Is that stealthy or what? The AEM intake on Project Evo X, our long-term 2008 Mitsubishi Evo GSR could be a factory part.
Installation is a breeze. The instructions are so clear that an ape could install it. Everything fits the way it's supposed to, too. No grinding or persuading at all. That can't be said for most aftermarket modifications.
This intake differs in layout from the AMS intake which was on the car previously. Click the jump to see how.
If you were to replace your stock Evo X intake with either of these intakes, you would definitely want the car re-tuned. This is because these aftermarket intakes mount the MAF in a larger housing, and this affects the MAF calibration. In other words, the MAF will read low, and your engine will lean out.
The stock Evo X runs really rich, so you will pick up some power just from the enleanment alone. However, I don't recommend replacing the stock intake with either one of these intakes without a re-tune since too much enleanment can cause detonation and high EGTs.
The AEM and AMS have the same diameter MAF housing. Since our car was already tuned for the AMS, re-tuning our project car for the AEM isn't absolutely necessary.
Click the thumbnails below for a larger image.
In the AEM intake (above), the filter is in the box, and the factory inlet duct is retained to feed fresh air to said box. Visually quite a bit different from the AMS cold air intake (right):
The AMS takes in cold air from in front of the driver's side wheel. It's a good source for cold air but after 10k or so miles, it had picked up road grit thrown off by the nearby tire:
Note the difference in where the BOV discharge flow re-enters the intake tract among the two intakes:
AEM:
AMS:
For best driveability, it's important to keep the BOV's flow stream (blue arrows) far away from the MAF (circled in red). The AEM intake is a good example of this.
Our AMS cold air intake was a prototype, so it's possible they've redesigned it to have the BOV dump further downstream.
Most noteworthy is the sound. The AMS made it obvious you had an modified intake, whereas the AEM has no hiss at all. It sounds nearly like stock. Some of our editors miss the hiss, but I prefer my speed with stealth. Strokes for folks, and all that.
Which do you prefer--keeping a low profile or letting others know you're packin'?
Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor
ddoouugg says:
07:26 PM, 05/ 4/09
I prefer a low profile to an obnoxiously loud car, but the ideal is an intake that's quiet at part throttle but gives a nice roar at WOT.
ace47 says:
02:40 AM, 05/ 5/09
Just get a blow off valve with digital control. That way, you can have it as loud or silent as you want.
breif says:
09:29 AM, 05/ 5/09
Ace, the BOV doesn't change how much you can hear the turbo whistle itself though.
I personally like to be able to hear the turbo spooling.
demosthenes642 says:
10:15 AM, 05/ 5/09
Alot of the hissing or whistling sound that you hear from aftermarket intakes is due to plumbing shape and can occur on both NA and turbo cars. It tends to show up more on long tube type intakes with an open cone filter(exactly like the AMS).
I had an old H4 honda challenge integra that would hiss like a tea kettle at part throttle, we discovered that going to the "short ram" length pipe made the hissing go away rather than the full "cold air" length.
altimadude00 says:
04:58 PM, 05/ 5/09
I live in the college end of Tampa right next to a stop sign. I'm tired of the loud intakes and exhausts. Especially at 3 AM.
ace47 says:
04:05 AM, 05/ 6/09
"I personally like to be able to hear the turbo spooling."
I agree.