpressure on the intake) than risk sucking up water.

There is no "backpressure" in an intake system. Restriction is the word your looking for or even "less pressure drops".

Back pressure is usually described as restriction in outgoing pressures such as exhaust.

[kylemorg]

OK -- restriction then, or vacuum, or lower than ambient pressure, or whatever you want to call it.

[Jonny666]

Just for an FYI you'll want to put a velocity stack on the end of that tubing by the bumper... im sure you could whipp something up with some fiberglass or something... a strait hole like that actually tends to have pretty bad flow. most of the systems that have the filter on the end of the tubing integrate a velocity stack into the filter assembly to avoild this problem.
just my humble opinion tho.

[hyundaiLKsunday]

Pardon my ignorance...velocity stack? And what "problem" are you referring to?

[RotaMan99]

OK -- restriction then, or vacuum, or lower than ambient pressure, or whatever you want to call it.

LOL.

Ambiant pressure will always be higher than the intake pressure no matter what you do. So you can't have "ambiant pressure" in an intake system that is pulling air. Lowering the restriction will lower the vaccum(negitive pressure) but won't get rid of it.

Pardon my ignorance...velocity stack? And what "problem" are you referring to?

Its a cone built or installed on the beginning of the intake tract to help force more air into the intake by speeding up the velocity of flow at the mouth of the intake.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velocity_stack

You can buy some plastic megaphones as well to add to the mouth of the intake.

there really is no "problem" just that it could function better with a cone on the end to to speed of the velocity of flow to force more air into the intake.

[hyundaiLKsunday]

I finished up the install yesterday with the help of my dad. Quite honestly, it didn't really turn out how I planned. The 45 angle presented a lot of problems. I wished I'd had the same angle that toecutter has, but I couldn't find a tube like it without buying an entire intake. So I just had to make due. I trimmed 4" and 5" off either side of the tube. I wanted to put the clamps screw side down, for a nicer appearance, but as you can see, I didn't have the clearance.

http://www.wasteofbandwidth.net/gallery2/d/231-1/intake061408.jpg

http://www.wasteofbandwidth.net/gallery2/d/234-1/intake-clearance.jpg

The intake is a lot more solid though with the couplers and tubing, and it doesn't hit the reservoir due to engine movement. The tube is difficult to disconnect due to the proximity to the battery and fuse box, but it can be done. There is also a low-pitched hum when the engine is turned on. It's an "interesting" sound...I don't mind it since I can't hear it in the cabin anyway.

And for your listening pleasure...a few videos. They're not the greatest (taken with a Sony digital camera), but you'll get the idea:
Engine Start-Stop (http://www.wasteofbandwidth.net/public/forum/start_stop.mpg)
Engine Start-Rev-Stop (http://www.wasteofbandwidth.net/public/forum/start_stop_rev.mpg)
Intake "sucking" (http://www.wasteofbandwidth.net/public/forum/start_stop_intake.mpg)

And regarding the velocity stack...there already is one:
http://www.wasteofbandwidth.net/gallery2/d/219-1/intake-tube.jpg

[footprintsincon]

wow! it is nicely done! your post is wanting me do the same to my car. looking real great. the sound isnt bad, it is interesting, as you described it.

if you could tell us what part numbers you order for the part (angle, length and what ever else is important) and the k&n part number and where and what size flex pipe that you got, it would be real helpful for those of us who are a novoice to mods.

[moonlite5hadow]

intake comes with flex pipe. if you have a pep boys or something similar you can get piping in various shapes/sizes.

sounds nice. quiter than my accord CAI... definitely going to consider... i actually like a scuba/vader-like sucking sound mine has at idle.

[i8acobra]

For the metal pipe, I used a 3" diameter U-bend. I used 3" 'cause it's the same size as my AEM. You can cut it at whatever angle you want. Mine's about 60 degrees...

http://www.injecttech.com/i8acobra/hyundai/intake3.JPG

http://www.injecttech.com/i8acobra/hyundai/intake1.JPG

Try this...

http://www.verociousmotorsports.com/Shop-by-Category/Aluminum-Mandrel-Bends/90-Degree-6061-Polished-Aluminum-Mandrel-Bends?whence=

Cut it at about 60 degrees.

[2003GT]

Nice sound Its cool sounding. I would suggest putting a screen on it though to keep rodents and leaves out.

[Silentwolf]

There's a filter so rodents can't go very far.

Got mine installed but still got a few tweaks to make before i'm happy.

[turbo-60]

Where can I get one?

[KeWLKaT]

There's a filter so rodents can't go very far.

Got mine installed but still got a few tweaks to make before i'm happy.

Yeah but I don't think you'd like rodents chewing on your 80$ replacement filter.

Trust me, it's happened. In stock airboxes (go figure how they got in).

[cbogg]

^^ My guess would be the hole that eventually leads to a filter. But I don't have a Doctorate or anything, so it's all speculation at this point.

[Spectre]

Where did you find this intake at? I looked on the K & N website and all I can find are the panel filters.


EDIT: YEAH!! 100 posts! =P

[cbogg]

they don't really market it here, it's more of a european thing. you have to google deeper grasshopper, and you will find your intake.

[Spectre]

they don't really market it here, it's more of a european thing. you have to google deeper grasshopper, and you will find your intake.Thanks, I'll keep trying I was just wondering why I am having trouble finding it. I guess that answered my question.

[Silentwolf]

Where did you find this intake at? I looked on the K & N website and all I can find are the panel filters.


EDIT: YEAH!! 100 posts! =P

Actually Autozone will order it. But i got it thru another site http://www.eautoworks.com/product-KN-286121.htm

[slipkknotfan]

There is also a low-pitched hum when the engine is turned on. It's an "interesting" sound...I don't mind it since I can't hear it in the cabin anyway.

that humming noise is from the mass airflow sensor. i havnt found anyway of stopping it but, every beta2 ive seen with an intake makes the same noise.

[Spectre]

I would be sacrificing low end power if I installed this thing right?

[Silentwolf]

No you shouldn't. Can't say i noticed much diff between the CAI and the Apollo.

[Spectre]

Cool. I appreciate the info guys. I'm going to look more into it.