MDesign Cold Air Installed

[dfwsho]

Installed my MDesign CAI today.  Love the kit, there are a couple of detail (me being OCD) items that I'd like different but the quality of the kit and the support is amazing.  Showed up extremely well packed and simple to install.  I'll post more after I get some miles under it.

--dfwSHO
2014 Tuxedo Black non-pp
MDesign CAI

 

[ajpturbo]

Iat sensor doesn't look seated all the way

 

[BiGMaC]

dfwSHO... I think you'll love the intake... As a tip regarding the sensor skip mentions.....I opened the wiring harness to gain the wire to allow enough slack to seat the iat sensor when I installed mine... Replaced the tape on the loom cover afterwards.  Might also consider t-clamps instead of the supplied ring clamps ... I found it added a lot aesthetically pleasing.
Here's what those changes look like:

 

[ZSHO]

dfwSHO... I think you'll love the intake... As a tip regarding the sensor skip mentions.....I opened the wiring harness to gain the wire to allow enough slack to seat the iat sensor when I installed mine... Replaced the tape on the loom cover afterwards.  Might also consider t-clamps instead of the supplied ring clamps ... I found it added a lot aesthetically pleasing.
Here's what those changes look like:

Definetly looks stellar as usuall Tom.  Z

 

[dfwsho]

dfwSHO... I think you'll love the intake... As a tip regarding the sensor skip mentions.....I opened the wiring harness to gain the wire to allow enough slack to seat the iat sensor when I installed mine... Replaced the tape on the loom cover afterwards.  Might also consider t-clamps instead of the supplied ring clamps ... I found it added a lot aesthetically pleasing.
Here's what those changes look like:

I like the t-clamp idea.  I wish I could find a piece to attach to the t-clamp that I could use to attach the wiring harness, I don't like the idea of it just moving around in there. Something like a zip tie holder.  (like this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-1-in-x-1-in-Natural-Mounting-Pad-Base-10-Pack-295942/202520069 But made to attach to a clamp.

As far as modifying the harness my thoughts were more around making a short extension harness for it.  Something around 4-6 inches that would give me the length to dress the cabling down properly.  Only worry I have is changing the resistance of that connection could seriously jack things up.  When you say opened it up do you mean unfolded the strain relief that Ford put at the end (was wrapped in black cloth tape) or back where it joins the main harness?

BTW your engine bay makes we need to go out and clean mine now (wonder if the neighbors would mind me detailing my car at 11pm)  Looks great!

Thanks for the advice.

 

[BiGMaC]

dfwSHO... I think you'll love the intake... As a tip regarding the sensor skip mentions.....I opened the wiring harness to gain the wire to allow enough slack to seat the iat sensor when I installed mine... Replaced the tape on the loom cover afterwards.  Might also consider t-clamps instead of the supplied ring clamps ... I found it added a lot aesthetically pleasing.
Here's what those changes look like:

I like the t-clamp idea.  I wish I could find a piece to attach to the t-clamp that I could use to attach the wiring harness, I don't like the idea of it just moving around in there. Something like a zip tie holder.  (like this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-1-in-x-1-in-Natural-Mounting-Pad-Base-10-Pack-295942/202520069 But made to attach to a clamp.

As far as modifying the harness my thoughts were more around making a short extension harness for it.  Something around 4-6 inches that would give me the length to dress the cabling down properly.  Only worry I have is changing the resistance of that connection could seriously jack things up.  When you say opened it up do you mean unfolded the strain relief that Ford put at the end (was wrapped in black cloth tape) or back where it joins the main harness?

BTW your engine bay makes we need to go out and clean mine now (wonder if the neighbors would mind me detailing my car at 11pm)  Looks great!

Thanks for the advice.

Thanks for the compliment! I'm OC and treat wheel wells, engine bay and undercarriage like parts to be detailed weekly. My neighbors get lawn chairs and brews to watch me and laugh, LOL.
As far as the harness, I opened the insulation locally so the wires could exit about 1.5" sooner adding the same length effectively and then I resealed it after assuring enough length to properly insert the iat sensor full into the grommet supplied with the kit. An extension might work, but I think only if you solder the connection rather than twist or crimp.  Whether an extra 3.75cm of wire offers enough resistance to affect current flow in such a way to change the sensor input is doubtful in my mind... But I would have tried it if the strain relief I outlined above had not worked.
BTW, that awful looking self that is the mount for the OEM filter box is where I plan to put meth injection hardware.

 

[dfwsho]

As far as the harness, I opened the insulation locally so the wires could exit about 1.5" sooner adding the same length effectively and then I resealed it after assuring enough length to properly insert the iat sensor full into the grommet supplied with the kit. An extension might work, but I think only if you solder the connection rather than twist or crimp.  Whether an extra 3.75cm of wire offers enough resistance to affect current flow in such a way to change the sensor input is doubtful in my mind... But I would have tried it if the strain relief I outlined above had not worked.
BTW, that awful looking self that is the mount for the OEM filter box is where I plan to put meth injection hardware.

Got it, I'll take a look at it and see about opening it up.  As for the extension I was thinking of making an actual harness if I can find the connectors, not a huge fan of extending the wiring.  If I was to extend the wiring solder is the only way to go.  Trying to figure out which connectors is going to be no fun.

Yeah as soon as I saw that great big gap left by the stock filter box I figured that was the perfect place for a meth tank.  Has anybody put one there?  I saw Wojomojo's install and thats more than I can handle right now with time constraints.  BUT...if I didn't have to take my front end apart to do it, well then that opens up a world of opportunity. 

 

[Sabtaj1]

I really wanted to order one of these when they were on sale.  But I wasn't able to since they were out of stock.  Love the looks and space they free up.  Looks great. 

 

[J-Will]

Love the looks and space they free up.  Looks great.

Me too, however we cannot yet take advantage of that space.  I'd like a custom meth tank there, assuming one can be built with a large enough capacity.  Re purposing the WW reservoir makes Meth less 'drop in' than I prefer.

 

[dfwsho]

Love the looks and space they free up.  Looks great.

Me too, however we cannot yet take advantage of that space.  I'd like a custom meth tank there, assuming one can be built with a large enough capacity.  Re purposing the WW reservoir makes Meth less 'drop in' than I prefer.

Don't know when I'll get the time but an idea occurred to me that using the bottom half of the sir box you could make a mold for the bottom that would be a perfect starting point to make a very slick Meth tank.  Just smooth the internal bottom of the tank and make a slight sump in it for the pickup to pull from.  That and with some careful work you could actually make a "drop in" kit with all the attachment points necessary for the complete Meth injection kit.

If you have the skill set please make off with my idea, I only ask that I get to be a beta customer

 

[dfwsho]

I really wanted to order one of these when they were on sale.  But I wasn't able to since they were out of stock.  Love the looks and space they free up.  Looks great.

As of 30 seconds ago he has them available.  At least according to his website he does:
http://www.mdesignperformance.com/shop/mdesign-carbon-cold-air-intake

 

[J-Will]

Love the looks and space they free up.  Looks great.

Me too, however we cannot yet take advantage of that space.  I'd like a custom meth tank there, assuming one can be built with a large enough capacity.  Re purposing the WW reservoir makes Meth less 'drop in' than I prefer.

Don't know when I'll get the time but an idea occurred to me that using the bottom half of the sir box you could make a mold for the bottom that would be a perfect starting point to make a very slick Meth tank.  Just smooth the internal bottom of the tank and make a slight sump in it for the pickup to pull from.  That and with some careful work you could actually make a "drop in" kit with all the attachment points necessary for the complete Meth injection kit.

If you have the skill set please make off with my idea, I only ask that I get to be a beta customer

Pretty good idea.  the question would come down to the volume of the tank.  If it does not rival the WW reservoir, and is easy to monitor/ fill then it could be a lost cause.

 

[scoles92]

How does the car sound with the MDesign? i love the way my car sounds with the k&n sounds but i keep hearing bad reviews performance wise and i prefer the looks and functionality of the MDesign.

 

[shotime99]

http://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php/topic,4604.msg72140.html#msg72140

Looks like it is time for the MDesign intake!! my engine bay will look empty!

 

[SHOdded]

Emptier than after that micro battery install?

 

[shotime99]

ya. I have the battery in the trunk now. .was easier to mount there than trying to build a case up front for it.

 

[Darren M]

Whether an extra 3.75cm of wire offers enough resistance to affect current flow in such a way to change the sensor input is doubtful in my mind...

Depending upon the gauge of the wire, the resistance across that short of a span is negligible. The calculations I've run at 14 gauge across 3.75cm is 0 ohms (Ω) with some resistance down past a milli-Ω. I admit I do not know the Ford sampling details but I doubt it is into the milli-Ω.

While I'm at it, 14 gauge does show .001Ω at 4 inches.

As resistance is just a small part of a bigger equation, reference Ohm's Law for more.

Just my 2¢.

 

[BiGMaC]

Good point Darren!  Of course the number of strands is anothe confounding factor since the electrons move on the surface of conductors.

 

[USMCSHO341]

I want one of these so bad :

 

[mval]

well if you just want to make the new open ugly engine bay area nicer looking as i did, as show my sho & at present have no interest in meth, found an inexpensive answer. turn the top of the oem box box over. will fit fairly snugly  into room & the area of the top of box is exactly the size of a license plate, so can use what ever you want .here's what I chose and no pointed deducted at shows.