My GD3

                        

I was planning on keeping the I/H/E stock but that went out the window after a year...

So I decided to look for some sort of short ram intake or a second hand T1R carbon intake. What I found was an HKS Racing Suction Intake from a fellow fitfreak.net member. I initially thought he was selling the short HKS intake but found out it was the JDM import. I could not pass it up, especially at the selling price.

First step was to clean up the intake: polish the aluminum tube and cable clamps and wash the silicone adapters. I did this over several days... no rush.

I had no instructions, but installation was relatively straightforward.  It did take me 2 hours because I spent so much time trying to find a 5-6mm socket and then getting the alignment perfect. The clamp holding the stock airbox to the throttle body has a philips head but it wouldn’t budge. Since I didn’t have the right size socket, I used needle nose pliers to loosen it.  Removal of the stock airbox is easy. I used this as a guide: Honda Fit DIY.

Note, that I did move the battery a bit to the right to provide more clearance. Fit & finish of this HKS intake is excellent. There is adequate clearance for everything if it is aligned correctly. Changing the filter will require loosening up the lower half of the intake. Since this intake is second hand, I’m going to order a new green filter element for it.

I started it up.  Hmmm... idle sounds normal. I drove out the garage... no discernible difference. Then I took it for a brief spin. OK, stepping on the gas beyond say, half throttle, and the engine sounds completely different. Throaty. Nice. Mid range feels stronger, but the top-end I’m not so sure yet... I’ll need to drive more.

Now I want a new exhaust (cat-back).

June 3, 2012 Update:

I have now grown accustomed to the sound of the intake so it doesn’t sound so loud on acceleration anymore. I also noticed that the intake makes a interesting sucking sound between upshifts, especially noticeable on shift from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd gear. Gas mileage improvement is still being monitored.. I just used my first complete tank and it seems a little better than previous tanks.

June 15, 2012 Update:

Installed my new HKS SMF (Super Mega Flow) 150mm filter element. I went with the “wet” two-layer element vs. the “dry” three-layer element. HKS “wet” is a generous term, it is not anywhere as wet as say, a K&N filter.