Homemade ram air induction!
Are there any other Ford Probe owners that are tired of the minimal air flow that comes factory from Ford. I know I was, so me and Brian decided to do something about it. Here's step by step instructions on how to get the most air flow without spending your life savings to get a brand-name intake that does the same thing.
Materials ($15 total):
-3" aluminum washer/dryer hosing
-gutter downspout adapter
-2-3" ring cupler
-gutter screen and 4 quarter-inch self drilling wood screws
-total install time...20 minutes max!!
Installation Procedure:
1. First you must take off the factory air snorkel. This is done by removing a few screws and then detaching it from the airbox by squeezing the two clips on the side and pulling it off. By now, your factory snorkel should be completely off and I would suggest keeping it around just in case.
2. Removing the snorkel should reveal a straight opening from the airbox to the bottom of the engine. Next you must conform the dryer hosing by connecting it on the end of the airbox, through the opening to the ground, and out the bottom of your engine. This may require stretching the hosing or cutting some of it off, it all depends on how much you bought (I bought 3 ft. contracted). Make sure that the hosing does not interfere with any of the belts in the engine but it shouldn't.
3. Next you must connect the end of the hosing at the bottom of the engine to the gutter downspout adapter, the adapter should fit flush inside the hosing if you bought the correct size which is 3".
4. There should be a rectangular hole in the plastic piece under the engine and this is where you want to mount your downspout adapter. It may be necessary to cut the adapter so that it fits firmly in the hole. After you have mounted the adapter tightly inside the hole so that it doesn't come out, you screw the gutter screen over the intake with the 4 screws to keep out rocks, leaves, and other stuff off the road but you'll still get airflow through the holes in the screen. Don't worry about water on the road, it has never been a problem for me and I've driven through large puddles, but i would not suggest driving on snow with it.
5. Finally, make sure that the hosing is the correct length to fit and connect the top end to the airbox using the 3" ring cupler so that it fits tightly over the airbox opening. By now you should have a brand new, re-routed, ram air induction that does the same thing as a performance cold-air intake and it looks just as good.
I noticed a difference in acceleration with this mod and I would suggest getting a K&N air filter also to help because the Probe's stock filter sucks.