Cowl intake noise reduction How To guide

[RAAMaudio]

Note: This is a basic, quickly done guide due to the fact I am not installing one of these intakes but have had multiple requests for guidance on the issue of the loud cabin noise from this type intake and wanted to help you out.

The passenger side corner of this area is where the air filter will be located and the source of most of the noise generated, it can be quite loud.

Dividing the area into two sections using a sheet of aluminum or whatever you prefer is going to be required to significantly reduce the noise. A cardboard or similar template will make the job go much faster, once you get a close one done you can fine tune it, usually best to mark corrections on the first one and make a new one with them included.

A little clearance in the fitment will be beneficial when installing the divider later on.

You will have to have the intake on hand to make this the best fit so you clear the tubing and have as clear as possibly airflow into the cabin air inlet.

Not a great pic but you can see the cabin inlet behind the template, you want the template as far away from it as you can make it. The blue tape is where the top section of the plastic cowl trim middle air inlet starts, keep the divider to the left of it.

By having the air filter space moved over as far as possible it will allow more airflow to the intake via stock holes in the cowl trim.

See next post.

 

[RAAMaudio]

The area marked with the blue tape needs to be covered with PS Ensolite for the best results, a bit of RAAMmat on the area, just in the middle of the larger less supported sections would help a bit but not a great deal as quite solid.

Use one section of Ensolite the best you can with no cuts, gaps, etc or at least do the outside 1/3 first then the middle with a good overlap of the Ensolite. It does not have to conform perfectly and in fact that would be nearly impossible so having it as smooth and not trap water is more important.

MAKE Sure the edges wrap up the rear and sides at least 1/2" but 1" if you can do so.

Then you can do the back wall, overlapping the layer of the bottom section so any water that gets there cannot go under the Ensolite.

There are drain holes on each side of the car, ensure they are not covered.

The more hard surface areas you cover the more noise will be eliminated, you do the side by the drain and the underside of the whole area, a bit tough to get to but it will help.

 

[westcoaST]

Thanks Rick, and thanks for the sound deadening materials. I have a small roller made out of wood, about 1" wide that I plan on using to push the Raammat and ensolite onto the metal parts. Once I get my 2JR air intake, I'll figure out where to put the baffle in front of the inlet. Should I cover the aluminum baffle with ensolite or raammat? I plan on putting together a how-to once I get all of the materials and intake.

 

[RAAMaudio]

I would add RAAMmat and Ensolite to the back side of the divider at this time.

Notch at least one if not two openings in the bottom if it to allow water to flow through for proper draining.

I would now install the divider, over any RAAMmat and over the Ensolite already applied, a snug fit would be nice here to help hold it in place.

I would use silicone sealer to mount the divider to the foam it will be next to.

NOTE: the more sealed up the two sections are the more noise you will eliminate.

Sorry no picture of this as not doing an install on my car.

------------

I would add a bit of RAAMmat to the middle of the cowl trim pieces, around 30% coverage is enough, then cover all the rest with the Ensolite as shown with the blue tape.

Trim the ensolite back about 1/4" from all openings and from overlapping areas to ensure proper fitment.

Notice the grilled opening on the left side of this picture and the slots all along the edge, this should be enough air flow for your intake. If you felt you needed more then more holes could be cut but you might want to make some sort of raised part like the stock ones are as it helps prevent excessive water build up.

------------------

Done well this will give you the maximum noise reduction and the least weight gain, there is little else you can do to make it quieter beyond this point that would not involve very serious effort for little added gain.

------------------

Materials:
2 sheets RAAMmat BXT II
1 yard PS Ensolite

You would have a bit left over, add to rear qtr panels near cabin vents for best use.

raamaudio.com (sorry, for some reason not posting the active link)

10% coupon code, FiSTforum

------------------------------------------------

Note:
I have helped tens of thousands deaden their vehicles over the last 15+ years and tried dozens of materials and methods, this should help a great deal, it it does not lower the noise enough for your needs then likely you might have to go back to a more conventional intake. This is why I did not build my own cowl intake, I knew it would be to loud for me but I love the idea!

I am retired with a nice income, this is not about selling product, this is to help you out but I happen to still own RAAMmat which is the very best deadening for the money there is, it always has been and always will be

Rick

 

[RAAMaudio]

I was posting this in sections, you replied before I was quite finished

I use my hands and the other end of the utility knife for most of my install work.

It is OK to cut slots into the mat to install it but be careful to only cut through the aluminum, do not want to damage the paint and get rust spots, ensure the mat is very tight to the metal it is on.

--------------------------------

UPDATE: I just though of one more step if needed, make a divider right behind the filter, around the piping, covered with Ensolite, going forward the bending towards the passenger side but not all the way sealed to teh side of the car, leave it open a bit.

This will create a resonate chamber that will absorb a bit more noise, now much I cannot say, frequency range, no idea, it would help is all I can say

----------------


Any questions just ask!

 

[Hijinx]

Awesome, Rick! I wouldn't have thought of the divider like that! I just got my materials in and will get to work tomorrow!

 

[RAAMaudio]

It will take some time to get the divider designed just right but worth it.

If somebody does a nice job they could make a template to send to others

Your results will be far better with one than without and another one at the filter/pipe connection would have to be better yet

Rick

 

[Perfblue15]

I would totally be willing to buy a pre built divider lol

 

[RAAMaudio]

Sounds like Joe needs to be contacted and talked into this as part of the kit

 

[westcoaST]

As soon as I get my intake and Raam stuff, I'll put together a how-to and create a PDF template from the card board template. You'll be able to print on a full sheet label, then stick onto a piece of aluminum sheet, then cut it out and bend it. I'll put everything in my build.

 

[Sourskittle]

As soon as I get my intake and Raam stuff, I'll put together a how-to and create a PDF template from the card board template. You'll be able to print on a full sheet label, then stick onto a piece of aluminum sheet, then cut it out and bend it. I'll put everything in my build.

That will be sweet

 

[rodmoe]

As soon as I get my intake and Raam stuff, I'll put together a how-to and create a PDF template from the card board template. You'll be able to print on a full sheet label, then stick onto a piece of aluminum sheet, then cut it out and bend it. I'll put everything in my build.

Will be looking for it with mouse over the "Sticky" button Thanks btw

 

[Perfblue15]

As soon as I get my intake and Raam stuff, I'll put together a how-to and create a PDF template from the card board template. You'll be able to print on a full sheet label, then stick onto a piece of aluminum sheet, then cut it out and bend it. I'll put everything in my build.

Just build a second one for me lol im to lazy to build one.......

 

[rodmoe]

Just build a second one for me lol im to lazy to build one.......

I See moneys to be made as I would take one too

 

[Hijinx]

Build one for me too... I'm sure it'll be better than what I've got lol.

So anyway, I do have my RAAMmat in. I lined as much as I could with Ensolite w/o removing the windshield wiper motor. I created a barrier out of a long piece of BXTII with Ensolite in the middle. All was challenging due to big hands, little spaces, and very sticky product. The most difficult part was figuring out the front of the filter barrier, or pre-barrier. I ended up creating a block of Ensolite and BXTII. I took a piece of BXTII folded it in half and made an accordion. More BXTII on and bottom, then stuffed Ensolite in the spaces and covered the sides with more BXTII. Finally, I stuffed it in place. I wanted to use as little product as I could on my first try and while I think it could be more quiet I, subjectively, cut the noise down by about 30%-40%. Before I could hear the intake over my MBRP. Now, the MBRP is maybe slightly louder. I'm sure a pre-built barrier (with product on it) would fare better. Overall, I'm satisfied.

 

[RAAMaudio]

If I get enough projects done around here maybe I will make a complete pattern and see about having some cut out and bent to shape, etc....

 

[westcoaST]

Any pix of your install?

Build one for me too... I'm sure it'll be better than what I've got lol.

So anyway, I do have my RAAMmat in. I lined as much as I could with Ensolite w/o removing the windshield wiper motor. I created a barrier out of a long piece of BXTII with Ensolite in the middle. All was challenging due to big hands, little spaces, and very sticky product. The most difficult part was figuring out the front of the filter barrier, or pre-barrier. I ended up creating a block of Ensolite and BXTII. I took a piece of BXTII folded it in half and made an accordion. More BXTII on and bottom, then stuffed Ensolite in the spaces and covered the sides with more BXTII. Finally, I stuffed it in place. I wanted to use as little product as I could on my first try and while I think it could be more quiet I, subjectively, cut the noise down by about 30%-40%. Before I could hear the intake over my MBRP. Now, the MBRP is maybe slightly louder. I'm sure a pre-built barrier (with product on it) would fare better. Overall, I'm satisfied.

 

[Hijinx]

Any pix of your install?

None. But I will go back in later to see if I can't get the sound down. I have an idea for some packing foam I've got laying around.