Air silencer removal

[Heep]

I found this tip already written up on the net. "Anthony" gets credit for it. I'm posting it since several people have asked about it. Here goes:



This one is another easy tip, but is a little bit harder that the Kick Down Cable. Every Escort made has some type of air filter box. Your exact shape and size will vary but the concept is the same. On the 97+ Escorts the Air Box has 2 parts. One is the actual compartment that has the Air Filter in it, and the second is a compartment that is designed to reduce the sound of the engine during a hard acceleration. This second box, the Silencer, is a useless piece of plastic, that just restricts air flow to the engine. Removing the Silencer Box should take about 1 Hour to complete.
Start off by loosening the hose clamp that connects the Air Box to the Air Intake Tube. After that unlatch the clip in the middle of the Air Box, this clip holds tension on the Air Filter. Next you want to unbolt the Air Box, using a 13mm Socket remove the 3 bolts that hold the Assembly in place. You should be able now to remove the Air Filter, and the Top part of the Air Box, be careful not to pull to hard when removing because there is an Air Flow Sensor (Very Important) attached to the Top Part of the Air Box.
Next you need to remove the Lower part of the Air Filter Box, it is held in place with a rubber gasket, i found it easier to just remove this Gasket and pull the 2 apart outside of the Engine Compartment. The Gasket is held in by Two 10mm bolts. With the Rubber Gasket and Lower Part of the Air Filter Box removed your 90% Done.
The Silencer Box now exposed. Using a 1/2" Socket remove the 2 bolts that hold it in place. When Pulling the Silencer Box out, you have to rotate it slightly to get it around the sheet metal. You can take the Silencer Box and use it to hold pennies, or as a paper weight or something. Assemble the Air Filter box by first installing the rubber Gasket. Then the Lower section plugs into the Gasket, put the air filter back in and secure the Box and all other bolts and hose clamps. Make certain not to damage the Top Part of the Air Filter Box with the Air Flow Sensor in it.
With the Box Removed you should hear a lightly deeper engine sound. In City Driving, Removing the Silencer Box Gives Minor advantages. BUT when you get the car out on the Highway There is a big difference in throttle response. The car feel to pull all the way up to 5700 RPM, not like before with a noticeable flat spot after 4500 RPM. I have not done a 0-60 test but you can really feel, and hear a difference when hitting 4000+ RPM


I wouldn't expect much change, but any little bit helps I guess.

[replicant_008]

On the NZ Spec 1993 Laser TX3i (which is a rebadged Japanese assembled Ford Escort GT), there was a BF series Mazda sourced 1.8l twin cam engine.

Again this car featured a silencer chamber that ran as a long pipe over the radiator. This was connected by a elbow bend pipe about 1 1/2 inches in diameter from the underside of the air box.

On my car, all you needed to do was unhook the elbow (no clamps) and
turn it 180 degrees so instead of pointing at the connection to the silencer it pointed directly to the ground. With a bit of flexible tube on the end (simply pushed over the free end) and some tape to secure everything (especially the elbow onto the airbox) you had a two-minute
ram air box... With a K&N Panel Filter, it did give improved breathing (although it did have more induction roar...)

What I don't know is whether the same applied for the US-Spec versions. Perhaps someone can have a look but it has to be 1.8 DOHC (ie a modified version ended up in the MX-5 or Miata soon after).

[Heep]

Sounds like a similar functioning piece, but ours is shaped much different, which is a pity.

BTW, I was thinking of getting a Laser TX3 front bumper, grill, and headlights a while back; however, I doubt I still will. Good to see a TX3 owner on the boards!

[replicant_008]

Unfortunately, the TX3i was sold a little while back. I still know where it is as the new owner has kept it. (The car had done 56,000 miles in 5 years)

At the time, it got replaced with a then new 1997 European Ford Escort Si 3dr liftback with a 1.8i Zetec - E. Not as much poke in a straight line but it was much better balanced car for covering windy backroads (In NZ, there is nothing like an interstate - the highways outside the cities are two way roads that undulate and are full of bends). That car had done 44,000 miles in 4 years,

Whilst I enjoyed the car, I needed a four door so I sold it to a close friend and bought a 2002 Mondeo ST Duratec V6 last December.

[Heep]

Very nice, those new Mondeo's look great. I'm actually looking to get a 1998 or so Ford Countour SVT (Mondeo ST200 there) from my next purchase...I want something with even more power, comfortable (leather, sunroof, etc), and exclusive.